Has anyone out there tried a product called "Clear Bra"? Having just paid big bucks for a paint job a few months back on my 72, I've become increasingly **** about the possability of stone chips.

What is everyones experience and thought on this? THX.

 

Oh! I thought this was some new fashion that I was going to really like.

For me stone chips are a part of driving the car. The Bras usually do more damage than stones do. Never heard anything good about bras for cars. Not sure about the clear one you are talking about.

 

I had a 3M paint protector put on my Harley right after I got it. Invisible, other than a seam running across the fairing. IMHO, a good investment. The spots are NOT chips, just reflections or bugs.

 

You are talking about the stuff that's like a clear decal that goes across the front of the car, right?

I am a member at another board and some of the guys with M3's and souped-up Rabbits got them and had good results. From pictures you can't tell unless you are looking for the faint line, they say in person it's even harder. They are a little more $$ than I would like, I think they are a couple hundred bucks, but to save a high-dollar paint job it might be worth it.

 

I have the "Autoban" brand clear protector on my 04. Their claim to fame is that they won't change or fade the paint. I could see where the tradition "bra", over time, could cause a difference in the paint shade from the protected to the unprotected areas. Can't say that for sure but it kinda makes sense. The only drawback to the clear protector is that bugs are a little harder to get off of the softer vinyl. As for appearence, you can't see them unless you look really close.

 

I've always told my girlfriend she should wear clear bras.

 

My daughters got one on her Camray it will stop it from getting chiped, however not sure how you would take it off if you didn't like it.

 

Once it's on it's on to stay. The biggest part of the payment for one is the experience to know how to handle the vinyl without getting wrinkles or bubbles. Especially with clear vinyl. No matter the brand.
Personally I use Mac-Tack, it has a wet coat look to it and is only 1.5mil thick.
The experience is needed because clear vinyls are not re positionable, meaning once it touches the substrate surface it's there to stay. Some are conformable, just not re positionable. Unless, they use a fluid such as Rapid-Tac but even then you have to know what you're doing.
If you ever go to a graphic shop and they tell you you can use water with a couple of drops of liquid soap in it turn around and walk out. This instantly voids the warranty, on any brand of vinyl.
Liquids such as Rapid-Tac, Quick-Stick and so on are made for this type of application. Soap of any kind immediately starts breaking down the adhesive on the vinyl, then you take a squeege and push it out from under the vinyl with the liquid soap. That's the number one reason you see vinyls that are curling up around the edges.

Clear bras are ok, but just remember, once it's there it's there. And if you go to take it off it's a real pain in the a%$. Remember it's not re positionable. It's made to go over re positionable vinyl prints and not to come off. The vinyls you print on are whats re positionable. That means the clears are a protectant and made to NOT COME OFF OF ANYTHING.

As far as not effecting your paint, that only applies if you keep your car waxed with a UV protectant wax at all times. Good clear vinyls will have a UV protectant, not all clear vinyls do. Fact is, sunlight is going to effect paint and vinyls differently, so there's no shop that can honestly tell you that covering your car front will not effect the paint. Especially if you go to take it off, cause when you do depending how long it's been on there, it's going to leave at least half of the adhesive on the car. Remember it's not re-positionable and its made NOT TO COME OFF OF ANYTHING. (just my 2 cents & 20 years experience worth)

 

Me too, I thought the clear bra was new for summer 2008, anyway I think the bras hold dirt and moisture which will do more damage than the stones

 

Clear bras are not made of vinyl. They are a polyurethane film... which is something completely different. Once on they are not coming off unless you pull it off. They are not that difficult to remove and will leave a little adhesive if its been on there for a few years. I have taken many of them off and never had any problems. I also have a mobile ClearMask installation business in SoCal so I am very familiar with the product.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me. One more thing, do not get the Ebay vinyl paint protection kits. Vinyl is not made to stop rock chips and I have seen many of them ruin paint jobs.

Thom Pettigrew
HTP AutoWorks

 

^^^^^^Thom, can you send me some info on your product. Not disagreeing with you but over the years when I've heard of clear bras it's always been vinyl But I am in TN (LOL) News gets here a little slower.

 

Please send me some info I am very interested

 

Sure. A good place to start would be ClearMask.com. There is some good information on there about the two films they offer. If you would like for me to mail you some info, PM me your adress and I will send you some literature.

 

Thanks Thom, I'll check out ClearMask.

For everyone else, still don't let anyone put vinyl on your ride and tell you it'll protect it. It just aint happenin.

 

I agree 100%. I have seen some of these el cheapo vinyl EBay kits that have damaged the paint they have been installed on. They provide absolutely no protection for the car. I always recommend getting a good film and having a great installer put it on.

 

G'day,
Australian Corvette Caravan Captain James Pierce (69l71RHD) has been running his business of Invisible Car Bras for a couple of years now, and fits them to Porsches, Ferraris, Ford GT40s, as well as Corvettes, Holden Commodores and the like. He uses a top end material that is designed just for this purpose. I think it's from 3M, but I'm sure he'll chime in soon and put your minds to rest.

In a nutshell, the right product will do the job you want.

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn
12 montyhs to go

 

AussieJohn Is on the right track but his fingers get a little tongue tied occasionally....
I also run my own business installing Invisible Car Bras and use a brand of film called "Ventureshield". It is a polyurethane film developed from the aerospace industry, sometimes called "Helicopter Tape" but it's real name is "Paint Protection Film"
3M is the brand that everyone knows but for my money Ventureshield is a better PPF.(Venture Tape was purchased by 3M late last year but still make their own film.)

I have done several early Vettes, my '68, a '73, rear 1/4s on a '66, an '88 and made my own patterns for these vehicles. I also have done several C5's but no C6's as yet, many Lambos, Porsches, BMW's, Astons, Mercs, etc...
The Ford GTs are being imported and converted to Right Hand Drive and I have protected several of these, $1/2 Mil cars when sold here
The film has a great gloss to it and is exceptionally hard to see once installed. It is UV safe, i.e. will not yellow, bubble or crack, and lets the UV through so you do not get a differential fade line. It can be removed when the film has taken a few marks (instead of your paint) a couple of years down the track.
If you are going to get an installation done, make sure the installer installs from patterns, not from bulk film. If they install from bulk film they have to cut the film on the paint and that is just too risky for my liking.
Happy to answer any questions as I will not get any sales in the US from this forum, just too far to travel, unless you want to fly me in......

 

I'm really gonna have to check deep into this. It's something I could easily add to my line. Thanks for all the info guys.

 

You all have been a great help. Over the last couple of days I've been continueing my research by looking at those links provided and making some phone calls. This looks to be a good thing for me.

I have one more question though for those that have installed or have seen on installed on a C3. Since the front end of the car is one piece from the windshield to the bumper, do you install the bra only a short way up from the bumper where you would see the seem where the film stops, or do you have the bra cover the whole front of the car, bumper to wind shield so that you can't see any seams?

I don't wan't to be able to see a line where the bra stops, but on the other hand I still want the car to look good and I'm afraid that If I covered the whole front of the car, it would be obvious. My car is a dark charcoal color, so it would probably be more obvious than on a lighter color

I keep looking for a car that has had this done, but haven't found one yet.

 

1/
You are not going to find film big enough to do the entire front end in one piece, the biggest I can get is 58" wide.
2/
I have done the front of mine to the trims on the BB hood. It then goes out onto the guards and wraps into the wheel arches and under the front. This protects the frontal area which is more likely to score a chip. It is nearly 4 feet of film to get to this point and to do the front in one piece gives you a piece that is nearly 8ft wide.
3/
I have had people stand at the front of my car and say "Invisible Car Bra?, yeah right where is it?" I then take them round to the side to show them where it finishes. You can see it in the right light and at the right angle but most of the time it is invisible.
4/
My car is dark metallic green, you would have great results on a dark charcoal metalic.
5/
I tell people who don't want the "invisible line" across the bonnet there are three alternatives,
the invisible line,
a traditional bra with all the rigmarole involved with fitting, removing, cleaning, polishing out chafe marks and being downright ugly when it's fitted,
Or Stone Chips
and let them make up their own mind
Sorry 4 alternatives, you can also not drive it......