LFP Book
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
on how to apply self-adhesive films for vehicle wrapping Preliminary remarks
Successful vehicle wrapping depends on exact knowledge about the conditions of the car in order to be able to select the right type of self-adhesive film. This requires an answer to the following questions:
How old is the car or the car paintwork?
What is the state of repair of the car and in particular its paintwork?
Are there any rusty spots?
Is the film to be applied to plastic parts?
Is the film to be applied to difficult corrugations or rivets?
How big is the car?
What are the problem zones?
As soon as these questions are answered, the type of self-adhesive film may be selected: Calendared, relatively strong films which provide the advantage of being robust and easily removable for vehicle wrappings without “problem zones” Cast films which can easily be applied in a heat deep-drawing process for vehicle wrappings with “problem zones”.
How to proceed?
One day before applying the film, the car should be taken to a car wash (using brushes). No manual cleaning ! Surfaces and edges should be thoroughly checked for remnants of wax or polishes. Any such substances must be removed using industrial cleaners or silicone detergents (Isopropanol will not to the trick.) In a next step, Isopropanol or other alcoholic detergents should be used to ensure the removal of all remaining detergents. All parts obstructing the application must be dismantled (outside mirrors, door handles, trims etc.). Check and clean the covered surfaces as describe above. Make sure the car is completely dry. Remaining humidity especially under rubber seals should be removed by pressurized air.
Pretreatment of surfaces
Spray a release agent* (e.g. STEMA Adhesive Solution or PZ-Trennschicht) to produce a thin and equal film on the surface of the cleaned and dried car. Avoid the formation of drops. (Remove them with a soft lint-free cloth soaked in release agent). Leave the release agent to dry for some 10 minutes. Remove the release agent thoroughly from all deep-drawn areas, corrugations, grip recesses and car edges using a cloth soaked in Isopropanol. Make sure the cleaned surfaces are completely dry. *The use of a release agent allows a quicker and easier application and clearly facilitates later removal of the film.
Application of the film
The film is applied dry using a release agent. We urgently recommend to carry out a test before application. Repeat the cleaning, in case the film sticks to tied and/or air bubbles develop.Necessary tools
Basic tools Tools required to apply film Required conditions
- felt squeegee
- cutzits or scalpels
- hot-air gun
- set of Torx screw drivers
- universal and pointed pliers
- set of hexagon screw drivers
- various spanners
- screw drivers of different sizes
Required conditions
Temperature of application/room temperature: 21-23 °C Clean light room with rising or assembly platform, if possible Electricity supply
Preparation
Measure car parts and pre-cut film formats generously. The films should be trimmed on the car. A width of 152 cm allows to apply the film to many car types without disturbing studs or overlappings. The cutting must always be done on the clearance edge bordering the part to which the film is to be applied. The projecting part of the film (clearance width) is turned into the interior area of the car. Do not cut films flush with car edges to avoid shrinking of the films or mechanical wear on the open cutting edge through cleaning brushes, wind etc. Apply film also under rubber seals to avoid open edges If it is unavoidable to cut the film on the car surface, apply siliconized crepe or similar material where the cut is be performed. Lift the film slightly after cutting and remove the crepe material before finally applying the film.
Application method
Calendared films should not be deep drawn hot into deep car corrugations. It is however possible to work them into grip recesses etc. using a hot-air gun. Calendared films are worked or cut into hollow areas. High-duty cast films can however be deep-drawn hot into deep car corrugations.
Application of the film
Position the film to be applied to the car surface and fix it with adhesive tape or remaining film bits. Make sure that the film rises some 5 cm above the edges of the part to which the film is to be applied. Remove the protective paper from the film and stretch the film equally over the part to be wrapped. Apply the film with big swings of a squeegee. For rounded surfaces such as wings, the whole film should be heated using a hot-air gun. Cut and fold edges only after cooling of film.
Important
Any deep-drawn areas, borders and edges should be carefully reheated with a hot-air gun after coating in order to
quickly activate the adhesive substance. In case of very deep corrugations, it is recommended to reheat these areas
to almost production temperature of the film, i.e. approximately 180 °C. While this temperature seems to be very
high, it is absolutely necessary to achieve the required migration of softeners needed to harden the film in these areas
of the car. This temperature will not damage neither the adhesive substance nor the car’s paintwork. Specialized
shops offer infrared thermometers which allow exact measuring of the underground temperature. Move hot-air gun
constantly to avoid damage to the film.
When the wrapping is finished, reheat all borders, edges and corrugations again with a hot-air gun. Remaining tiny air bubbles under the film will diffuse through the film within a few days depending on the ambient temperature. Only larger bubbles should be slightly punctured by a pin or pointed scalpel and the air should be squeezed out using a squeegee.
Unpainted plastic parts
Be careful when applying the film to unpainted plastic parts of the car. In case of doubt make the water drop test. If the water continues to run off in drops after the cleaning procedure described above, it is not advisable to apply the film. If the water runs however off without marked drop formation, the film can be applied to the plastic surface. In any case, such surface should also be completely smooth since no film will stick to a structured surface for long.
After finishing the application
After three days the film will stick so tightly to the car that you can take the car through a car wash without any problems. The release agent will need some two to three weeks to harden completely. No polish should by applied to the car for at least three weeks after wrapping in order not to close the fine pores of the film needed for volatile substances of the release agent or possible tiny air bubbles to diffuse. Only wax-free, silicone or Teflon polishes should be used for plastic surfaces. No high-pressure cleaning or caustic chemicals should be used for cleaning the car.
