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How to trim edges?
Hey guys, I attempted my first wrap today using Hexis’s hx2000 material on my smart car.
Thought I would start simple and begin with a door, the material went on fine, but then I got to the edges and started to wonder how far round should the material go and how do you get a nice clean straight edge?
Also, there is an indent half way down the door about 5mm in depth, I initially just went over it and thought I could deal with it after but when I went back to it I had a bigger issue than I thought.
I heated the material up then used my squeegee to push it in, I was then going to post heat to make it stay in shape but didn’t work out the way I planned, what am I doing wrong?
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7 Replies
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Apply your wrap over on to the next panel as well, approx 100mm. When you finished applying vinyl to the door, take your scalpel and insert between door and panel at a 45 degree angle (horizontly) and run the blade down using the door edge as a guide. Remove waste, rub down and heat.
Re slot in the panel – cut vinyl, rub down and heat.
That’s how i do it anyway
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Dan, the crease on the smart car door is best left alone. Nothing can get in there as it is sealed anyway.
If you continue the vinyl over the wing use a scapel and hold with tip of finger and let your finger be the guide (just a little of the blade showing). Cut straight in the centre, this gives an even cut in between the panels.
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Not everyone wraps the vinyl round the edge of the door Daniel, some just cut it flush with the edge of the door using the edge of the door as a guide, personally I prefer to tuck it round the door same as I would if fitting vinyl livery that crossed a door. With livery I tend to cut in the centre of the gap so there is a bit to wrap round on both sides. Normally do that with a straight edge if I can or free hand if it’s a curvy edge to the door.
If you have just done the one panel then the easiest way would be to use the edge of the door frame & give yourself a little extra material to wrap round. Make sure you use a new blade in the scalpel & with very little pressure you will find it follows the line of the panel without causing any damage or marking the paint. Or you could always invite Chris round for a pint & get him to show you while he’s there :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: -
If your doing the door in one panel and the next panel in a different piece I will cut using the opposing panel and wrap it around. It gives you a few mm of material and doesn’t take long. Make sure you don’t leave any square pieces of vinyl around corners and cut them round so you can apply it without creases. Also when wrapping it around do the corners first using heat then do the straighter sections second. It will help you not get creases in the corners.
If your doing the whole side car in one piece then I cut closer to the empty side. Example on the rear door I will cut on the door side and leave more vinyl to wrap on the inside of the door. You see more paint in this area and its best to cover it up more.
Wheel arches I tend to leave less material wrapped under and cut it fairly flush.
Under the hood of the bonnet where the engine is I always leave about 10mm of material and really fold it over and wrap it under to ensure it stays put.
Once you get more experience and can make a cut in one go it really doesn’t take you much extra time to wrap a few mm around doors and jams etc.
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Thanks guys, you’ve all been a big help.
Chris, you say leave that crease on the door untouched, would you do the same with the bumpers then where they join onto the wings because it’s all clipped together so in theory it’s all one piece.
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no the bumpers are cut and can be over lapped slightly.
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Daniel sorted out how to cut his graphics and managed to do half a smart car in 2 hours. Took some photos as he went
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