Best vinyl for wrapping complex curves

[burneyrubber 0]

Hi

as the title says im wondering what the best vinyl is for this.

i want to wrap a motorcycle in matt black vinyl,the side panels are ok but the petrol tang and rear seat unit are very curvy,the tank is pretty much like having to wrap half a football.

so whats the best way to go?

[jeremySI 18]

pretty much any quality brand vehicle wrapping vinyl i would say. i had some 3m samples and the IJ380Cv3 was some really good stuff and very easy to work with. you would have to get it in black tho and use a matte laminate if you are doing matte black. i know avery has a matte black wrapping vinyl.

[burneyrubber 0]

no dis respect but that information is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

i already know for a fact that not just any wrapping vinyl will do.

ive used oracle 751 cast(matt black) for the side panels which was fine but this wont stretch enough to do the tank etc.

so does anyone have any answers or even better experience.

is it better to have thicker vinyl as apposed to thin? (i was under the impression thick is what im going to need for complex curves)

thanks.

[Guest fivestar]

no dis respect but that information is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

i already know for a fact that not just any wrapping vinyl will do.

so does anyone have any answers or even better experience.

is it better to have thicker vinyl as apposed to thin? (i was under the impression thick is what im going to need for complex curves)

thanks.

I think you need to learn exactly what "wrapping vinyl" is.  Then you wouldn't of answered with this response.

[burneyrubber 0]

right ok so youre telling me you think 751c is fine for what i want then?

and if `any` vinyl will do why do they make vinyl in thicknesses of microns to millimeters if `any` will do?

note that i explained above what i wanted to do, i didnt just say i want to wrap a van,i specifically need a vinyl for complex curves.

[ff_ryan 0]

He didn't say "any vinyl" he said "any wrapping vinyl" there is a big difference there. Maybe you could try something like Oracal 970RA which is designed just for things like wrapping vehicles. I haven't used it myself...but take a look at oracal.com and read up on it. Should meet your needs.

[JoeDirt 5]

http://www.jsisign.com/products/convex.html

just throwing this out there hope no one shits a kitten 

[Alien 11]

http://www.jsisign.com/products/convex.html

just throwing this out there hope no one shits a kitten 

If they do maybe it will claw the H*ll out of their A$$ on the way out and they might be little bit more careful next time!!!!!

[burneyrubber 0]

thanks joedirt.

from looking at that link im thinking (as no one seems to know) that thicker is definatley the way to go.

like i said before,ive tried 751c Oracle but it was no good (too thin),im being sent some Oracle 551 which is 80 microns which i think is still going to be to thin.

and whoops sorry i forgot to say above `any` `WRAPPING` vinyl will do,and i stand my ground that any WRAPPING vinyl WILL NOT do.

im going to end up answering my own questions here,id really appreciate some advice from anyone with experience of wrapping compley curves.

[mars 45]

Good job!!  A lot of the experienced people on the forum have probably read your question and the response and you won't be hearing from any of them.  I'm trying to be helpful - not smartass - and I'm no expert on communication skills - you probably meant your response to be lighthearted - instead it probably turned off the people who could answer your question.

I hesitate to answer your question - if this is not helpful a civil comeback will be appreciated.

Have a look at this video to see what we are talking about by referring to a WRAPPING vinyl

The ability to stretch and reposition and conform the vinyl is what you need - it is a different film - not just a different thickness -

The stuff on joedirts link looks like a good choice I don't have experience using it, but my son does so I know 651 and 751 are not WRAPPING vinyl.

Welcome to the forum - hope this helps -

-mike

[Guest HowardI]

I think the thing you are missing is that oracal 751 is sign vinyl not wrapping vinyl.

The 970RA is a "color change vinyl" - it's meant to change the color of a vehicle.  As such it's designed for curves like you're trying to do.  I know from looking at the color guide it's available in matte black.

Personally I'd follow the advice of ff_ryan.

there IS a big difference between 751 and 970RA.

Hope this helps!

Howard Irwin

Support Specialist

US Cutter

425-481-3555

888-298-8143

 - Option 2

[jeremySI 18]

oracal 970RA

3M  IJ180 or IJ380

mactac streetwrap

is that a better answer for you. your 651, 751 or whatever isnt what you are looking for. as i was saying any vinyl that is made by a company to be a vehicle wrapping vinyl will work just fine for you with complex curves

[burneyrubber 0]

ok so appologies if i came across grumpy.

i get my vinyl etc from this firm:

http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/hotflex.asp?parentcatname=Hot%20Flex%20Clothing%20Vinyl&parentcat=20

i told them exactly what i wanted to do and they sent me the 751c oracle,which i tried and as i said it was too thin and split,

i phoned them again and they said try the 651,i dont think theres hardly any difference,infact i think the difference might be 20 microns.

the video you posted shows the exact thing im after and has reassured my own thoughts that i do indeed need thicker vinyl for wraps.

so i do appologise but i would have thought the twats at the above site would know their stuff but they clearly dont.

i did manage to wrap a seat cowl today in the 651 but i wouldnt want to use it for anything more curvy and also it took ages.

http://www.in2designs.co.uk/stuff/DSC00744.JPG[/img]

http://www.in2designs.co.uk/stuff/DSC00745.JPG[/img]

http://www.in2designs.co.uk/stuff/DSC00746.JPG[/img]

http://www.in2designs.co.uk/stuff/DSC00747.JPG[/img]

this is my idea of wrapping :s

decals still to go on.

[burneyrubber 0]

and thanks for the replys

[jeremySI 18]

the people are your supply shop are retards if they are telling you to get 751 or 651 to do any type of wrapping with complex curves. 

if you can find a sign shop that does vehicle wraps near you then you may be able to get some from them for a good price

[burneyrubber 0]

well i phoned my suppliers today and ripped into them a bit about advising me to get 751c,they said whenever theyve been asked for wrapping vinyl they have always supplied 751c  :-

the technical guy couldnt get his head around how thicker vinyl would be better for the job,then admitted hes never heard of 970ra.

so its my mistake for thinking the technical department would know what theyre talking about.

[YadirellT 0]

751 vinyl is outdoor sign vinyl, and I would recommend it for use for decals and stickers on vehicles.  Though most of the time you're better off with 951 for that.  Any vehicle wrap vinyl should work for you, and for curvy surfaces, just use a heat gun to help you apply it.

[James605 7]

I use oracal wrap vinyl alot.

get some 3951ra or 3551 ra

as for the laminate use 290

[burneyrubber 0]

thanks james605

[knucklehead 530]

When you find a supplier for 970ra, you may want to inquire as to the price, you may be pleasantly SHOCKED

[burneyrubber 0]

yes i think i found that out a while ago.

what is 3951ra or 3551 ra like on price>?

infact what is the difference? just thickness?

[burneyrubber 0]

ive gone for Avery 900 @

[YadirellT 0]

For a comparison of the vinyl, check this PDF on Oracal's website: http://www.oracal.com/products/_docs/qrg/08QRGDigital_121208.pdf

[DK-Freestyle 0]

I've used 651 for wraps with no problem. Granted it took me quite some time to make it come out decent looking, but if your just making it matte black, why not just take it to a auto body shop and see if they could paint it? It'd come out a lot better, IMO...

[burneyrubber 0]

ive done it now with the avery 900,this was for someone else but next time i would just say get it sprayed as it is alot of hassle,the finish is just as good as paint tho you wouldnt know the difference.

the 651/751 was no good as it needed to be stretched that little bit more which meant you could see the stretch marks and the colour faded.

the avery 900 didnt do this and reacts differently to heat also.

here it is finished anyway,theres no creases or bubbles or bumps but the light makes the sticker look a bit dodgy. (its not)