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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | Hey all, just looking for some experienced input with graphics. I've been working with a "local" (170mi. from me) custom graphics artist who uses a "high quality" 3M vinyl product. Everything he works on is one-off as he does his own printing/plotting. He's assured me that the materials he uses are top-notch solvent based adhesives with UV stable media. He's also stated that the sharp angles and curves on the bike are not a problem (for him, I would never try it myself). I'm still leary about vinyl graphics, mostly because I have no experience with them. In the past, everything I've had has been shot on by a good body shop. There are no custom painters left in the area anymore. The local good guys have all packed up and left to make more money. I guess my questions are:
Is this stuff worth messing with or will I end up removing it in a couple years or less because it's fading, cracking, peeling, etc.? Most importantly, is the end product going to look cheap? I don't wanna stick something on my bike to find out that it looks like a cheap sticker some kid put on his craptastic 4-banger (you know the type with the cheap looking spoiler screwed down to the trunk LOL). I'm not afraid to spend good money on a good paint job but I'd prefer to not leave it in a body shop 200-1000mi away for a month.
Any input and/or examples are appreciated,
Thanks!
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | The material you are looking for is 3M High Performance 2 mil cast vynil; if not, dont bother to install it. 3M also makes an intermediate grade of material that is 4 mil but it is calendared which means that it is softened with solvent then rolled to the appropriate thickness.
2 mil Cast materials with the proper adhesive will last 5-7 years if edge sealed.
4 mil materials are considered temporary. 2-3 years at best. They will shrink as much as 1/4" over that time leaving a glue line and are not appropriate for vehicle installations.
Also if the material is being printed it needs to be done with a solvent based ink that has an outdoor durability of 5-7 years when laminated.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | I run a collision repair facility...(not a body shop  )
My experience is that I wouldn't consider anything else except the 3M product. It is VERY high quality. It will NOT even begin to fade/crack/peel or anything for at least 7-8 years or more. However this is only if it is properly applied. By properly applied I mean over a super clean "non-waxed" surface. Prior to having the graphics applied you should wash your bike using Dawn dish soap. Dawn has a high P.H. concentration, it will remove any wax and residue from the bike. I assume that the installer will (should) use some type of prep cleaner, usually a light paint reducer, and wipe the area down prior to installation.
Its great that the installer has his own plotter/cutter. He should mail you some color samples so you can narrow your choices down to a few primary colors and perhaps an accent color or two. You should email him some good pictures of your bike so he can start thinking about layout and such. He should also ask for some measurements of the areas you are installing the graphics, so he can get them properly proportioned. Geting the graphics is a bit similar to getting a tattoo in that a good installer should interview the client and get a good feel as to what they are looking for, what type of design, what colors, layout and everything because once they are installed...if you don't like them its a bit too late.
They main key here is gonna be the preperation prior to installion. If the time is taken as far as choosing colors and design and layout and proportions and everything the end result will look great. The more time that is spent equals the more custom it looks. I guess its all about how everything "blends" together.
A good benefit to graphics is that they are fairly easy to remove in the future. A heat gun and patience and caution and they can usually be removed within a few hours. So if you wish in a few years you can easily change the whole look of your bike. Just remove the old graphics and buff out the area and install new graphics.
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Hampton Va | Sorry wrong...I have been wraping cars for 4 years and signs for 17 years ...u are on the right track... the 3m material he is talking about is ...180c-v2 with comply...that is the name..The hiph perf 2 mill is not for printing...just make sure it is laminated! you can see the ones i did for my bike in the gallery...under shawns vision...I do alot of this stuff...just made a 6' victory logo decal a few min ago for a trailer....if you have questions you can call me at 757-513-5233 |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Well, for something like the graphics on your bike, racershawn, approximate $ to do something like that. I'm interested, I like the idea of taking it off if it doesn't look good after awhile or just to change it up. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
| I'd prefer to not leave it in a body shop 200-1000mi away for a month.
Any input and/or examples are appreciated,
Thanks!
If you're wanting vinyl graphcs, go to my son's website
http://www.2bpersonalized.com
and contact him and tell him what you want. Mention that you heard about him from his dad.
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
| I'd prefer to not leave it in a body shop 200-1000mi away for a month.
Any input and/or examples are appreciated,
Thanks!
If you're wanting vinyl graphcs, go to my son's website
http://www.2bpersonalized.com
and contact him and tell him what you want. Mention that you heard about him from his dad.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | Thanks for the responses from everyone! I'm glad to hear that they have come a long way with vinyl since I was last looking into it. The stuff this guy uses seems to be what I want then. He's been doing this for awhile, so I'm pretty confident in his ability to apply it. I will have to do the initial cleaning myself but I will be very thorough in getting the wax removed, as advised. Thanks for the great info on the product Racershawn. If I do get into a bind with this guy and things he tells me start to wave red flags, I'll give you a call. I had already commissioned him to start working on the design (gave him a basic layout and a lot of creative control) and sent him all the photos with scaling of the bike last month. I'm expecting to hear back from him sometime soon and look forward to seeing what he comes up with. I may ask him to do a little tweaking but after that, we'll be ready to roll with this project. One more question? How hard is this stuff to remove once it's cured? (in case I decide to go with a different base coat or design in the future)
Thanks again,
-Will |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Hampton Va | very EZ It will leave nothing |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 38
San Diego, California | I saw the pictures of your graphics and they are amazing! I have a new 08 Black Vision Premium that is in the shop for the first service and adding the trunk, CB Lojack. Are you planning on selling the design in the future. I think it would look amazing |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 38
San Diego, California | Hey Shawn. Is it possibl;e to put the rear graphic on the loser saddle bag cover so it shows up more or is it just for the bottom piece? I want to order a set when you are ready. I want the silver with a red pinstrip. Let me know when and how I should send you the money. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Hampton Va | send me an email and we can chat about it sballuzzo@msn.com |
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Cruiser
Posts: 74
College Station, Tx | racershawn - 2008-08-19 11:09 AM just made a 6' victory logo decal a few min ago for a trailer... Hey that sounds cool...How much would you charge for one more to go on the back of my trailer? :-)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | It looks like my "local artist" stiffed me. I told him I wanted a refund and he sent me some crap he whipped together at the last minute that I wouldn't put on a tricycle. Oh well... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Hampton Va | just let me know what you are looking for |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 38
San Diego, California | Shawn call me in the afternoon 2-3 Pacific time at 619 434-4562 home number to order the graphic set. Thanks Jack, in San Diego, CA
Edited by Yuma48 2008-11-26 12:18 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 41
| Shawn,
Have not pulled the trigger yet on my Vision purchase but if/when I do, will probably make the ride down from Philly for some work.
Love what you did, especially on the dash. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Hampton Va | Thanks guys! I have alot of ppl in town for the holiday but next week I will be all over this stuff... I might be working on some kool designs in the meanwhile... so if you have any requests or questions let me know or email me at sballuzzo@msn.com ... thanks guys!! Shawn |
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Custom vinyl graphics "quality".