Thoughts on Wrapping a Car instead of painting it

[70rs]

Put a decent paint job on it (driver quality) or wrap it. If it comes down to resale latr you could always freshen it up then. I wouldn't do just a partial wrap, you will still see it in the pain5 after you remove it. (if it's left on for any long period).

[James OLC]

Wrapping works fine and most people can't tell a good quality wrap from paint from a foot away. Mothers also has a cleaning compound that works really well on wraps - at the Goodguys show in Ft. Worth they actually polished the wrap when they did the OLC. After being wrapped for a year there was absolutely no difference in the paint if you looked where it was and wasn't wrapped - except that the paint had some swirl marks from cleaning where it wasn't wrapped.

[TheJDMan]

So when you remove the wrap material it does not leave any glue residue on the paint? I see decals on trailers and trucks that have been removed and the ghost image of the decal is still clearly visible. Is a vinyl decal different from a wrap material?

[tyoneal]

Originally Posted by James OLC

Wrapping works fine and most people can't tell a good quality wrap from paint from a foot away. Mothers also has a cleaning compound that works really well on wraps - at the Goodguys show in Ft. Worth they actually polished the wrap when they did the OLC. After being wrapped for a year there was absolutely no difference in the paint if you looked where it was and wasn't wrapped - except that the paint had some swirl marks from cleaning where it wasn't wrapped.

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James:

That is terrific information, Thanks. I know you use your car a lot, how has the wrap held up as compared to a decent paint job one might put on their car? (After the course of years, and rocks, dirt, grime, solvents etc?)

Thanks a million for the education. Is the Mother's product a specific cleaning compound for wraps, or a polish that works dirt etc. off your car?

Take care,

Ty

[awr68]

I'm sure you know this but you have to have the body preped as if you were going to paint it before the wrap...so there's little to no money savings on body work.

I'm on the fence if I would wrap a car or not. I think if I was to do one I would take many pics of the car before and during the wrap to help show a potential buyer that I wasn't hiding anything, but just chose a differant finish over paint.

There is a time and place for everything.....

[elitecustombody]

Tony, when wrapping the car, it has to be washed and clean, otherwise no other prep work needed besides removing trim,door handles,mirrors,lights,bumpers,e.t.c. and the installing everything back when all wrapping is finished.

[skatinjay27]

Originally Posted by elitecustombody

Tony, when wrapping the car, it has to be washed and clean, otherwise no other prep work needed besides removing trim,door handles,mirrors,lights,bumpers,e.t.c. and the installing everything back when all wrapping is finished.

I think anthony was refering to a full resto car that been taken down to bare metal.

[awr68]

Originally Posted by skatinjay27

I think anthony was refering to a full resto car that been taken down to bare metal.

Exactly!
I meant any welding or dents need addressed first...the wrap will show anything and everything. Might get by with sand scratches on the body work...but the car will need body worked/prepped for a standard paint job.

[tyoneal]

Originally Posted by 70rs

Put a decent paint job on it (driver quality) or wrap it. If it comes down to resale latr you could always freshen it up then. I wouldn't do just a partial wrap, you will still see it in the pain5 after you remove it. (if it's left on for any long period).

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70rs:

I agree with your sentiments.

I intend to have the body prepped especially for the wrap. I think this will do a lot for the reliability of the covering, and probably allow the colors to be seen in their intended tones and brightness.

I'm thinking there won't be paint as much as surface prep material that will have some neutral pigment to to. As I write this, I just don't know, I should have probably done some research before I posted this.

I'll see what I can find.

Thanks,

Ty