Advice with vinyl wrapping

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Hey,

Just looking for advice from anyone who has vinyl wrapped anything.

Anything to do that will help or anything that I shouldn't do?

Its for this tank..

https://www.muamat.com/adpics/4c7c8aa7949b18f71a707262a.jpg

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Heat, lots of if on the tank then some (but don't burn it) on the vinyl.
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P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I have a hair dryer, I also have a 250 and 450 degree C heat gun Thumbs Up

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I'd say 250C heatgun on the tank and hairdrier on the wrap I can't imagine that a heatgun would cause the Tank to explode but It might be worth draining it and leaving the cap open over a few nights for peice of mind.

The heatgun may be fine for the vinyl but use it at a distance.

Also as a side note, if you have any black plastics that has gone a bit grey, blasting it with a heatgun will bring back the colour. My Givi box had gone very grey and looked tired and crap, about 15 minutes boiling it with a heat gun and it looked new.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Tank is off the bike, in my kitchen.

I've been using the 450 mode stripping the paint off with a thin wallpaper scraper Laughing

Cuts through paint with no effort.

I'll heat the tank up, being metal its stellar at absorbing and retaining the heat.

Looking at online guides and videos, I reckon I'll be in there for over an hour getting it done Laughing

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Tank was stripped ready for painting but....sod that. I need the bike.

I can always primer it and dry that with the heat gun Laughing

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Vinyl will stick fine to bare metal, but use your hairdryer, heat gun is too harsh.

What you're aiming for is even warmth, rather than spot heat; hold the gun in one place for just a few seconds too long and the vinyl will over stretch, which is not what you want.

Ideally, you want the tank and vinyl up to normal room temperature, say 60-65 degrees, then use the hairdryer just to tease round the tightest curves and angles. You would also do well to use a very weak solution of washing up liquid, sprayed onto the metal surface, which allows the plastic to slide and lets you get any air bubbles out with a squeegee.

If you can, practice on some scrap metal and vinyl and get a feel for how the plastic behaves.

One thing that's absolutely essential is to get the surface totally clean; the slightest bit of old paint or dust will show up as lumps four times as big and cause air pockets, which will grow over time.
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