im about to wrap a vw beetle, where do i start?

[Robert Lambie]

ill try reply to this more each time i can think of somthing that might help mate..
i havent done a beetle sorry.. closest i have got to a vehicle of this shape is probably a taxi cab. & that wasnt a full wrap.

not that this will help, but its not the easiest of shapes to wrap.

i recently spoke to a good friend of mine from mactac and they tell me they have a new range launched. its a type of wrap vinyl but the purpose is for dome shaped surfaces.. (hope ive picked this info up correct)
i dont know the full spec on it but will see what i can dig up.

if not mactac.. KPMF is also a great vinyl to work with.

what do you use at present?

your problem is not stretching more shrinking.. you have excess vinyl when wrapping a dome so a bit of stretching out to fit as needed. (aahhh contradicted myself) lol.. hard to explain.. leave it with me…

[Mobilewraps]

I think know what you mean Rob.
To get the vinyl to fit you need to stretch it a lot (which is not too big a problem for good vinyls) the problem is how much the vinyl wants to shrink back to it’s original size, if it shrinks back too much then you have problems.

I use an Avery cast vinyl SEM 1005 EZ (53 micron). I use this also because I get the best print results from my digital printer. Have tried a few others and althought they are great to apply, they give terrible print quality. So I am preety much locked into what vinyl I can use.
The vinyl will also have full digital printing and it would be ideal if the image would fit together around the vehicle. ie have the image line up where it goes from the side to the front and side to the rear. I havn’t done this before so any tips on how to get the weird shapes of the beetle to match up would be appreciated.

Scott

[Steve Brockwell]

Hi Scott,

suggestions for your wrap

best finish, but pricey – Avery 900 SC (check their website for free CD on application)

Good finish, but difficult to work with – MacFleet (50 micron, tears easily)

Good finish, easy to work with – KPMF 88000 series (100 micron, image distortion occurs when stretched)

Grafiwrap – untested but viewed at SIGN UK 2003 (used with overlaminate for protection which makes it easier to handle – may be issues with print processes – check with Grafityp)

Advise training prior to use – you must have basic knowledge or you will create problems for yourself.

Good luck……….

[Mark Tunnicliffe]

We use Avery 900sc on wraps or very alkward vehicle contours, the CD-ROM avery sends out is very useful, and the tips and pointers it gives for concave and convex surfaces are very good.
The only tips I could give for lining up prints over panel gaps etc. would be to try and ensure that joints land in the least obvious areas of the design (I know thats not easy), and also if the design incorporates plain text apply this afterwards in cut vinyl, it avoids any distortion of the text which would look awful.

Hopefully my ramblings are of some use,

Mark.

[Mobilewraps]

Thanks for your advice Steve and Dollar,

I checked out the Avery web site and couldn’t find out about the CD you mentioned. I sent them an e-mail but I haven’t heard from them yet.

Sounds like you both think the Avery 900 super cast is the go. I will have to get some and have a try.

Good advice on doing the text afterwards with cut vinyl lettering. I can imagine the distortion you would end up with around the gaurds.
I will print the images so I only have 1 vinyl sheet per vehicle panel. This eliminates many overlaps and makes lining up a lot easier.

I will post some pics once done. It will probably be a few weeks.

[Robert Lambie]

We have a small car over here in the UK called the “smart car”
It has moulded wings and funny shaped bumpers etc.
I have not completely wrapped one of these cars, only on the sides.
The ones that I have saw completely wrapped have been slit in the middle of some of the wings.
I think doing the bonnet of the beetle, may have to be approached in the same way.
If it is applied in one piece (that’s if it is possible to apply in one piece)
It will have to be almost shrink-wrapped, stretched and pulled a fair bit.
This isn’t a problem if you were only applying a solid colour. But a digital print!
Well that’s a different story. By the time you get it all to lay flat, I would imagine the print to be distorted towards the edges of the bonnet a fair bit.
The problem doesn’t stop there, the wings being covered also, simply wont line up with the bonnet when applied. Even if it does land where it should, the edges being stretched on the bonnet will through it all out anyway.
Depending on the year/age the beetle is that you are using there maybe an easy way round it.
Some beetles have a thin chrome strip right down the centre of the bonnet. This would allow you to slit the bonnet vinyl in two and apply separate. These should be easy enough to apply. If it’s a new beetle then it doesn’t have this.
So it’s really up to yourself if you want to slit it and have one neat line/join down the centre or some creases or heavy stretch marks in the print towards the edges.
Having said all this i am only speaking my mind from seeing how others have tackled similar vehicle shapes. I have not ever applied to the bonnet of a beetle.

On the subject of the Avery cast.. Not being a user of the vinyl I can’t give a proper view on it. If it works like others say it does. Then go for it!
I am very sceptical about the use of cast for wraps of this sort. Fine, some wavy panels, Dips & gradual bends of wings.. But all this stretching and pulling… well who knows?
Personally I feel it will either pull back in time, or wont have enough give in it to stretch, shrink as maybe needed.
Like the 3M Control TAC, the cast is sold under the impression it can be used as a wrap. Even though it is just a good brand of cast.
Does Avery guarantee this cast as a wrap vinyl? If not, why?
Like the 3M Control TAC I have heard stories of the Avery pulling back and causing bother.
Having said that, I have heard similar on certain areas of deep recess work with proper wrap vinyls.
The choice is yours. My own opinion would be to go for a product sold to do this job & come with some sort of guarantee.

Easy Removal of the vinyl maybe an issue as well. Something else to think about further down the line.

I have been asked to give the new Oracal cast range a go.. Play with it and test it.
I’ve also been told it should cope with wrap work no problem.
Their 751 range has proved it is excellent, so why not try its big brother?
Well, like I have said above.. I am sceptical. Until I try it and convince myself then
Ill stick with using wrap vinyl…

when i do ill do a demo on my finds…
maybe even put the Avery and Oracal casts “head to head”

[Robert Lambie]

😮 😮 Is there still time to change my mind? 😆 😆 😆

I was in car garage today and next to me was the “new” VW beetle.
Having looked at it properly I would now say the bonnet shouldn’t be much bother.
What I will say is everything I said about the bonnet prior will now apply to the roof.
The front and rear wings will have to have a join on them. Like the smart car does on its wings as the vinyl wraps from the side, up and over to meet the front and rear. 😉

[MARTY]

Take a look at a site called 4edgetalk.com a site for Gerber edge users.
Go to the gallery and do a search on VW Beetle, there is a fantastic complete wrap on a new shape beetle along with advise. Its american but it shows that it can be done to great effect.

[Mark Horley]

Marty
just had a look whats the parrot upto…
If you’ve got the gear you can do anything…

[Robert Lambie]

had a look marty and i agree it looks brill..
now what im gonna say isnt gonna get me brownie points with many edge users.. but!
although an edge is perfectly capable of producing graphics for a vehicle.
one that has been used to create a vehicle wrap, then, i do not class it as a proper wrapped job!
wrapping to me is “advanced vinyl apllication”
far more time, skill & know how, is needed to properly wrap a vehicle.
seams/joins etc should “NOT” be seen.
this would be impossible for an edge, as they can only output 13 inch wide max….
if i was asked to wrap the beetle with 13 inch strips of vinyl then almost all of it would be a wlak over..
a finished wrap should loook as if the vehicle was painted that way… 🙄

[Mobilewraps]

I check out the edge site and it has some great shots of wraps.
The guy that did the design / layout must know what he is doing to be able to get the design to line up correctly all the way around.

Robert, when you are talking about the joins, do you mean there will need to be a join where the wheel gaurds/wings meet the side of the vehicle?
Or were you talking about the panel joins between the front bumper / rear bumper and the wheel gaurds / wings? (if you look close at the new beetle you can see the panel join which meets with the headlight and tail light)

Scott

[Robert Lambie]

late reply mate sorry..
i had a look at a beetle. the wings wont be the problem, as i first thought. i would say the biggest problem will be the roof. its more like a dome than a roof…
the wings on the new beetle seem to be narrower than i thought.. maybe just the new style. but not much probs..

joins? i mean a slit in the vinyl. but not slit on a door end or panel seem. right in thecentre of a panel to prevent creasing.