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Has anyone used this stuff.What tricks to get it down with no bubbles? Do you use water or windex as a lube to slide it around or what?Thanks as usual,Dave
I've done a bit of work with it but it's not my specialty. When I've applied it, it's been with material that's pre-cut using computer programs that generate exact, correctly sized pieces for the specific application or vehicle. In those situations, it's not hard to install at all. I have never used it as a "wrap type" application.Wizzr, Have you used this stuff very long? Your opinion of it. How hard to install? Is it noticable? My painter doesn't like it says it is to hard to get off if repairs are needed and that it yellows.
I agree with Texasbaehr. Compound curves are challenging at best and a nightmare at worst. If you're not experienced in stretching and/or shrinking vinyl and you aren't sure where to start your application on a vehicle, you may not want to tackle it.If you are planning to cover any large areas or anything with tight or compound curves and you have never done this before then do not attempt it on your SSR. Go pay a professional.
1. The 3M film is not cheap and peeling it off and throwing it away in a mad rage is not fun.
2. This stuff is much harder to apply than instructions and YouTube videos make it out.
3. Flat surfaces are no problem but covering large compound surfaces like an SSR hood can confound you if you don't have experience installing films. Tight and compound curves can be near impossible without applying heat and having good experience.
4. Every place you touch the adhesive side of the film you will see a smudge after it dries even if you wear rubber gloves or wash your hands with soap and alcohol.
I have applied a lot of vinyl film and I still screw it up. Now I know my limits and let a professional handle it. Paying for an installer to do the job will be less painful than Throwing away several hundred $ worth of vinyl and nothing to show for it. Find a local shop that install clear paint protection and has great reviews or get recommendations. A place that does vehicle wraps doesn't necessarily qualify them to do clear unless they have experience with it.
Greg
Thanks Josh. Was thinking about getting PPF installed on my Kamanari Fasica. am concerned that with so many angles it would have to be pieced and over time seams would show.I actually install PPF for a living and do detailing more on the side. To do this piece correctly you would want to start from the center and squeegee the soapy water from the middle towards the headlight with just a slight tug of the film towards the headlight to get any wrinkles to lay flat.
Before you remove the backing, do a test fit and see how it looks and fits.
Are you using a pre-cut kit?
Josh
Do you know what company or process the chrome paint was done with ?Thanks guys for the words of wisdom. What I'm doing is the front edge of the top grill piece. I had mine done at a local shop here that does plating on plastic parts. They spray a silver solution on it and then several coats of clear. Just the front edge is all I'm gonna do. I have a 2" x 96" roll of the film protector. Here's the part.
So a few things to keep in mind when doing your bumper is that most installers use pre-cut kits which means there's software they are using to cut their patterns. On your bumper there will be no software available so if you decide to have it protected make sure you talk to the shop about it being done in bulk and if they are capable to handle that as many just are not good as doing it that way.Thanks Josh. Was thinking about getting PPF installed on my Kamanari Fasica. am concerned that with so many angles it would have to be pieced and over time seams would show.
I have tried it....and I only have a couple of hot
spots left to cover.
Suggestion.....
Before you have clear bra put on your R...
Do a 2 yr coating of Ceramic Pro. I will
take away all swirl marks and bring out
the luster in the paint. But it will not
stop road dings. That is where the clear
bra comes into play.
OH....and as quoted before..
Do not try this at home !!!!
Let a pro do it.
Frank....
Glad you're getting it protected, hopefully the film will adhere properly with the coating on under it. I'd keep an eye on the edges where the film starts and stops. Those areas may lift in time. I'd ask your installer what to do if any edges lift, just so they know you know.Josh....
Well.....it is a bit to late to change what I have done.
I had the shop do 2 coatings....5 yr warranty on the
ceramic coating. Now over 1/2 of the R is wrapped
in clear bra.
They are finishing off the fenders now.
Then they will be doing all around the windshield.
and then the area below the doors.
The rest of the front is already done. And something
that they did....they managed to do the hood all in
one piece. So that I dont have lines anywhere on it.
Frank...
I've had PPF on my R for over a year now and no issues. You can't even tell it's there and the swirls just heal away so it always looks new. I love it.Come back to this thread in a year or so and let us know how it is going, unless there are problems before then (not wishing you any) so the rest of us will know.