Vinyl Wrap Windscreen Surround
#1
Posted 14 August 2011 - 09:18 PM
It's an easy enough job and costs very little to DIY. You will need;
1.5m x 600mm vinyl (should cost less than £5)
A sharp knife (scalpel or craft knife)
A squirty bottle
An application sponge (not 100% needed but handy)
Hair Dryer
Start by placing the vinyl in position onto the windscreen, secure onto the wing mirrors with masking tape.
Fold back the top of the vinyl to expose the top of the surround.
Peel back the backing and cut it off.
Fill your squirty bottle with water and add two drops of washing up liquid. Spray a light mist on the surround,
this allows the material to be re-positioned and easily worked into place. This is not needed with the expensive vinyl as
it is designed to have low initial tack but the cheap stuff does not have this so water will help.
Fold the vinyl onto the surround and work out any air bubbles with the application sponge (a credit card wrapped in a soft cloth will work nicely)
Once all of the vinyl without paper still on is applied and air free, use the knife and cut about 1 inch inside the surround
to remove the excess material.
Now remove the backing from one side at a time and apply it working out the bubbles. Start work on the inside part of the screen using the sponge
to work the vinyl into the edge of the surround. Once it's all in use the knife to trim all the excess.
Use your fingers to rub the vinyl over the stright outside edges of the surround (just top and sides)
Once this is done use a hair dryer to fold the two corners over. Slightly tension the material on the corners and heat a little with a hair dyrer.
This softens the vinyl and allows it to be stretched over the curve.
Cut off the excess on the outside edge and your almost done.
Heat the full surround to a decent heat with the hair dryer, this releases the tension caused by stretching and dries the water
which activates the glue creating a strong bond.
Job Done
#2
Posted 14 August 2011 - 09:49 PM
#3
Posted 14 August 2011 - 10:16 PM
But shouldnt that read £50 for materials as you wont 'make' anything on the fitting.....
Good Guide and about time someone did it
Handbags ready!!!!
#4
Posted 15 August 2011 - 08:02 AM
#5
Posted 15 August 2011 - 10:19 AM
#6
Posted 15 August 2011 - 10:49 AM
But shouldnt that read £50 for materials
If anyone is interested I have enough material to wrap 3 windscreens. £5 + P&P each
Forgot to add that it takes 1 hour tops to do the screen.
Nice Job... do I see black wing mirrors as well ?
Cheers
The entire car is wrapped in matt black apart from the front clam which I recently wrapped in a cheapo matt yellow as a test of the budget materials ability to do more difficuly shapes.
#7
Posted 15 August 2011 - 10:53 AM
The entire car is wrapped in matt black apart from the front clam which I recently wrapped in a cheapo matt yellow as a test of the budget materials ability to do more difficuly shapes.
how did that go, and whats your definition of the 'cheapo' materials
#8
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:29 PM
how did that go, and whats your definition of the 'cheapo' materials
Good but not great. The material lacks elasticity so needs heating to get any flexibility out of it, it's also too thin so the underlying paint is slightly visible. It's also unforgiving, overstretching it even slightly results in massive discolouration. From 2 feet away it looks great any closer and the problems start to become apparent. It is workable but needs experience and a lot of patience, on average it took me twice as long to fit than the better stuff.
It was £1.68 pr metre so pretty cheap compared to the benchmark wrapping film (Avery Supercast) which is 10 times as much. It's not a cast vinyl so I knew it would be worse but thought it was worth a go.
Happy to post some pictures of the results if you're interested.
Edited by SteveA, 15 August 2011 - 12:30 PM.
#9
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:35 PM
If anyone is interested I have enough material to wrap 3 windscreens. £5 + P&P each
That's a good price.
#10
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:40 PM
how did that go, and whats your definition of the 'cheapo' materials
Good but not great. The material lacks elasticity so needs heating to get any flexibility out of it, it's also too thin so the underlying paint is slightly visible. It's also unforgiving, overstretching it even slightly results in massive discolouration. From 2 feet away it looks great any closer and the problems start to become apparent. It is workable but needs experience and a lot of patience, on average it took me twice as long to fit than the better stuff.
It was £1.68 pr metre so pretty cheap compared to the benchmark wrapping film (Avery Supercast) which is 10 times as much. It's not a cast vinyl so I knew it would be worse but thought it was worth a go.
Happy to post some pictures of the results if you're interested.
oh my £1.68 is cheap stuff thats half the price of the cheap stuff I was looking to use
I guess depending on your outlook on things, being acceptable from +2foot away would be fine
#11
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:47 PM
If anyone is interested I have enough material to wrap 3 windscreens. £5 + P&P each
you have pm
#12
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:49 PM
Great guide SteveIf anyone is interested I have enough material to wrap 3 windscreens. £5 + P&P each
I'll have one of the three if still available as mine looks silly with black wheels and a silver surround
#13
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:53 PM
If anyone is interested I have enough material to wrap 3 windscreens. £5 + P&P each
you have pm
Great guide Steve
If anyone is interested I have enough material to wrap 3 windscreens. £5 + P&P each
I'll have one of the three if still available as mine looks silly with black wheels and a silver surround
And if I have been quick enough I'll take the 3rd piece please, PM sent.
#14
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:54 PM
#15
Posted 15 August 2011 - 12:57 PM
#16
Posted 15 August 2011 - 01:03 PM
#17
Posted 15 August 2011 - 01:09 PM
Having done my own sun visor and made a complete arse of it, I think I will leave it to the professionals.
You do get what you pay for IMHO.
I attempted a relatively flat piece of bodywork that i made a complete hash of.
I consider myself very practical as well.
Maybe it's patience that is required, i definitely don't have any of that.
#18
Posted 15 August 2011 - 01:14 PM
Having done my own sun visor and made a complete arse of it, I think I will leave it to the professionals.
You do get what you pay for IMHO.
I attempted a relatively flat piece of bodywork that i made a complete hash of.
I consider myself very practical as well.
Maybe it's patience that is required, i definitely don't have any of that.
Knowing the limitations of the material you're working with, practice and a little patience.
#19
Posted 15 August 2011 - 01:16 PM
Cheers
Steve
Having done my own sun visor and made a complete arse of it, I think I will leave it to the professionals.
You do get what you pay for IMHO.
I'd be quite happy for anyone to do a close up inspection of my surround to validate the workmanship
If I were doing this sort of thing as a business I'd say £20 including material cost is a fair price.
Will get some yellow pics up tonight
ETA - From VXTyrant
Edited by SteveA, 15 August 2011 - 01:26 PM.
#20
Posted 15 August 2011 - 01:33 PM
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