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General => Cosmetic and bodywork matters => Topic started by: golf-sib on 10 September 2011, 00:57

Title: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 10 September 2011, 00:57
Basically I ruined my bonnet, having difficulty sourcing a new one from individuals and breakers, they all seem to be incompetent beyond extremes which amazes me how they make money to begin with.

Anyway too the question, I'm just going to get the cheapest painted bonnet my way and attempt to wrap it, so here are my questions:

1) Is it easy?
2) Tools required?
3) There seems to be a lot of variations of wrap especially on the carbon side, some say no bubbles, better quality etc... what are your opinions and experiences on this, is it worth paying out extra for the quality?
4) My mk4 is metallic black, vote for which color you think the bonnet should be?

Thanks for the help guys :afro:
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: scarr89 on 10 September 2011, 10:24
Only ever tried it on interior dash trim etc. I used a hair dryer and bought cheaper stuff from ebay. People have recommended using a head gun instead of hair dryer, I would suggest this as you will be wrapping a large area and I would probably shell out the extra for the good quality vinyl as it will be exterior and taking quite a battering!

Good luck, and I would like to see a picture when done please   :cool:
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 10 September 2011, 12:43
Thanks, how strong is this stuff, will it resist jet washes etc?

Also regarding the heat gun, is this safe? I remember a friend in a body shop heating up a bumper to bend it back and pop it out, but when he spent to long heating it the paint bubbled, luckily the bumper was going for a respray anyway.
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: scarr89 on 10 September 2011, 14:13
Please don't get me mixed up with an expert BTW  :smiley: But I have heard people say it will resist pressure washers, but realistically why would you need to? Just give it a sponge over and it should be clean, not like you can wax? Or could you?

When I used mummy's hair dryer  :laugh: the vinyl went soft in seconds, you shouldn't need to hold it there for too long I'd imagine! Plus you don't need to hold it 10mm from the vinyl to get it hot, just do it at a distance to be safe!
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 13 September 2011, 19:16
I was looking at the 3m stuff and it said to use a primer and it stated two types I can use. What is this primer stuff, an adhesive? I thought the stuff just peeled and stuck on. Any more information and help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: Reasty on 14 September 2011, 07:38
You want to use the 3m di-noc stuff,it's the best carbon wrap to use and gives the best results,not the cheapest but you get what you pay for,it's also very useable on interior and exterior trim and panels
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: gtiballs61 on 14 September 2011, 09:11
likewise,i have only used the 3m carbon stuff off ebay.i know from experience it helps to heat it up whilst applying.
On a larger area im not sure how to,but if you PM    stainesy    he has done this on his mk3 bonnet,and done a good job too :cool:
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 14 September 2011, 10:38
Thanks, so what's the 3m primer stuff about that you buy in the 1l metal bottles? I'll pm the mk3 Guy when I get in.
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 14 September 2011, 11:00
Couldnt imagine youde need primer. did my badge.a year ago and its not came off ect. And thats seen plenty of washes ect.

thought ide recomend a heat gun rather than hair dryer. especially on a large area like that. 
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: bullens on 14 September 2011, 11:50
You want to use the 3m di-noc stuff,it's the best carbon wrap to use and gives the best results

actually its not the best stuff, there are 2 brands that are alot better but they are stupidly expensive
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: scarr89 on 20 September 2011, 21:54
Wrapped my grill and badge in some cheap sh!t from ebay. Was about £6 for nearly a 1m squared...lets hope it stays on there

(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k573/scarr89/2011-09-20205842.jpg)
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: MadNurseGTi on 04 October 2011, 22:49
Stainsey is a good bloke to ask about this, he has done his bonnet and l have to say it looks awesome :grin:
l'm sure he will give you some helpful hints and tips.
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 04 October 2011, 22:57
He was top dollar man! Can't thank him enough.

I did a bonnet off a mk4 cabriolet in one piece with some helping hands, was chuffed to only find out the mk4 cabriolet bonnet is different in dimension and mountings points to the mk4 hatchback and estate  :grin:

Live and learn eh? Even though I parked next to cabriolet's before and assumed they had identical bodywork regardless off the mk3 chassis.
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: CCGTI on 05 October 2011, 13:37
just get your bonnet painted doesnt cost that much and will save having to wrap your bonnet everytime it shrinks
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 05 October 2011, 19:28
Shrinks???
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 05 October 2011, 19:40
it only shrinks if you dont heat it up to the right temp, think its about 85 degrees or something. at that point it sets.

ive had my badge wrapped for about a year and its still fine.
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 05 October 2011, 19:52
I'm confused? I wrapped a cabriolet bonnet no problem and no shrinking  :undecided:
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: Tazzy on 05 October 2011, 20:17
what about in the summer days or when the engine gets really hot with no fire blanket? surely this will cause the vinyl to get warm and shrink?
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: golf-sib on 05 October 2011, 20:56
The stuff I used never shrunk, under heat it expanded and became more stretchy  :undecided:
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 05 October 2011, 21:06
i think once it reaches a certain temp it reaches a point and then once its cooled it doesent strech as much, this is what ive been told anyway.

tazzy, it could get really hot and shrink again, but not sure, and tbh you wouldnt have to strech it loads on a bonet, and youde proberbly tuck some underneeth the bonet so if it did shrink youde have a little leeway
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: billabong on 06 October 2011, 13:29
I wrapped my bonnet with Hexis CF vinyl, I found it better (and cheaper) than the 3M stuff.
Not a good picture: http://www.stikkon.co.uk/gallery/#6
This might be better: http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc390/splintorious/rr%20day/DSC08963.jpg

Didnt need a primer or anything, Ideally, one person stands at each side of the car, holding on to the vinyl with the backing peeled. Another person stands at the front of the car, armed with a hair-dryer, start in the very middle and work your way out with a squeegee or something like that.

Doesnt take too long :)
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: scarr89 on 06 October 2011, 22:44
Looks sweet mate. Soooo tempting to do after you said its easy...I have enough carbon on my interior and badge grill etc I'm in danger of making my car too light  :grin:...or too chavvy  :shocked:
Title: Re: Another carbon wrap question
Post by: billabong on 07 October 2011, 08:27
I did mine on my own in the dark...it was the first time I did it and hadnt thought it through! Was more difficult on my own and took about 3 hours!
If it sticks to the wings, peel it off slowly with some heat, dont yank it off when its cold like I did, it can pull the laquer off...
With 3 people it shouldnt take long at all.
Once I had finished I took the bonnet off, turned it upside down and neatened the edges, I heated it up, stretched it into the crevasses and trimmed.
Looks good though, lots of people have asked me about it...