Just a simple vinyl wrap demo.

Tools & Materials needed:
Your choice of vinyl (3M Di-noc is durable enough for automotive usage.)
Sharp X-acto knife
Heatgun or wife's hair dryer**
Optional -
Squeegee
Spline Roller tool

Step 1:
Prep the part, wipe all surfaces thoroughly.




Step 2:
Cut a piece of vinyl big enough to cover the entire part AND extend beyond all edges of item by at least 3/4".




Step 3:
Peel and apply vinyl lightly near the center of part.


Step 4:
And this is where it takes the most time and patience > working the vinyl towards the edges. (I worked towards the side with the most complex curves first. That way if/when you need to peel the vinyl to release/relieve the wrinkles/air-bubbles/creases it's much easier to do so from the side that doesn't have such a complex shape.)


Apply heat from a heatgun or hair dryer as you work (Be Careful not to burn yourself or the vinyl. You only need enough to soften the vinyl.) Work the vinyl in sections.








Step 5:
Once you get the vinyl wrapped to the edges...


Use a Spline Roller to finish off the edges, if there are any grooves, lips, etc.



Step 6:
After you get your edges rolled to your liking, you will probably find a lot of vinyl "bunched up" around the corners and/or tight curves...

To solve this problem, make some relief cuts like this...


Step 7:
Now just fold over the vinyl to the back side of your part.

Apply heat as you need it and then trim off the remainder vinyl to a clean edge.






Here's the final result -











**don't let her catch you using it on vinyl like that.

 

wooh that's neat, you cut the inside sticker evenly too, if it was me I would just cut them and shove it inside.Bubbles and wrinkles are the real problems I think. I heard some people use soap water before applying cutting sticker

 

Well, with the 3M di-noc vinyl AND wrapping such a complex shape.. I WOULDN'T recommend you use that soap water method. Not only would you end up not being able to maintain the vinyl on the part to "work" it over the curved surfaces, you'll completely negate the vinyl's "stretch & flex" ability when you try to heat it up... the soap and water would Cool the vinyl too quickly for you to have time to properly maneuver the material over or into place.

For my particular auto part, you really want the vinyl to "stick & hold" in place while trying to wrap it around those funky compound curves.

 

Amazing write up and completed so clean. great job.

 

That was so neat. I used to wrap carbon fiber on mobile devices and tried it on my nissan versa before i got my RVR.

 

Thank you very much.
It's all about the attention to details...
Takes more effort and time, but the end result turns out much better and with the over-edge wrap method, you don't ever have to worry about dirt, detergents/soaps, or moisture ever seeping under the leading edges of your vinyl to cause it to lift & peel. < That would drive me nuts.



Very nice.
Got to love those fairly flat parts for wrapping!

Now I need to start wrapping some of the interior parts.

 

Exactly,Its much easier if the parts are all flat.Im excited in your next project.

 

Perfect write-up again! I too plan on doing my full interior too. Only my center console is done for now...


With the subtle raised Mitsubishi logo...

 

^
I'm jealous of you guys with those massive (and easier to wrap) double-DIN stereo bezels... I have the silly stock radio bezel that's not friendly at all for vinyl wrapping, especially with those preset buttons and tiny lettering in the way.

 

Abbreviated INSTRUCTS (clifffnotes version) -

Cut a square piece of CF vinyl big enough to cover the entire part AND remember to add about an 1.5" of extra material near the rear of the piece to suitably cover the entire unit.




Apply heat to all major surfaces, using the Spline tool to help "edge" the vinyl down to the center "lip" of the cover


Make "special" relief cuts/slits on the two back corners..


Then, fold the cut slits together.


Trim all excess material




FINISHED.





INSTALLED. >
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/11161679-post24.html

 

Love the gif!

 

But please don't stare at it too long, it gives me a headache..

 

Did theis to my car a while ago .

 

Roger that!

 

awesome write up