Stripe Advice and Mods On *Pic Heavy*
05-29-2014, 04:54 PM
#1
Chop Mod
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Stripe Advice and Mods On *Pic Heavy*
I just got my car back from the body shop with a BMC black mamba hood and SHR louvers. I bought a gloss black Super Snake stripe to go on at the same time, but the shop didn't install it. So now I have to make up my mind if I want it on.
So stripe or no stripe? Also, my husband is wanting to try putting the stripe on. He's mechanically inclined, but he's never worked with vinyl. Any tips? How hard is it to install a stripe?
So stripe or no stripe? Also, my husband is wanting to try putting the stripe on. He's mechanically inclined, but he's never worked with vinyl. Any tips? How hard is it to install a stripe?
05-29-2014, 09:56 PM
#2
it's not that hard actually....you have LOTS of flat spaces to work with, being it's a coupe.
Your toughest tasks will be tucking the stripes on the front bumper and working the angle to make sure it stays even. If you bought a stripe kit, then it will be THAT much easier.
since your car is white, there are some things that need to be done prior to laying the stripes.
#1 CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN the car! Claybar and iron-x it as well. You won't have to worry about the hood since it's freshly painted, but the rest of the car needs to be as spotless as possible! You want absolutely no dirt trapped between the vinyl and the paint, especially on a white car. If you ever remove the stripes, you don't want to find rust spots or erosion from not cleaning it in the first place. Iron-X will lift and remove any remaining rail dust from the car, and is recommended for light colored cars (especially white) prior to striping.
Once you're done with that, then it's on to the stripes!
#1 ALWAYS lay stripes on a cool, clean surface
#2 mix a spray bottle with water and a few drops of Dawn...this will be your lubricant for moving/positioning the stripes.
#3 If you have some of the plastic vinyl squeegee tools, get some felt and glue it along the edge. This will prevent streaking/scratching in the vinyl when setting it to the car, especially if you start overworking it...the softer the contact surface on the vinyl, the better.
#4 TAKE YOUR TIME!
#5 do a flat surface first (like the roof), to get a feel for what you are doing.
#6 use a grease pencil to mark the center of the car, then use painters tape to mark off the gap or edge lines for the stripe.
#7 MEASURE TWICE, THEN MEASURE AGAIN!
#8 TAKE YOUR TIME!
#9 once the stripe is laid...don't mess with it! Let it dry...trapped water and air will work themselves out over a few days or allowing the car to sit in the sun...
I'm sure i'm forgetting something, but if you're patient and just take your time, it will be easier than you think and your car will be transformed from...
THIS:
TO THIS:
Your toughest tasks will be tucking the stripes on the front bumper and working the angle to make sure it stays even. If you bought a stripe kit, then it will be THAT much easier.
since your car is white, there are some things that need to be done prior to laying the stripes.
#1 CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN the car! Claybar and iron-x it as well. You won't have to worry about the hood since it's freshly painted, but the rest of the car needs to be as spotless as possible! You want absolutely no dirt trapped between the vinyl and the paint, especially on a white car. If you ever remove the stripes, you don't want to find rust spots or erosion from not cleaning it in the first place. Iron-X will lift and remove any remaining rail dust from the car, and is recommended for light colored cars (especially white) prior to striping.
Once you're done with that, then it's on to the stripes!
#1 ALWAYS lay stripes on a cool, clean surface
#2 mix a spray bottle with water and a few drops of Dawn...this will be your lubricant for moving/positioning the stripes.
#3 If you have some of the plastic vinyl squeegee tools, get some felt and glue it along the edge. This will prevent streaking/scratching in the vinyl when setting it to the car, especially if you start overworking it...the softer the contact surface on the vinyl, the better.
#4 TAKE YOUR TIME!
#5 do a flat surface first (like the roof), to get a feel for what you are doing.
#6 use a grease pencil to mark the center of the car, then use painters tape to mark off the gap or edge lines for the stripe.
#7 MEASURE TWICE, THEN MEASURE AGAIN!
#8 TAKE YOUR TIME!
#9 once the stripe is laid...don't mess with it! Let it dry...trapped water and air will work themselves out over a few days or allowing the car to sit in the sun...
I'm sure i'm forgetting something, but if you're patient and just take your time, it will be easier than you think and your car will be transformed from...
THIS:
TO THIS:
Last edited by steel pony; 05-29-2014 at 09:59 PM.
05-30-2014, 06:25 AM
#4
even if you decide not to put the stripes on, i'd recommend a good cleaning and an Iron-X bath for the car...
here's whats left behind in the paint even after claybar...this is just rail dust and other contaminants still in the clearcoat
here's whats left behind in the paint even after claybar...this is just rail dust and other contaminants still in the clearcoat
