Does the laminating stop the cast being as conformable?

[Martin Pearson]

Lorraine just make sure you use a cast laminate and you should be alright, grafityp use a matched system for vinyl and laminate but as I dont have a printer I dont know if it is any good.

[Andy Gorman]

Martin’s right, you should make sure the laminate is the same as the printed material. Laminating does obviously make the vinyl a bit more rigid, but conformability isn’t really affected, it just takes a little bit more heating but nothing you’d notice.

[Lorraine Clinch]

Thanks for that guys, appreciate your time.

Another question, along similar lines.

I have never used cast, mainly cos my suppliers have never offered it, so didn’t know there was a different type until reading these boards. I plan to change over now though, as I deplete old stocks (to Oracal751c).

Q: If I plan to do a (for example) motorbike tank in a single colour, can I use cast vinyl, or do I have to use a wrapping vinyl. If so, do they come in colours?

Oops. Just found the answer-oracals cast wrap vinyl in colours (expensive though compared to normal cast-would 751c do the job, does anyone know?)

Asking coz going to place order with Oracal today.

Thanks again

Lorraine

[steve geary]

Lorraine,
i wrap some things with cast. Mostly small things. I believe it’s easier with wrapping vinyl, for it’s designed for dry application and pulling up and such. It’s easier to mess up cast when doing thisI’ve only used 3m control tac laminated and practiced wrapping, so my experience is minimal. It worked well though.
I’d try it if i were you, if you get good at wrapping regular cast, it should be easier with wrapping vinyl.

steve

[Martin Pearson]

Lorraine at the end of the day I supose you get what you pay for, as Steve has said you can wrap things like this with a normal cast vinyl but I would not attempt it because I dont think I’m any where near good enough at applying vinyl to do it properly. cast is not that forgiving and it is easy to make a mistake and not so easy to put the mistakes right when doing this sort of job. I have never used oracals wrap but have used both KPMF and macfleet, they are quite easy to use with little or no experience of wrapping and although may be more expensive they ensure you get the job done right first time saving you both time and money. Also as they were designed to do this sort of work I know if there is a problem I will get some support from the suppliers.

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hi Martin

I appreciate what you are saying, but this is only for practice, (I am taking on board Southernandy’s comments about not supplying a service until I’ve served my time! 😀 !) and as Steve says, if I get good at using cast, when I do wrap for real, using the proper vinyl it should be a doddle (-) -that’s my thinking, anyway.

[Hugh Potter]

sorry to jump in here lorraine !

does wrap vinyl have a less severe adhesive then, allowing you to lift and re-lay as you stretch over a curve of whatever ?

from what i’ve seen, you don’t use a tape either, so i’m guessing this is a two man job ?

i’m just inquisitive as i’m still considering having a go at my daily driver, it’s only an old car so it wont really matter, and it’l look better than the scuffed up paint thats on it now !!

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hi Hugh, good point. I see the description in Europoint says the adhesive increases as time goes on, but when I’ve talked to wrappers( 😮 ) they say the vinyl lifts really easily, without damaging paintwork even 3 years later?

[steve geary]

Hugh,
There are lots of people on here that know much more about this than I do, but….
the 3m control tac has Grooves.. kinda grids.. in the adhesive to help with repositioning. (less contact)… it’s pressure sensitive like most adhesives, so when you squeegee it it breaks some chemicals and bonds greater.
Make any sense?

[Andy Gorman]

I’m not completely up to date with all the wrap vinyls, but when the only one available was the thick KPMF variety (about 5 years ago) I saw a car wrapped in cast vinyl. So it can be done. If you are going to attempt to wrap a motorcyle tank be warned, it aint easy. Much stretching will be required and colour distortion may occur. Try it though and let us know how you get on. Be careful with hot air near a fuel tank though!

[Lorraine Clinch]

Yeah Andy, think I’ll make sure it’s empty first!

By the way, just ordered some 751cast (and a load of other stuff too!) :drums: Looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about regarding Oracal & cast!

[Martin Pearson]

Lorraine as Andy has said it can be done but its not at all easy, there are differences in the cast and wrap vinyls and I wouldn’t agree that if you can do it with cast then a wrap vinyl will be a doddle, its really quite hard to explain but having used both I know what I mean, hopefully Robert will come along and explain better than me as he has a much better knowledge.

Hugh the KPMF and macfleet vinyls have to be heated above a certain temperature to ensure the vinyl sticks properly, you fit the vinyl using heat but once in place you really blast it with heat. It can be done on your own but is really a two man job, one stretching/supporting the vinyl and one heating and applying. If you work with someone for a while it becomes much easier as the person doing the stretching gets a feel for how you apply and always seems to pull in the right direction. The really neat bit is that if you overstretch it you can apply a bit of heat and watch it shrink back to its original size.

[Hugh Potter]

cool ! thanks martin, and steve ! kinda what i’d figured and never asked, so its nice to hear it from the horses mouth so to speak,

[Cammy – Europoint Display]

HI Guys,

Proper vehicle wrap vinyl is also cast (taxi wrap is not the same as it doesn’t cover the whole vehicle) its just thicker ,which makes it easier to handle large area sheets. It should also have a re positionable adhesive which means you don’t need to get it right first time as lifting and re-applying within reason is easier. All digital print vinyl has the same adhesive for this reason.

[Phil Halling]

Bottom line is you can wrap anything that is wrappable(?) in just about any material out there, the real problem is wether the wrap will stay where you put it, not lift out of recesses or shrink back off tight compound curves like wing mirrors etc.
We have tried most, if not all, the wrapping films on the market in this country at the moment and there, in our opinion, is not one without some sort of limitations. After all you must remember that wrapping is NOT an alternative to a paint job – it is a compromise to acheive your design/colour scheme onto a vehicle without having the need to paint it.
BTW you know that you’ve picked one of the hardest things to wrap in a motorbike tank, best of luck & all the best
Phil