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can anyone help me with wrapping a race car please?
I have been reading this section of the forum with interest and would like to pose a question of you long time guru’s!
We are considering wrapping a couple of race cars to do as a demo of our services, something that we’ve never attempted – but feel that we should offer.
In terms of application I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it 🙂 and time is not too much of an issue and as they are our cars – we can do them again and again!!
However – using a Mimaki 160SP to do the prints, can you guys recommend a suitable vinyl in this case, bearing in mind we are unlikely to laminate it due to the very temporary nature of the graphics (its short circuit oval racing) – I would however also be intrigued if laminating in these circumstances is in fact mandatory?
If its the case that we have to laminate – we only have a 1024 laminator – so I would think that we’d have to either get a roll slit or buy 1m wide film?
I’d welcome any advice on this.
Owen
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17 Replies
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You dont have to laminate the prints. Something like mactac bubble free would make it easier if you’ve not done much wrapping before.
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Hi Jon
Do you have a part number for that film?
Cheers
Owen
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JT5529 MBF
About £400 for a 50m roll of 1370mm
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when designing a wrap for a race car… consider the bumpers and areas that they will change race to race after hitting other cars, we only do partial areas and the rest in vinyls
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It seems like the front wings and rear nearside take a bit of a beating usually, so that’s why i considered non lamination – however I am concerned about the handilability of the vinyl without lamination.
If the price on the vinyl and laminate is really down in the 10 quid per linear country then there’s no real reason not to laminate I would have thought (on reflection).
This really does stand for a bit more research!
Oo
On another note does anyone know of a cast iron guaranteed way to contact Rob (admin guy) as I have sent about 6 emails about membership to him in recent weeks with no reply.
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it is easier to fit if laminated in my experience.
chris
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Cheers Chris.
I assume that’s because the laminate allows extra strength to the vinyl? I did wonder if the 2 layers would lessen the wrapping effect though – allthough I am guessing at the micron thickness they are suggesting its unlikely!
Oo
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Owen, Chris speaks wise words. using a laminate will make it easier to handle and therefore apply and a good material like grafityp would do the job (wrapping vinyl can be a personal preference thing though). Good on price and you can get 25m laminate roll slit, used to have to get it cut to 1150 myself.
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OK.. taking this one step further – one thing that we do often is duplicating a race car down to a model size, i had thought about wrapping the model shells too – seems logical…
Obviously the weight of the combined laminate and vinyl then comes into play a bit – previously I have laminated conventional vinyl like MD3 and the resulting sandwich was not particularly thick/heavy. Is it safe to assume (not having actually handled any) that the wrapping vinyl/laminate combination is thinner and (rather obviously) more flexible?
Cheers again.
Oo
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Owen
Grafywrap with the laminate is only 80mic (or therabouts) so about as thick as a normal cast vinyl, not sure why you would think there would be a weight problem, if you need a sample of grafyrap complete with print and laminate, contact Nigel at Grafityp, I’m sure he will oblige, mention my name, if not I can pop you a bit in the postPeter
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I’ll speak to them tomorrow Peter, thanks for the heads up.
The weight issue comes when you have a 12th scale car shell which weighs next to nothing to start with 🙂 I wouldn’t even attempt doing it to a lexan shell but the ones we have been asked to do are polycarbonate and quite tough.
Oo
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Owen
an A4 sheet of grafiwrap weighs 13 grams.vinyl print and lam
just checked
Peter -
Peter have you nothing better to do than weigh vinyl !!! 😀 You are getting very sad in your old age !!
Cheers
Ian -
quote Peter Normington:Owen
an A4 sheet of grafiwrap weighs 13 grams.vinyl print and lam
just checked
PeterWheres my star stickers?
Thanks a whole load for that Peter, I can now go back to the guys and drop 13 grams on the car and see how it affects them, my gut feeling is not a lot – but these guys do take it seriously and I’d quite like to get a foot in the non-airbrushing door (so to speak).
It looks as though I have some work to do now with phone calls!
Many thanks to all who came back to me – as soon as my upgrade membership gets approved I’ll be asking pertinent questions too!
Cheers
Oo
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Going to test on a 12th car tomorrow – should be fun!!
I have just watched a couple of videos from RealWraps (I know cheapskate – go on a course!), and am wondering if theres a common translation for the US -> UK products difference.
ie: Does anyone use the primer? Isoprop or White Vinegar? Heat Gun or the nutty Blowtorch (I suspect the Heat Gun!!)
Would welcome an insight.
Oo
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isoprop is universal prep, I swear by it, but only as a final once over,
blow torch, not needed but air gun yes,go on a course, money well spent, and it will actually save you money Owen, in the long run, you only need one failure to kill the profit on several jobs.
do it right once, should be your motto
Peter
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Hi Owen, as I’ve said before I’ll happily pop in and give you some (sounds like much needed) advice if you want, I am in spain at the mo but I am back on monday – let me know.
All the best Phil
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