Stories posted under Pinkbike Community blogs are not edited, vetted, or approved by the Pinkbike editorial team. These are stories from Pinkbike users.
If a blog post is offensive or violates the Terms of Services, please report the blog to Community moderators.
How to Vinyl Wrap Your Bike
note: For some reason I am unable to link to ebay.
Taken from: http://forums.mtbr.com/fat-bikes/bucksaw-lefty-custom-wrap-945540.html
PCT Said "DIY with a few late nights. Cheap, well under $60 for vinyl and helicopter tape.
Vinyl wrap, about 3'x5'
Helicopter tape, in 2" and 4" widths
Sharp scissors
Xacto or scalpel
Heat gun
Good quality whiskey
Do a search on ebay for "vinyl wrap sheet camo" or "vinyl wrap sheet pattern" and dig around. There are dozens of patterns of camo, snakeskin, stickerbomb, etc. For quicker shipping find a seller in the U.S. Here's a cool Zombie one:
Search for terms like "24" x 60" JDM Zombie Car Racing Graffiti Bomb Vinyl Wrap Sheet Decal Sticker"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-x60-JDM-Car-Styling-Sticker-Bomb-Graffiti-Skull-Hood-Roof-Trunk-Vinyl-Decal-/181819049133?hash=item2a554284ad:g:sPAAAOSwrklVBSIl
Disassemble front triangle, seatstays, chainstays, remove all hardware. Clean with isopropyl alcohol. Maintain clean hands at all times.
Cut pieces of vinyl to wrap major frame sections. Hide seams where possible e.g. undersides. Pay particular attention to areas with compound curves. Heat gun will help but vinyl has it limits with pinching or tearing. Brief blast of heat, then press with fingers. 4D patterned vinyl (carbon) will show fingerprint imprints and lose its relief if heated too much. Busy or blindingly garish patterns will help hide seams. Cut edges according to graphic pattern to eliminate straight edged seams. Avoid air bubbles or heat and pop with a pin later. Cut out holes for cable routing etc, hit with heat gun and press edges.
Over wrap with helicopter tape, wider widths on the big tube sections. Be extra careful around compound curves as the tape will pinch and lift more than the vinyl did. Hit all critical areas with a heat gun to activate the adhesive and apply direct pressure.
Had some prior practice wrapping another Lefty for my Flash. For the Bucksaw I took some extra time to align graphic details to specific areas of the frame. Started with smaller more hidden areas to get the hang of it, then moved to larger more visible ones. A plain color (no pattern) vinyl would make it very difficult to hide seams.
A fun, cheap and rewarding process that probably took 4 solid days with late nights."
Taken from: http://forums.mtbr.com/fat-bikes/bucksaw-lefty-custom-wrap-945540.html
PCT Said "DIY with a few late nights. Cheap, well under $60 for vinyl and helicopter tape.
Vinyl wrap, about 3'x5'
Helicopter tape, in 2" and 4" widths
Sharp scissors
Xacto or scalpel
Heat gun
Good quality whiskey
Do a search on ebay for "vinyl wrap sheet camo" or "vinyl wrap sheet pattern" and dig around. There are dozens of patterns of camo, snakeskin, stickerbomb, etc. For quicker shipping find a seller in the U.S. Here's a cool Zombie one:
Search for terms like "24" x 60" JDM Zombie Car Racing Graffiti Bomb Vinyl Wrap Sheet Decal Sticker"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-x60-JDM-Car-Styling-Sticker-Bomb-Graffiti-Skull-Hood-Roof-Trunk-Vinyl-Decal-/181819049133?hash=item2a554284ad:g:sPAAAOSwrklVBSIl
Disassemble front triangle, seatstays, chainstays, remove all hardware. Clean with isopropyl alcohol. Maintain clean hands at all times.
Cut pieces of vinyl to wrap major frame sections. Hide seams where possible e.g. undersides. Pay particular attention to areas with compound curves. Heat gun will help but vinyl has it limits with pinching or tearing. Brief blast of heat, then press with fingers. 4D patterned vinyl (carbon) will show fingerprint imprints and lose its relief if heated too much. Busy or blindingly garish patterns will help hide seams. Cut edges according to graphic pattern to eliminate straight edged seams. Avoid air bubbles or heat and pop with a pin later. Cut out holes for cable routing etc, hit with heat gun and press edges.
Over wrap with helicopter tape, wider widths on the big tube sections. Be extra careful around compound curves as the tape will pinch and lift more than the vinyl did. Hit all critical areas with a heat gun to activate the adhesive and apply direct pressure.
Had some prior practice wrapping another Lefty for my Flash. For the Bucksaw I took some extra time to align graphic details to specific areas of the frame. Started with smaller more hidden areas to get the hang of it, then moved to larger more visible ones. A plain color (no pattern) vinyl would make it very difficult to hide seams.
A fun, cheap and rewarding process that probably took 4 solid days with late nights."
Author Info:
Member since Dec 16, 2007
Must Read This Week
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Mairiporã XC World Cup 2024
41725 views
41725 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
1 Comment
- 1 0
Gasket-Jeff
(Nov 4, 2015 at 9:37)
Im gunna do this this winter as part of my winter wrench/upgrade season. Last year I rawed a frame, noxious fumes and lots of beer in a frozen garage with drunk friends. very dangerous.
Login or Sign Up