Carbon Fibre Fun

[ST.George]

G'Day STriders,


Have been looking into simulated carbon fibre vinyl wraps and decided to try it out bcoz some of this stuff was on Wyvern when I bought him and I like the look.



So I came across a 3M product, watched some installation videos and bought a roll from SupercheapAuto for $99. This is enough for a number of small projects and I will also use it to tart up our Toyota Tarago for sale as I have bought a replacement Honda Jazz (wonderful car).


U can do a whole car in vinyl wrap (I wouldn't tho - but it's cheaper than a repaint and lasts a long time and can b peeled off later) in any number of simulated materials such as brushed metal and chrome.


So, to get practice I chose the front panel behind the windscreen where Wyvern's eyes used 2 b, (have 2 get new ones now):



2 demonstrate the process 2 u I chose the 2 storage covers on either side of the petrol tank:


1.  Undid the screws and removed the covers:



2.  Used chemicals to prepare the covers for adhesion bcoz vinyl wrap is ideally installed on gloss paint so a textured plastic surface needs 2 b prepared by using a wax and polish remover; then Isopropyl Alcohol to remove the polish remover (can possibly skip this step); then a primer that makes the plastic ideal for adhesion (I used this one coz I couldn't find the 3M product "Primer 94" in Australia):



3.  Here's the covers after priming: (They look good don't they but it's just a primer so has no anti-UV and will oxidise in time)



4.  Cut out a vinyl piece larger then the cover and start wrapping. The material is designed 2 b removable so u can have many attempts to get it right:


A heat gun or hairdryer is used to soften the vinyl for difficult areas:



Careful not 2 apply 2 much heat or it will break. I found that difficult corners should be done first with no heat (or just a little) and micro creases will be minimised or even eliminated with enough practice. I wasn't able 2 get a perfect finish with these two covers but it was close enough 4 me 2 leave it as it is and see how the stuff performs over the next few months. Here's the first one done:






Here's the left-side cover done - looks cool eh!


Now I'm going to apply my new vinyl wrapping skills to the Tarago and sell it 4 $sqidzillions more than otherwise - NuckNuckNuckBuzzingah!


BTW: I also bought a second DoubleTake ram mount mirror 4 the right side. I swear by these mirrors as they show so much more than the standard mirrors and r so good in heavy traffic 4 switching lanes and filtering: (which is legal in NSW from July 1):


Yes TotGas I'm working 2wards this:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/834/ud52.jpg

Bought them from http://shop.adventuremoto.com.au/doubletake-mirror.html. Also bought a long ram-mount bracket but JohnyAppleseed's site might b cheaper with the ozSTOC discount.


Hope this inspires someone 2 try vinyl wrapping - it's good stuff IMHO.

[Biggles]

You're getting pretty lairy with those custom levers, mirrors, tank cover and pocket tops!   

[Marcus]

Here's the left-side cover done - looks cool eh!

That looks amazing

[gaz]

 

[Greencan]

Well done that Man

Was only this morning I was going through Hornhonkers  3M bag of goodies he'd got from a recent wrapping course he undertook.

I have been mulling the idea of wrapping an entire ST now for some time, so any comments, experiences like this thread are gratefully sought.

Cheers the can :-)

[ST2UP]

Looks good Gregory 


Ohh and your mirror isn't clipped in 


 

[ST.George]

Quote from: Biggles on July 01, 2014, 08:16:43 PM<quote>You're getting pretty lairy with those custom levers, mirrors, tank cover and pocket tops!   
</quote>

I agree Bill, (most of that stuff was inherited from previous owner), and not only that but I've yet 2 relocate my cup-holder and GPS and UHF radio. Getting crowded in there but it's like a compulsion - I just CAN'T STOP!!! But mate - u can't say 2 much when your bike has a lairy tank-cover that is like a red leather vest! Only kiddin m8. I like that tank cover.

[ST.George]

Quote from: ST2UP on July 01, 2014, 09:38:54 PM
Looks good Gregory 

Ohh and your mirror isn't clipped in 


 

Thanx Chris.
If u mean the left mirror, that's an optical illusion. It' s clipped in ok.
Checked this morn and it was just off its peg - good spotting Sherlock! 

PS: this IPad is stuffing up the quotes methinks.

[Biggles]

STOP!!! But mate - u can't say 2 much when your bike has a lairy tank-cover that is like a red leather vest! Only kiddin m8. I like that tank cover.

It's triple purpose:
It has a nice look and feel to it
It holds my Bagster tank bag
It will be removed if I ever sell Ruby, and the tank, which is the first thing people notice since it's the biggest and brightest item, looks like new!

[Shiney]

It look AWESOME

You did a great job ST.George

Well done that Man

Was only this morning I was going through Hornhonkers  3M bag of goodies he'd got from a recent wrapping course he undertook.

I have been mulling the idea of wrapping an entire ST now for some time, so any comments, experiences like this thread are gratefully sought.

Cheers the can :-)

Greencan there is a post from mr2u where he did his ST

http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=5769.0


Before



After



Hope this helps

Cheers
Shiney

[STroppy]

Noice . . . . 

[Grumpy]

This is interesting to say the least. Will be doing my 1100 in blue with black carbon fibre greys/dash and maintenance covers. Was hoping to have it done before Uralla but will probably have to wait till after now. Hoping it will come out ok. 

[Greencan]

Thanks Shiney

[ST.George]

As u know I have been experimenting with 3M Carbon Fibre vinyl wrapping and now I'm updating that post with a tale of caution with this useful but precarious material.

What I wanted 2 do is try the vinyl on the panniers to get that racey look of carbon fibre to compliment the shark-gills.

Here's the b4 shot: (scratchy and ordinary 2 b sure):
 


Here's the after shot that looks gr8 at first but bware - there r traps:



However, here's what happened:



Due 2 my lack of skill with this sometimes difficult material I couldn't get all the wrinkles out and was left with this scar area that I considered covering up with a patch - but then I had 2nd thoughts.
So I got the other pannier that was similarly prepared 4 vinyl and painted it satin black instead:







I find I like the satin black better than the carbon fibre look on the panniers - maybe u don't, but to wrap the pannier without ugly creases then I think it would have 2 b done in two pieces of wrap instead of trying 2 get the whole thing done in one go. The other reason why the wrap didn't work in this instance is that I was not able to source the 3M 94 Primer for what I considered a decent price. There4 I used a substitute primer and this primer failed if too much heat was applied. The primer came away from the pannier and adhered 2 the vinyl wrap thereby causing the wrap to lose its stickiness, so after that happened the cause was lost.
Conclusion: If u want to wrap plastics that r textured and have difficult areas 2 wrap, u really do need the 3M 94 Primer bcoz it must b heatproof and would give more opportunity 2 get it right.