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How much does vinyl wrap shrink with heat?
smart51 - 5/8/14 at 01:21 PM

I need to cover a compound curve with one piece of material to keep out water. I've come up with the idea of using the kind of vinyl wrap used for cars. It will need to shrink a fair bit round the edges to get rid of wrinkles. So I know if it will work, I need to know how much vinyl wrap shrinks. Google hasn't helped so far.

I know heat shrink tube used in electronics will usually shrink to 50% its original size, and some are even better. I don't know if the automotive stuff is the same. Is there anyone on here in the know?


mcerd1 - 5/8/14 at 01:36 PM

I could be wrong, but I thought vinyl wrap was normally stretched over curves on cars rather than shrunk at the edges....


coozer - 5/8/14 at 01:36 PM

Is does shrink but the trip is to stretch and shrink, use a hot air gun but not too close, if it gets too hot it shrivels up and looses its shape and properties, ie goes a bit hard..

I used that thick 3m stuff on my scuttle and it went round the top corners where the bonnet fits quite well (for a first timer!) Finished the edge off with a strip of foam rubber.


loggyboy - 5/8/14 at 01:49 PM

It stretches with heat, but will also return to its previous shape when heat is reapplied.


19sac65 - 5/8/14 at 03:26 PM

Use 3m or other good quality stuff
The cheap stuff goes hard and then wrinkles
My front cycle wings looked like a tulip the following day !!
As said above,stretch over not shrink into
A hair drier might be better as its not as fierce as a heat gun


jossey - 5/8/14 at 04:08 PM

I'm just finishing doing my cycle wings and bonnet with 3m wrap. The key is a heat gun on low heat.

I burnt through both bits of vinyl on my wings due to too much heat too quick.

It's hard to shrink it round stuff and takes practice. I bought a 5x1m of carbon for about £25 so I can practice a lot.

The bonnet I have done one pratice run using washing up liquid to get it on lose and it's ok but at the cut outs for the air filter I shrunk too much and become damaged.

Have a go it's cheap to try.

You will need 2 people to do this.


onenastyviper - 5/8/14 at 06:01 PM

who does the collective recommend for buying vinyl wrap materials?


Slimy38 - 5/8/14 at 06:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by onenastyviper
who does the collective recommend for buying vinyl wrap materials?


Nice selection here;

http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vehiclewrapping.asp


onenastyviper - 6/8/14 at 06:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
quote:
Originally posted by onenastyviper
who does the collective recommend for buying vinyl wrap materials?


Nice selection here;

http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vehiclewrapping.asp


Definately a good selection - thanks.

Not too sure about this though -> http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vehiclewrappingvelvet.asp


James - 6/8/14 at 12:17 PM

A friend of mine told me you can get 'spray on' wrap.

He's supposedly having it done on the roof of his T4.

Might be worth researching.


James - 6/8/14 at 12:19 PM

Spray-on vinyl wrap

Hope that's some use....