Did you watch this? Might help understand a few things and after a couple panels yes you should speed up.
Courtesy of Jeff
6h for relatively easy panels is long yes. I have estimated 100h to wrap the car. If I do it faster, then good.
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Did you watch this? Might help understand a few things and after a couple panels yes you should speed up.
Courtesy of Jeff
6h for relatively easy panels is long yes. I have estimated 100h to wrap the car. If I do it faster, then good.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
The expressions on some faces in the audience are priceless.
"Scotty, give me all the TRACTION she's got!" Pictures of what I drive till 818R is finished
Track Car Journal on IWSTI (with build info)
Which company and color did you go with for the wrap? I'm also considering doing a wrap myself so looking forward to some feedback/tips.
I've watched it at least three times It is very helpful and is the reason I managed to wrap those panels the first time without having to start over.
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
So 6h with the tips of the video, gives an idea. But tell ya what, there are 11 body panels, say 1 day per panel, that's only 11 days, not to bad!! I went crazy and estimated 1 month of work at 25h/week, I guess I can make within that time, right.
Vvivid's 8th gen wrap is supposed to be easier on applying, but maybe not as much as 3M, true. Where Vvivid takes some back is at the price. Overall for what the 8th gen offers the price is really really good, but as a first wrap, I don't know. 3M and one other (Avery maybe) are awesome for that. I went with Vvivid, the only one I cold found the color I wanted. So I estimated 100h lolll
So far yours look really great, can't wait to see your other panels! Plz post pix once you complete another one and another one and so on. )
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
Learning from my mistakes on the passenger side panel (which I'll need to redo). I outlined and cut a rough shape of the driver side panel. Started the application from the back of the panel and worked my way forward. The contours of the panel bent the forward running board area part of the vinyl down and caused a misalignment issue. I managed to salvage it by using lots of heat to stretch a fit. I should have taken pictures mid-application as it looked horrific all bunched together and rolled around itself, its hard to believe it came out better than the passenger side. Side vents are the only thing that came out wrong. No way could I get the material to stretch and fit. About 10 hours to get the side panels mostly done.
Step 1: Outline
Step 2: Cut
Step 3: Apply
And your done!
Special Note: Don't burn yourself
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
It turned out pretty good. I mean on the side sail, not your skin.
I see you are leaving the door step red? Any reason for that?
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
I was working on it till 2am, I had to stop. On the passenger side I tried using a single piece to get the whole panel but it became very difficult and I had to use multiple cuts to prevent over/under stretching. On the driver side I've pre-planned for a cut on the door step to make the seam straight and even. I'll get a close up picture of the seam once I'm done.
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
Ok I get it, the reason is time on the clock.
What you're saying here is really interesting cuz I always thought that if there is a cut you will see it, which is why I thought that if I start wrapping a panel, I have to finish it before I do something else (eat, go to work, go to sleep, etc.). So how does it really work, if you know yet, when you apply a piece that cuts at a certain place and then apply another piece starting from the cut point? Like on your door steps, will the cut between the 2 pieces be very visible?
Also when you overlap pieces, do you know if it is very visible on the overlapped area?
I think so far you're the 1st one showing detailed pix and steps of your wrapping progress.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
I think I found the answer on the seam. If the job is done right, the seam disappears. There are about 3 ways of doing it, you either place the second piece as close as possible to the seam to match it, or you overlap and cut a seam through the overlap, or you use threaded tape pulling the thread from under the wrap, cutting the seam through. Still need to overlap pieces to do that.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
I wouldn't leave any one piece of vinyl wrap unfinished. The adhesive on un-applied edges will pick up dust and dirt.
I did a seam test before I started on butting up the edges: It looks good when your using different colors but when using the same color the seam is more visible. Ill post pictures of this tonight. I'm using knife-less tape and trying to avoid using an exacto knife on the body.
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
Get a friend to help, it's way easier to do with two or more people. THe only stuff to use is 3m 1080, trust me, we tried others. Yes, you can make the seams disappear, takes practice, but not difficult. We were doing a pieces every 1-2 hours once we got the hang of it and knew where to pull and how far to stretch, metallic does not like to stretch to much, or the color will change. Flat colors are stupid easy, especially black.
IMG_1261.JPG
What color blue is that. I'm really tempted to wrap now instead of painting.
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
Did you watch this for edges and corners?
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
And how about this, for 3-sided corners that we have a couple of? Like the side sails above the striker. I finally understand how they do it and I was pretty sure you had to cut a seam to make it through.
I start to wonder if I should buy that tape...
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
3M matte metallic, we love it!. The front CF verticals are just to keep the vortex created by the canards, up against the side of the car. helps pull air from the front brakes and cuts down on drag. The rear duct has been extended to try to get more air movement in the engine bay.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
3 different ones out of China, I will see if I can find the names. Have not tried Avery yet, but have heard good things from my Vinyl guy
I understand your fascination about 3M then! It's true they are super easy to apply, probably the easiest, but all the non-China wraps have a much better quality than China-made. Avery, Arlon, Hexis, Vvivid are so much better than China, according to all reviews you can find.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
Finished the driver side panel. Decided to play with some black on the side vents. Vinyl wrap is great, if I decide I don't like how something came out I can tear it off and start over.
Here is a close up of an overlapping seam.
Started on the front bumper, but I tore a hole in the middle of wrapping the first section. I'm not even sure how or when it happened. I finished wrapping this section for practice and plan to replace it later.
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
Hey Touch, nice result man! The seams don't show up that much and I'm pretty sure no one would notice except those who spend a lot of time looking closely for so-called imperfections. Besides when the door is closed (most of the time), they will not show.
You could probably make a cut at the exact line where the wrap from underneath stops. It would push the seam a little more inwards and there would be no overlap. But if you miss your cut then the red gel coat will appear.
Good look on the side scoops! Hope you'll leave it like that.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
Looking really good!
Are you using any of the knifeless cutting tape? I have used a technique, mostly in wallpapering, where you overlap edges and cut through the middle, then peel out the piece underneath, much like they do with the cutting tape. Then the edges butt quite well. Might be a problem with vinyl if the area is stretched much.
Am curious what it will cost you to do this as I have spray equipment but am leaning towards vinyl.
"Scotty, give me all the TRACTION she's got!" Pictures of what I drive till 818R is finished
Track Car Journal on IWSTI (with build info)
You can use that technique with knifeless tape. Lay down 2 strips of tape an 1/8" apart. Apply first material and trim with tape. Apply 2nd material and trim both sheets with the 2nd strip of knifeless tape. Finally remove the 1/8" strip of the first material that is stuck under the 2nd material. May be easier to understand if you just watch this https://youtu.be/FknbgFrUALI?t=2m7s
In my opinion this works well if your using 2 different colors at the seam and not so much if your using the same material. Also the red gelcoat really stands out if the seam is not perfect.
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
A good, ol' fashioned #11 X-Acto knife blade might work wonders. You will be cutting into the gell coat a little, I assume. I suppose a third layer to cut against could be added. Again, stretching the vinyl is likely to have the edge draw back some once cut. Is the vinyl noch sensitive, like styrene?
I am just guessing as I haven't worked with vinyl yet, but I've worked with fine-line tape and masks.
"Scotty, give me all the TRACTION she's got!" Pictures of what I drive till 818R is finished
Track Car Journal on IWSTI (with build info)
Have you tried the vinyl film cutting wire on seams?
Wayne Presley www.verycoolparts.com
Xterminator 705 RWHP supercharged 4.6 DOHC with twin turbos
Sure have, its called Knifeless finish line/tape. It works great, the more you plan ahead with it the better.
https://www.amazon.com/Knifeless-Fin...knifeless+tape
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
That looks great
Wayne Presley www.verycoolparts.com
Xterminator 705 RWHP supercharged 4.6 DOHC with twin turbos
If you dont mind me asking, what is a good price for 60" vinyl? Do you have a vendor that you like to buy from?
You are doing a real nice job!
My search says USD30-35 for a 5x5 piece of a 5x50 roll. If 5x5 alone it could be more than each 5x5 on a 5x50 roll.
3M would be more in the 45 bucks range. Also take into account that price varies on the type of wrap. Matte, gloss, chrome finish, carbon fiber, etc. Impossible to tell what is a good price unless we know exactly what you're looking for.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
Thanks for ballpark. Dont know what I am looking for yet, but this thread has made me consider wrapping the car myself. Or at least giving a panel a try to see how I do. Thanks for sharing the info and the links. Good stuff!
How nice does the body work need to be from your experience?
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
Oh my, that's a lot more prep than I thought. I was hoping to go simple and use acetone or brake cleaner for everything (except body filling of course). Acetone removes wax, at least car wax but I don't know if it's the same type on the body panels.
Maybe 70% isopropyl alcohol could remove wax and final dust cleaning before applying. I'll do some search as to what people do for the prep! I'm glad I asked.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
I followed others' threads on how to prep the body for paint so I may have done more than necessary. From what I gathered their is a layer of mold release wax on the panels that needs to be removed by some chemical & scrubbing. Sanding wont work as it will push the wax further into the panel.
818S Chassis #288 2.5L 323hp
Ordered: 9/19/14 Received Kit: 11/2/14 First Start: 5/31/15 First Drive: 6/7/15 Registered: 3/10/2016 Completed: 2/10/2017
Status: Complete Build Thread Sold 9/22/2017
joshuajach.com
Man that's great info!
So far I believe just acetone will do the trick, after the search I did. Of course doing more will not kill anyone and you'll more than certain of the positive effects.
I thought sanding would remove that damn wax! I hope it's removeable after sanding, with chemicals... I have quite some spots already sanded due to gel coat fixes.
Did you need to use 3M Primer 94 on tight edges and curves?
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021