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Wondered if it would be possible to fully wrap the nose of this kart. Or would I be better off doing a couple separate pieces? Also, my choices in material are Oracal 3651 and 3M ControlTac IJ-180c. Which of these two options would be best? First time wrapping anything like this, so any advice is greatly appreciated.
-------------------- Mike Murray Murray Signs Freeport IL Posts: 192 | From: Freeport IL USA | Registered: May 1999
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plastic is more thsn likely just like dirt bike plastic and regular vinyls are not going to stick well to the low energy plastic. www.graphicms.com sells the right vinyl.
-------------------- Bruce Evans Crown Graphics Chino, CA graphics@westcoach.net Posts: 910 | From: Chino, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Mike, my personal preference is the 3M, but that is just because its what I'm used to. You should be able to do the nose in a single piece. I strongly recommend using 3M 94 Primer in all of the concave areas and along the edges of the body parts.
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Bruce, my printing is outsourced so those are my only two choices. I used standard vinyl on the parts before with good results. But, you are right the plastic is similar to dirt bike plastic.
Glenn, is the 3M Primer just brushed on?
-------------------- Mike Murray Murray Signs Freeport IL Posts: 192 | From: Freeport IL USA | Registered: May 1999
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I am with Glenn on this one. I have done lots of these kid karts (have to do my son's for this season yet!)
Realistically, don't get too detailed or have a pattern that needs to stay in any sort of "alignment". The easiest way (after wrapping quite a few and finding out my mistakes, is to secure the kart to the stand (if they left it for you) and secure the stand to the floor...put on the brakes and place sandbags around all the wheels. You will be pulling...a lot.
If no kart, then secure it to your workbench with the nose sticking out. DO NOT REMOVE THE NOSE! It will be like getting a cat into a bag.
Second, clean the plastic. I use Rapid Prep or denatured alcohol. It will haze the plastic if you leave it on too long though.
Third, prime the edges if you are going all around, as they will not stick. I usually trim the graphic 3/8" away from the edge nearing the bend back.. Kid karts get beat up so no need to really be super particular about wrapping around edges etc.
Fourth, print the nose wrap AT LEAST 6" bigger in each direction to allow for flex and peace of mind. You will want to measure AROUND the nose. So start at the left side, pull your tape around the front ( like measuring any circumference) and to the right end. This is your width. Add 12" to that. Then measure from 1" UNDER the front of the nose and come up and over till you intersect with an imaginary line that connects the left & right ends. Add 12 to this measure. This is your height.
Now design your wrap to be ambiguous in this area. Print, LAMINATE and get your heat gun ready to pull and stretch.
Actually, with the oversized print, you basically drape it and start the the front top, work left and right across the face then attack each side. You will have to split in the "elbows" but don't split it too far if you want to or need to cover the inside (which I don't).
The side pods are roughly the same process, but these I would remove, along with the front number plate. DO NOT FULLY WRAP THE NUMBER PLATE. You will wish you never saw this kart if you do! If you decide to, be careful in the bottom "smile" area of the number panel. You only get (1) chance to wrap it and get it in there tightly without wrinkles before it looks like it has major cellulite!
I haven't had any issues with the karts I wrap and they do the national circuit (NC, FL, OH, IN, WI etc) and I have been wrapping them for over 5 years now. Helmets too...to match the kart.
Where will they be racing?
-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Also, if you can, get a film with a release type adhesive. I use the IJ180CV3. Comes out beautiful every time...
-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Mike, You can use just about anything to apply the primer. I just use a folded up papertowel. Just make sure you are wearing gloves. Apply a thin coat and wait 5 minutes before applying the vinyl.
BTW, I recommend practicing a little first if you are not familiar with the primer. Once the vinyl touches it, its pretty well stuck. I ripped a pretty big piece of wrap material one time when I tried to snatch it up for repositioning. The vinyl had only touched the primed area and was stuck tight.
[ April 01, 2011, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: Glenn Taylor ]
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re primer...the adhesive from your vinyl will adhere to the adhesive on the kart and you will be left with a limp sheet of plastic!
-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Glenn, how do I post pics anymore? I used to ref from photobucket, but the links won't work...I can post some of the kart wraps and helmets...
-------------------- Nikki Goral Image Advantage Signs 4050 Champeau Road New Franken, WI 54229 920-465-4500 "Finish every day and be done with it. Tomorrow is a new day."-Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 928 | From: New Franken, WI (East Green Bay) | Registered: Jun 2007
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Nikki, thanks so much for the "step by step". That info will help greatly. I measured everything and added a couple inches. I will go back per your info and make them bigger now. I think they will be racing mainly at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead, WI and maybe at JET Karting in Norway, IL.
Glenn, thanks for the primer info. I may get an extra print for the nose just in case things don't go as planned.
-------------------- Mike Murray Murray Signs Freeport IL Posts: 192 | From: Freeport IL USA | Registered: May 1999
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