Wrapping my LC in Satin White Pearl (1 Viewer)

[DirtDawg]

Just a quick reality check: I would love to wrap my truck, but I wouldn't expect the vinyl to protect the paint in terms of scratches and dents/dings. If you're trail riding, a good solid tree branch or rock scrape is going to tear through the vinyl. The vinyl will protect against sun fade and minor parking lot stuff but again if you're trail riding it isn't a fool proof armor for your paint.

I would definitely expect the wrap to get torn up on a rock scrape, but the vinyl should hold up just fine to tree branches and other light stuff. Its quality vinyl.

OP, subbed, I have been heading down this path just because you can wrap a car yourself for around $500 in materials. Will be following to see how it turns out.

 

[geanes]

Fantastic job there. Will be following your progress. I have a 98 LX in the Golden Pearl color (looks white). I want to do an expedition trailer (M416 style) painted to match. A wrap would be less expensive though hence my interest in your project.

 

[PabloCruise]

Wicked cool!

I have a little Civic that was black, and the clear coat has died. I love the car, but it looks rough, so I want to wrap it because paint is so expensive...

I will look at the Avery products.

BIG QUESTION: what kind of life span are you expecting from the Avery vinyl? I could see doing this if it will hold up for 3 years or so. If you are having to re-do it every year I think I would feel differently.

 

[DirtDawg]

Wicked cool!

I have a little Civic that was black, and the clear coat has died. I love the car, but it looks rough, so I want to wrap it because paint is so expensive...

I will look at the Avery products.

BIG QUESTION: what kind of life span are you expecting from the Avery vinyl? I could see doing this if it will hold up for 3 years or so. If you are having to re-do it every year I think I would feel differently.

Most premium wraps now a days last 5-7 years.

 

[FxFormat]

Thanks guys, I’ll update my progress this weekend when I’m off. Definitely need a hand to wrap such a big vehicle, the challenging part for me was learning the vinyl’s property. How it reacts to heat and how it behaves when repositioning it. I’ve used vinyl before and each company is different. 3M is a little harder to work with so I went with Avery, per recommendation.

So far there’s no bubbles in the vinyl just a couple of dirt bumps that’s inevitable doing it at home. The rear quarter panel piece will be the toughest to do for sure, it runs from the back to front and I’m still trying to figure out how to tuck the vinyl under the rear hatch window seal.

 

[reznunt]

I would definitely expect the wrap to get torn up on a rock scrape, but the vinyl should hold up just fine to tree branches and other light stuff. Its quality vinyl.

This^^^

If the wrap can defeat pinstriping then I'm in! Just so I never have to buff ever again. Except for one last time before wrapping.

 

[FxFormat]

This^^^

If the wrap can defeat pinstriping then I'm in! Just so I never have to buff ever again. Except for one last time before wrapping.

I went with satin white so if I do get pinstripes it’ll probably blend in anyways heh. Besides if it gets really bad just rip it out and rewrap it.

 

[MattThompson]

Hey gang, 16 years has done much damage to the clear coat, that and along with dings and dents that i can no longer stand. The paint can't be saved, i tried to wet sand and buff it but there isn't any clear left to bring back the paint so i thought why not use this opportunity and try vinyl wrapping the vehicle. I pondered about respraying it in starfire pearl (Lexus color) or get it wrapped. i weighed in the pros and cons of each and in the end i chose to wrap because painting would cost more than the value of the car.

The film i went with was Avery Dennison Premium white pearl. It's pretty expensive, about $9 a foot, and i needed about 60ft to do the LC. I know nothing about wrapping, just been watching a bunch of youtube videos and started on it today with a buddy. Here are some progress pics, i'm trying to finish the whole truck by sunday night, but i doubt it since it's a lot of work. We spent 8 hours today and could only do the hood and 2 fenders. Takes forever to get the bubbles out, and being OCD, even the tiniest bubble would bother me so we had to try and get it out.

To do it right, gotta remove everything off the truck, the whole front end had to come off to get around the edges.

Color doesn't really show now but when it's sunny out, you'll appreciate how awesome it looks. We'll be working on it again on saturday.

Looking good! (if the truck was true white before, there probably never was clear, but rather single stage)

 

[r2m]

In my opinion, a vinyl wrap is much more practical and gives awesome look to your car. My vinyl wrap project was installed by Gatorwraps and I am very satisfied!

Funny that you should mention Gatorwraps. I live in San Clemente and work in Irvine and yesterday going to the office I see this stupid huge, monster F550 (or something) with metallic green graphics on the freeway going in my direction. That thing was about as off-road capable as a bra on a snake!
Then today, again on the way to work, I see a little Ford Focus (or something) with this garish metallic green graphics. I eventually wind up passing it and it too is a Gatorwraps vehicle!

The paint on my LC is pretty tired. How do you like your skins? Since I'm an Army reservist been in for almost 9 years, AND my LC is already River Rock Mica Green, I've been thinking about going with mat olive drab green.

Hummm...
I wonder if GOD is trying to tell me something?? Does HE want me to wrap instead of paint???

 

[abuck99]

I sampled two matte greens on Avery Vinyl SW900

Satin Khaki Green #712
Matte Khaki Green #712

both are good options

Heres a link to all the SW900 Color Options
Avery Dennison SW 900 Supreme Wrapping Film (All colors) | FELLERS

 

[FxFormat]

This is what the vinyl looks like under good lighting and camera, can't wait until i'm done with it all.

 

[re_guderian]

How do you do the A-pillar and roof around the windshield, etc.? Are you going to do the bumpers? I imagine front bumper insert would be a nightmare.

 

[FxFormat]

How do you do the A-pillar and roof around the windshield, etc.? Are you going to do the bumpers? I imagine front bumper insert would be a nightmare.

The truck is naturally two toned so I’m not wrapping the bumpers or the trim. The A pillar goes all the way to the back will be a nightmare, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. Roof is easy, just a big piece

 

[Matserelli]

Awesome! That wrap is going to look so good though, your gonna have to wrap the bumpers and trim!

 

[crimsonaudio]

Just a quick reality check: I would love to wrap my truck, but I wouldn't expect the vinyl to protect the paint in terms of scratches and dents/dings. If you're trail riding, a good solid tree branch or rock scrape is going to tear through the vinyl. The vinyl will protect against sun fade and minor parking lot stuff but again if you're trail riding it isn't a fool proof armor for your paint.

Yah, I've just accepted my "custom pin-striping" as a badge of honor. Heck, get 10' away and it still looks great...

 

[ChuckB]

Very nice! I just put some quality pin-striping on my LC in Portugal this weekend. May have to go this route in future. The color is perfect!!

 

[LEX]

This is what the vinyl looks like under good lighting and camera, can't wait until i'm done with it all.

Seeing this, take some extra time to get rid of the dirt that may hide underneath. Get some fans or use a leaf blower every step maybe? Looks awesome.

 

[NCFJ]

Looks great so far, you are braver that I sir!!

 

[FxFormat]

Seeing this, take some extra time to get rid of the dirt that may hide underneath. Get some fans or use a leaf blower every step maybe? Looks awesome.

I use a degreaser to wipe the surface, then i have a tack cloth they used in paint booths, have a couple can of compressed air and still those dirt find a way to get under the vinyl. It's the same way as an aftermarket paintjob, no matter how good of a booth, how good of a painter, there's still going to be dirt bumps. However they can buff out the bumps, vinyl cannot. There's a couple in the hood and 1 in the fender, it's not too bad you don't see it unless you are OCD like me that scans every inch with his 20/20 vision.

 

[PabloCruise]

This is what the vinyl looks like under good lighting and camera, can't wait until i'm done with it all.

Yes! A friend wrapped his F-Type in a similar color. I really liked it...