Beginner - 3 easy questions (i think)

1524 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by K Chez, May 31, 2018

Xiiarnine

Discussion Starter · Mar 24, 2018

I just recently got my Kia Forte......but became instantly annoyed with how many people had one. So, i decided to make mine stand out. At first, i wanted to paint it....but long story short, found out that vinyl is a better non permanent and far cheaper alternative.

I have a Sillhouette Quickutz machine at home. I dont want a full wrap.....but i DO want to put some character art and whatever else my mind comes up with on it. It would probably be about 1" 1/2 big.

My questions are:

Can i layer vinyl on top of each other? Will it warp in different weather conditions?

Thing is, my cutter is only 8 1/2 wide. This limits the size i wanted to make it. However, can i get past the length issue by simply cutting out some parts and putting them on top of each other? I know about registration marks and ill try to form fit those if at all possible....but i need to know if its A-ok to layer a little if at all.

Orical 651 or lower?

Been lurking here for a while and saw some suggest Orical 651 as a more permanent, durable solution. But i cross referenced with other irl people and some are telling me that it will take my paint off. I know that removing it requires a heat gun bit what im not sure is if it will mess it up EVEN WITH the use of a heat gun. (My car is white btw so no fading in time for me). Thing is, i dont know how arduous this process will take. If its easy-ish...i may change it every so often. If it takes some hours and effort, i may want to have it on there for a WHILE.

So i dont know whether to go for 651 or something less permanent since i know that the less permanent one has a lower life than the 651.

Thanks~

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Amw

· #2 · Mar 25, 2018

Xiiarnine said:
I just recently got my Kia Forte......but became instantly annoyed with how many people had one. So, i decided to make mine stand out. At first, i wanted to paint it....but long story short, found out that vinyl is a better non permanent and far cheaper alternative.

I have a Sillhouette Quickutz machine at home. I dont want a full wrap.....but i DO want to put some character art and whatever else my mind comes up with on it. It would probably be about 1" 1/2 big.

My questions are:

Can i layer vinyl on top of each other? Will it warp in different weather conditions?

Thing is, my cutter is only 8 1/2 wide. This limits the size i wanted to make it. However, can i get past the length issue by simply cutting out some parts and putting them on top of each other? I know about registration marks and ill try to form fit those if at all possible....but i need to know if its A-ok to layer a little if at all.

Orical 651 or lower?

Been lurking here for a while and saw some suggest Orical 651 as a more permanent, durable solution. But i cross referenced with other irl people and some are telling me that it will take my paint off. I know that removing it requires a heat gun bit what im not sure is if it will mess it up EVEN WITH the use of a heat gun. (My car is white btw so no fading in time for me). Thing is, i dont know how arduous this process will take. If its easy-ish...i may change it every so often. If it takes some hours and effort, i may want to have it on there for a WHILE.

So i dont know whether to go for 651 or something less permanent since i know that the less permanent one has a lower life than the 651.

Thanks~

Yes you can layer vinyl...just be sure you use calendared vinyl on calendared vinyl and cast vinyl on cast vinyl.
651=Calendared
751=Cast

651 will be fine for what your doing, 751 would be preferred though. Whoever told you that it will take off paint does not know what they are taking about. If your paint job is from the factory you have nothing to worry about. We put 651 (more often 751, but they have the same adhesive) on expensive cars/suvs and never once has there been an issue with the paint coming off.

(dont use 631, it doesn't use a permanent adhesive)

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Ripcord

· #3 · Mar 25, 2018

I did a job a year ago on a bus and used calendared vinyl. It's parked outside so it's in the sun all day every day. I looked at it close up yesterday and the graphics have shrunk ever so slightly so you can see a very small outline from where the edges originally were. (It still looks fine from a few feet away...) I've found that cast vinyl doesn't cost much more than calendared so I'll be using cast from now on for vehicles and outdoor signs. I've also found that it's easier to weed (my distributor carries the 3M Gerber brand...)

You can buy a liquid in a spray bottle called Vinyl Off that rejuvenates old weathered vinyl and penetrates into the adhesive to make it much easier to remove.

The only time I've damaged paint was on an old truck that had rust and the paint was coming off anyway. If you leave the graphics on for a long time the sun may gradually discolor the exposed part of the paint such that when the graphics are removed you may be able to see where they were... It doesn't hurt to mention that to the customer, but people who truly care about the appearance of their vehicle will take care of it properly and park it indoors, so that shouldn't happen.

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Xiiarnine

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 12, 2018

Thanks for the answers!

Another question......

say for instance i wanted to cut........maybe this picture out (not gonna be this one btw). Since my cutter is small, would i have to adjust it so that when i put the sections of the picture together with the transfer paper, the end points of each section of the lines sit ON TOP of each other so that when they ultimately shrink after being on the car for so long, they wont pull back and reveal broken lines?

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K Chez

· #5 · Apr 25, 2018

I would use 751, 651 is for more of a short term application. If you do use 651, there's a good chance that your seams from tiling your design will show over time as the 651 pulls back

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Amw

· #6 · Apr 25, 2018

Xiiarnine said:
Thanks for the answers!

Another question......

say for instance i wanted to cut........maybe this picture out (not gonna be this one btw). Since my cutter is small, would i have to adjust it so that when i put the sections of the picture together with the transfer paper, the end points of each section of the lines sit ON TOP of each other so that when they ultimately shrink after being on the car for so long, they wont pull back and reveal broken lines?

For something like this you will want to use CAST film to avoid shrinkage.

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Xiiarnine

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 30, 2018

What is cast film? Is this something completely different from Vinyl all together?

Okay!
Got enough money to start investing in this without breaking my bank in the slightest.

Talked to a local vinyl wrapping shop in the area. Figured id just find out what the professionals charge just in case they may not charge that much. If it wasn't going to be that much, I could try to have them do it and install it, thereby taking out some for newbie error.

They wanted $300 for just a racing stripe.

Haha.......nnno.

Not when i can buy vinyl for a fraction of the price and do it myself.

What I ULTIMATELY want was gonna be NOWHERE CLOSE to a simple racing stripe. With that price being said, it was going to be triple the price.

So!
I just bought my heat gun today!

Got one with a variable temperature setting, that way I don't mess up anything due to incorrect heating Temps.

I know next I have to wash my vehicle off. I guess what I have to do is go over the surface a final time with alcohol to prep the surface.

Man....im putting all my faith in everyone here. Im only a bit nervous. More or less worried about the "wrapping" part. Cant exactly pull off my tail lights and such......so im hoping that i can wrap the cut ends and shove them up in the crevices with as many narrow objects i can get ahold of to do it.

Anything else i should know?
Imma try to have something......if not everything done by the end of the week.

Will be posting up pics of the finished work.

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K Chez

· #8 · May 31, 2018

There are two types of vinyl - cast & calendered. Cast vinyl is a higher quality material that has a longer life, better conformablity and isn't as prone to shrinkage as calendered vinyl. Think of it this way - pro level/high quality jobs that you want to last for 7+ years should be on cast vinyl, "economy" or short duration jobs (race cars that get banged up and need replacements several times a year) is where calendered would be used.
You're also gonna find out real quick why the local place quoted you $300 - the cost is in the experienced labor and the ability to do a clean job quickly - it will definitely be a learning experience. Really don't think you're going to need a heat gun if your limited to only cutting 8 1/2" high graphics, that would be useful if you were doing a partial or full wrap, but if you're just laying small graphics like you described in your original post, with I'm guessing transfer tape on them, then heat should be necessary. Good luck!

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Beginner - 3 easy questions (i think)

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