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MACtac guides installers on applying vehicle wraps

When determining the success of vehicle wraps it comes down to one factor – did it grab people’s attention? Proper installation can make all the difference in ensuring your customers’ mobile advertisements are noticed—for the right reason. In this article, we will review the basics of properly installing vehicle wraps and how they can impact your customers’ businesses.

MACtac tool kit

What are the pre-wrap facts?

Preparation is key to a successful installation. Consider these starting points when planning your next wrap:
Access to tools. Do you have all the necessary tools on hand?  For starters, these items should be on your checklist: squeegees, razor blades, scissors, masking tape and cleaning solvent.

Vehicle surface. Has the vehicle been painted recently? If so, this will impact your installation because insufficiently cured paint can cause bubbling under the graphic, leaving a not-so-nice impression.  

Weather report. The weather is an important factor to ensure your graphics will adhere properly. Vehicle graphics must be applied between 60° F and 80° F. It is best to install wraps indoors in a controlled environment, out of the elements.  

Prep work. The vehicle should be washed with soap and water at least 24 hours prior to the graphic application. Remember to bring the vehicle indoors beforehand. Leaving it outside can result in the surface collecting dew or rain. Your final step is to wipe the entire surface with a clean cloth and isopropyl alcohol.  If heavy wax is present, use Xylene and then alcohol to remove all residues.  

Now, you’re ready to wrap.

What are the wrap basics?

When applying the graphic, these basic steps can mean the difference between a good job and a great job:

• Center the graphic on the hood, roof or trunk and use masking tape to hold the graphic in place.  It’s important to remember to do only one section at a time.
• Apply a strip of masking tape across the middle of the graphic to create a “hinge”.
• Pull the right half of the graphic back to the tape/hinge, pull the liner off of the adhesive and remove the liner using a sharp knife. Then apply this half using a squeegee. Start in the middle, at the tape line, using alternating and overlapping strokes. Work your way out to the edge until the entire half is applied.
• Remove the tape hinge and repeat the process for the left side of the graphic.
• Carefully trim the graphic using a sharp knife and firmly re-squeegee all of the edges after the trim pieces have been removed.
• Be sure to post-heat all edges, seams, channels and stretches with an industrial heat gun or propane torch to 220° F.

• Once your installation is complete, there are critical ‘rules’ that need to be followed. Just like your prep work, it’s important to follow a ‘wrap-up’ process, especially when it comes to cleaning:
• The adhesive needs to completely cure before cleaning, so don’t wash the vehicle for three days.
• After the three-day period you can hand wash – but hold off on using a machine or high-pressure sprayer for seven days. For best results, use a touch-less car wash.
• Whether washing a wrapped vehicle by hand or in machine wash, always use non-abrasive cleaners and soft cloths to avoid damaging the wrap.
• Use a vinyl friendly polish or wax to enhance the wrap’s lifespan and additional protection.

A lot of work goes into wrapping a vehicle and delivering a product you and your customer are proud of. You want your customers’ mobile advertisement to stand out and people to notice. And sometimes, the best way to be unique is to remember the basics.

Jeffery Stadelman has 24 years of experience serving the pressure-sensitive adhesive industry while at MACtac. His first six years were spent working in MACtac’s laboratory as a senior lab technician and chemist. For the past 17 years, Stadelman has been part of the MACtac Graphic Products commercial area, which produces wide-format digital media, overlaminates, mounting and marking films, screen printable media, and other pressure-sensitive vinyl solutions for the graphics industry. Stadelman’s expertise lies in the areas of new product development, marketing and sales of graphic products, technical writing and customer technical support.

Stadelman holds an associate’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Akron.