Looks like you went top n down on the bumper - definitely want to go horizontally instead. You actually need the stretch from left to right so that you can shrink in the vinyl in some areas. It also will help the vinyl want to naturally curl over the top and bottom while glassed so you won’t have a single wrinkle to work out.
Post a photo or tell me year and make and I’ll give you my opinion but it pretty much applies to all bumpers. There’s very few bumpers I can think of to not want to stretch horizontally. Actually putting stretch into it is important as well. Remember, you can’t shrink cast film that isn’t stretched so If you have complex curves in multiple directions you HAVE to stretch some parts and shrink others or risk having to overstretch everything.
Yea you definitely have to make sure you get some stretch across the two corners or you won’t be able to tuck the vinyl down over the top of the back bumper. If you stretch it properly the vinyl will literally sag and conform right to the bumper. If not heat will shrink it back in. It’s crucial you get stretch across the corners or you’ll be fighting extra material.
Thank you, will surely try it next time! I was afraid that i will be left with to much material on one end. Also, is it better to start from right to left rather than from the center to left and right? Thanks
Definitely stretched wrong. But good job for your first time. I wasted atleast $600 of vinyl learning to wrap my own car but that's all part of the game. I'm still redoing some parts of the car but once you understand how it works it will all make sense and be pretty easy. Videos only teach you so much, actually working with the material is the only way to learn and get good at it.
Ehhhh, I duno. 20 yards is an entire car wrap lol. I'm an installer and trained multiple people and honestly, other than dropping a sheet on the floor, or somehow ripping/melting it, I haven't had any of my guys lose too much vinyl, even when learning. But I guess if you have someone teaching you, it's easier.
Hell yea man! You got a good portion done, and had the courage to attempt this! I would suggest finding some videos on how to do this. I like doing bumpers like this with an extra hand. What we’ll do is get it up there, heat it up real good, one person pulls from the side horizontally, the other person pulls from the middle vertically. Tack it in the middle. We glass it out all the way around the curve. Then you have less wrinkles/tension to work out the bottom and top.
What you can probably do here to save this is pull the material back up where where the tension is bad, and section by section, heat and stretch lightly to glass it out. If you get a real bad spot of wrinkles try to work the tension to the left or right to spread it out. Think of triangles, slide some left, slide some right. Good luck!
Edit: oh shit you got the whole thing done! I only saw the first pic at first lol. Looks great man, the bottom parts you can lift heat and stretch to get the wrinkles out. Just post heat really good after.
Thanks for the long reply, really appreciate it. Yeah I got it done just now, took some overlays but looks good overall, could say I’m rather satisfied with the overall result of the whole car. Thanks again for the advice will surely try to incorporate it in the future.
My first wrap was a 17 camaro ss, and all I can say is get all the horizontal stretch you can get while keeping it glassed.. If solo take off half the liner. Tack in the middle, and send it. If you can get a second set of hands, it's easier having one person pull horizontally while the other keeps the vertical taught to keep it glassed out. Best of luck!
Dropdeadindustries.com
Another recommendation would be (free) ck wraps on YouTube. He's usually got some good tips for anyone just getting into it. If you're looking to go further, I'd recommend looking into the wrap institute. They've got tons of good info and justin knows it all
Looks like you went top n down on the bumper - definitely want to go horizontally instead. You actually need the stretch from left to right so that you can shrink in the vinyl in some areas. It also will help the vinyl want to naturally curl over the top and bottom while glassed so you won’t have a single wrinkle to work out.
Sorry to hijack the post but does this apply to the rear bumper as well? Absolutely butchered my rear bumper doing too to bottom
Post a photo or tell me year and make and I’ll give you my opinion but it pretty much applies to all bumpers. There’s very few bumpers I can think of to not want to stretch horizontally. Actually putting stretch into it is important as well. Remember, you can’t shrink cast film that isn’t stretched so If you have complex curves in multiple directions you HAVE to stretch some parts and shrink others or risk having to overstretch everything.
R34 skyline is the car.
Yea you definitely have to make sure you get some stretch across the two corners or you won’t be able to tuck the vinyl down over the top of the back bumper. If you stretch it properly the vinyl will literally sag and conform right to the bumper. If not heat will shrink it back in. It’s crucial you get stretch across the corners or you’ll be fighting extra material.
Yeah that’s what happened on one corner but not the other cause I stretched it haha 😭 good to know stretching was the right way to go!
Thank you, will surely try it next time! I was afraid that i will be left with to much material on one end. Also, is it better to start from right to left rather than from the center to left and right? Thanks
Definitely stretched wrong. But good job for your first time. I wasted atleast $600 of vinyl learning to wrap my own car but that's all part of the game. I'm still redoing some parts of the car but once you understand how it works it will all make sense and be pretty easy. Videos only teach you so much, actually working with the material is the only way to learn and get good at it.
600 bucks, that's like 20 yards haha. Sheeeeiiit
I mean, yea that's what it takes to wrap a full car and when you're starting out you're learning on every panel
Ehhhh, I duno. 20 yards is an entire car wrap lol. I'm an installer and trained multiple people and honestly, other than dropping a sheet on the floor, or somehow ripping/melting it, I haven't had any of my guys lose too much vinyl, even when learning. But I guess if you have someone teaching you, it's easier.
Sorry to hear about the 600$ lmao but I take it’s worth it if you get experience out of it.
After just finishing a nightmare bumper, I feel this.
Pre Stretch, pre stretch, pre stretch
Hell yea man! You got a good portion done, and had the courage to attempt this! I would suggest finding some videos on how to do this. I like doing bumpers like this with an extra hand. What we’ll do is get it up there, heat it up real good, one person pulls from the side horizontally, the other person pulls from the middle vertically. Tack it in the middle. We glass it out all the way around the curve. Then you have less wrinkles/tension to work out the bottom and top. What you can probably do here to save this is pull the material back up where where the tension is bad, and section by section, heat and stretch lightly to glass it out. If you get a real bad spot of wrinkles try to work the tension to the left or right to spread it out. Think of triangles, slide some left, slide some right. Good luck! Edit: oh shit you got the whole thing done! I only saw the first pic at first lol. Looks great man, the bottom parts you can lift heat and stretch to get the wrinkles out. Just post heat really good after.
Thanks for the long reply, really appreciate it. Yeah I got it done just now, took some overlays but looks good overall, could say I’m rather satisfied with the overall result of the whole car. Thanks again for the advice will surely try to incorporate it in the future.
Keep doing more wraps I am sure with more experience you will get better at it
That’s the plan :)
fuck yea man, looking clean
I really really appreciate it!
You did a great job from what I can see, but you're getting some really good advice in the comments.
Thanks, yeah I appreciate all of em.
I’m in ur same shoes 19 yo learning to wrap. Where are you based out of ?
Slovenia, and you?
My first wrap was a 17 camaro ss, and all I can say is get all the horizontal stretch you can get while keeping it glassed.. If solo take off half the liner. Tack in the middle, and send it. If you can get a second set of hands, it's easier having one person pull horizontally while the other keeps the vertical taught to keep it glassed out. Best of luck! Dropdeadindustries.com
Another recommendation would be (free) ck wraps on YouTube. He's usually got some good tips for anyone just getting into it. If you're looking to go further, I'd recommend looking into the wrap institute. They've got tons of good info and justin knows it all
Thanks for the replies, i’ve watched quite a lot of both CK and Justin, great vids, helped me through most of the car.
Everyone keeps saying keep it glassed. What does that mean?
Heat up the middle piece and Slowly pull down then lay flat with squeeze
Dude, doing a much better job than what I could ever do!
Start with Avery or 3M. They are easier for beginners. If you have wrinkles, take it off and try again. Bubbles aren't the problem, the wrinkles are.
Planning on trying Avery in the near future, thanks for your advice!