3M Vinyl Wrap
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 14
From: Idaho
This moved up to the top of my must do list. After seeing the amount of salt that is used in the North East I'll do anything to keep my paint protected till retirement & I move.
On another note, there is a lot of high end cars here that are wrapped for that very reason.
Before I moved there was a R8 we use to see locally that is wrapped, was getting gas once & asked him why the wrap and not a paint job. Was to protect the paint underneath, turned out the wrap and paint were the same color. Just food for thought, if its good enough for a 114k car, its good.
On another note, there is a lot of high end cars here that are wrapped for that very reason.
Before I moved there was a R8 we use to see locally that is wrapped, was getting gas once & asked him why the wrap and not a paint job. Was to protect the paint underneath, turned out the wrap and paint were the same color. Just food for thought, if its good enough for a 114k car, its good.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
You can wrap a helmet for a different look, too. I'm gonna do the chrome bumpers on my new truck and started reading about the material/procedure yesterday. Here's a primer on the different vinyls:
http://www.vinylforum.org/smf/genera...pes-of-vinyls/
This is the cheapest place I've found the Oracal brand 751 High Performance Cast material. It may or may not be the material you want for your application:
http://www.discountsignsupplies.com/...acal-751-hpc-1
With the 3M vinyl, you need to apply a primer around edges and in cavities/depressions. Good reviews on the Oracal brand with no primer required, afaik.
Tools required are minimal; a knife, a little rubber squeegee or two and a heat gun. Maybe a tape measure and Sharpie.
http://www.vinylforum.org/smf/genera...pes-of-vinyls/
This is the cheapest place I've found the Oracal brand 751 High Performance Cast material. It may or may not be the material you want for your application:
http://www.discountsignsupplies.com/...acal-751-hpc-1
With the 3M vinyl, you need to apply a primer around edges and in cavities/depressions. Good reviews on the Oracal brand with no primer required, afaik.
Tools required are minimal; a knife, a little rubber squeegee or two and a heat gun. Maybe a tape measure and Sharpie.
Novice
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
Good luck, tell me if you put it on, and how you like it.
Novice
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
I get a company called Shadow Tint on McLeod Tr. to do it, they're the best in the city. They use 3M for a wrap, but I found out that it's only 87% clear, or something like that. For my bike I'm going to try a new product that they have called Expel Ultimate wrap which they say is 100% clear, it's a little more money. You can't tell on a colored vehicle, but I put the 3M on my white Tri Metallic Pearl Ford Explorer last year, and I wish they would have had the Expel product then.
Good luck, tell me if you put it on, and how you like it.
Good luck, tell me if you put it on, and how you like it.
MS
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 2
From: Ruston,LA
You can wrap a helmet for a different look, too. I'm gonna do the chrome bumpers on my new truck and started reading about the material/procedure yesterday. Here's a primer on the different vinyls:
http://www.vinylforum.org/smf/genera...pes-of-vinyls/
This is the cheapest place I've found the Oracal brand 751 High Performance Cast material. It may or may not be the material you want for your application:
http://www.discountsignsupplies.com/...acal-751-hpc-1
With the 3M vinyl, you need to apply a primer around edges and in cavities/depressions. Good reviews on the Oracal brand with no primer required, afaik.
Tools required are minimal; a knife, a little rubber squeegee or two and a heat gun. Maybe a tape measure and Sharpie.
http://www.vinylforum.org/smf/genera...pes-of-vinyls/
This is the cheapest place I've found the Oracal brand 751 High Performance Cast material. It may or may not be the material you want for your application:
http://www.discountsignsupplies.com/...acal-751-hpc-1
With the 3M vinyl, you need to apply a primer around edges and in cavities/depressions. Good reviews on the Oracal brand with no primer required, afaik.
Tools required are minimal; a knife, a little rubber squeegee or two and a heat gun. Maybe a tape measure and Sharpie.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
Thanks for the input.
It looks like you recommend the 3M IJ180CV3 to wrap my bumper. The bumper is chrome and brand new. Is there anything I should watch out for while wrapping chrome? Any tricks for the 3M primer? I've watched a couple Youtube demonstrations, and I'm sure I'll need to practice on a seperate piece, but it looks like something I can handle. Usually, I'm a patient person and don't rush through projects. I'd like to get it right.
It looks like you recommend the 3M IJ180CV3 to wrap my bumper. The bumper is chrome and brand new. Is there anything I should watch out for while wrapping chrome? Any tricks for the 3M primer? I've watched a couple Youtube demonstrations, and I'm sure I'll need to practice on a seperate piece, but it looks like something I can handle. Usually, I'm a patient person and don't rush through projects. I'd like to get it right.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 60
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
If you just want to protect your bumper and still see the chrome use paint protection film. Same product to protect fenders and bags. Learning to wrap is a little harder than it looks. When you start getting to the compound curves it takes a good bit of practice to learn what way to pull the vinyl and where to use heat. For some really cool wrap products check out these guys.http://www.alsacorp.com/#
Jimmy
Jimmy