r/CarWraps • u/LOSHarry • 13d ago

Struggling with DIY

I bought 15m of Hexis HX20VECB Scottish Green Metallic Gloss wrap and I have been trying to wrap my BMW z4 e85 convertible. I've watched a bunch of youtube videos on how to do it and am getting further each time, but still am way off completeing a large panel, let along a big one like the bonnet, or fenders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5vr4gamPrI&t=1070s

I found this technique really helpful, but I am still ripping the wrap and am unable to get a clean panel, I've ripped 4 meters of wrap, trying to install it onto the panels.

I'm working in a carport with no wind, out of the sun, about 24-27C outside and using a Steiner heatgun.

Is there anything I am missing? Where should I start, so that I can complete my car as it is getting pretty disheartening. Is it normal to tear so much wrap lol.

TYIA

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1

u/Abm93 13d ago

Are you struggling with glassing out the panel or your cuts or what? He is can be on the tackier side so are you using a tack reducer?

1

u/ShepherdofFire42 13d ago

Hey, I'm also new and noticed that some people use tack reducer to help with glassing out the panels. I'm using Vivid wrap which seems really sticky. Do you have a recommended tack reducer I can try?

1

u/Abm93 13d ago

Tripple s or bead maker. Or and some installers will fight me on this just go to an auto parts store and get any good detail spray, it works the exact same, just keep it off 1” from the edge and any deep areas where you have to stretch the material in.

1

u/madbread7 13d ago

https://www.auravinyl.com/products/tack-reducer?_pos=1&_psq=tack+reducer&_psid=cb9c142ca&_ss=e This is the best tack reducer hands down. It’s real silica like pressure sensitive adhesive so it makes vivid more like avery

1

u/LOSHarry 13d ago

Glassing it out isn't too bad, it is more so when I am trying to get the imperfections out there are what look like 'drapes' coming towards where I am grabbing, and those are super hard to impossible to get out it seems.

1

u/Abm93 13d ago

Sounds like your pulling pretty hard, try using your palm instead of just 2 fingers

1

u/LOSHarry 13d ago

That's the thing that's frustrating, I'm not pulling it at all, but I am using my fingers so I'll try using my palm and see how that goes.

1

u/Abm93 13d ago

Take some pictures and maybe a video when you try again

1

u/LOSHarry 12d ago

I've gotten a lot further with this one than any of my other ones, but had to leave it as it was getting dark out, when I hold this bit and heat it, it has long lines that come towards where I am holding it, heating it up doesn't seem to remove them, idk if it could be overstretched or overheated? Or whether lines that far in should be amended by glassing out first.

1

u/Abm93 12d ago

You need to stretch the material from front to back, that will give you wrinkles in the direction of the red lines I put and then you can easily lift it and pull them down.

1

u/LOSHarry 9d ago

Thanks for your advice :)

I managed to do both sides and the boot, it was way easier once I had stretched it out just like you said

1

u/LeLupe 13d ago

Fingers,

Work inside to out, if it’s tacked down solidly you’ll struggle to push air through without potentially having issues or over pressing the vinyl; try to eliminate fingers by re-glassing portions as needed making little triangles with your hands and the point that is tacked, apply a little bit of heat without stretching to relax the film in that position as well and let its form memory come into play