Which is the best matt black to use for wrap in your opinion

[Martin Pearson]

I don’t have a great deal of experience with wrap films Cheryl but from what I have seen it would appear that there seem to be various levels of mattiness :lol1:
What I mean is some appear to be more satin than matt, probably best to get a few samples for customer to see so as not to disappoint. Haven’t personally noticed any real difference between the matt black & any other wrap vinyl I have used. Have used the isee2, KPMF & Arlon matt blacks, the Arlon being the easiest & quickest to apply but the other 2 films didn’t have a re positionable adhesive system or air release, KPMF do an air release matt black now but this was before they did have.
Main thing to watch out for as with all matt vinyls is over stretching which can causes glossing that won’t disappear no matter how much heat you put on it.

[Iain Pearson]

I’ve used Arlon, Hexis Hx2000 and the 3M 1080 range. Never had any problems with these, even wrapped a bath in the Arlon lol.
As with all Matt finishes, just be careful with overstretching and too much Squeegee pressure. Other than that you will be fine and dandy :thumbup2:
Also, Avery Supreme range is very good .

[Cheryl Smith]

Thank you chaps. I find if I run a finger nail over the samples they leave a shiny mark. is that something that comes out with heat?…id like to be able to offer an after care kit or advice…do you know of anything that would be beneficial to offer.

[Jon Marshall]

You can heat out surface scratches but you still have to be careful when fitting and making sure your squeegee felt is not dirty as sometimes a scratch will be too deep and you’ll end up re-wrapping panels.

[Chris Nylan]

Hi Cheryl,

I tend to use the 3M Matt Black, Avery or another one which does get overlooked slightly but as Iain mentioned is the Arlon Range, there is the UPP or 4600LX which offers matt black.

When you squeegee on you can potentially get marks and scratches here and there but going over the film afterwards with a heat gun always works. Watch out for stretching the film too much – shouldn’t be anyway if you are applying it properly- but it can turn glossy if you do.

With aftercare the client would need to be careful of which products to use on the wrap as some of the cleaners out there with chemicals in them can turn it glossy, read the manufacturers recommendations and they always offer good advice. If you use 3M just find one of their bulletins.

The other option is to look at the Satin Black range! Looks nice when its applied although I have ever only done bonnets and roof in this film.

Just in addition to Martins post, KPMF do a Matt Black, I used this on a new Fabia VRS bonnet last week which was a customer car but they also sourced there own film. Usually don’t go down this route, but he had helped me in the past, I found that with this film when its going over curves if you provide heat and a little stretch (no more than 10-15%) then then it leaves a ‘shadow’ which is a slightly different colour to the rest of the film. Probably unnoticeable to some degree when you look at it outside but under artificial light I could notice it, but then i’m super observant and all that! 🙄 – If you’re doing a full wrap I would head towards the likes of 3M, Avery, Hexis, Arlon. Just down the fact that you’ll be able to do it quick as they are easier to re position and work with.

Hope it helps,

Need any more help/advice just ask.

Chris 😀

[Cheryl Smith]

All advice helpful…thank you….I was told to use gold squeegee with the cotton sleeve is helpful.

[Chris Nylan]

They will still leave little marks here and there. Just completed a couple of BMW’s with those Gold Squeegee and sleeves, swapped to Avery Felt Edge half way through . Was going to try 3M SA-1 Low Friction Sleeves next time too see if it makes a difference.

Film was 3M 1080.

[Cheryl Smith]

felt edge better than the sleeves then…all these things make a difference. Thanks Chris

[David Hammond]

No help to your original question, however, I prefer the Oracal felt edge squeegee, the felt’s much more substantial and durable than the Avery ones, and the felt runs the full length so no nasty plastic bits to catch the vinyl.

Got ours from Antalis.

[BarryHolmes]

On the wrap – I’ve used Avery Supreme and the KPMF stuff. For a vehicle I’d recommend the Avery over the KPMF every time – more expensive but it’s ten times better. I tend only to use the KPMF for flood coating panels on vans and things which are substantially flat. Had to do a job recently wrapping a bonnet on a race car using non air release KPMF, which included massive bonnet vents…I would never again in a lifetime wish to do this but it was the only vinyl which was close to the colour required. Turned out OK, but took twice as long 😮

Cheers
Baz