Stripe Problem, Help!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 16, 2007 | 09:25 AM

Nick1

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 753

Likes: 2

From: Denville NJ

Stripe Problem, Help!

Installed my vinyl stripes this weekend and they came out overall good. The only problem is that there is a rough look to them like they were placed over sand rather than smooth like paint.
There is some small typical bubbles which I am familiar with and can massage out or use the pin trick.
Will the rough look (which may be mini bubbles) dissapate? Will a heat gun help? Or is that it? Someone indicated that time in the sun will help.

Thanks

Jul 16, 2007 | 09:33 AM

TexasMadMan

Melting Slicks

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 2,966

Likes: 5

From: Wichita Falls Tx

Can I assume you used a clay bar before installing the stripes? In other words, was the surface very smooth before putting them on? If you installed them with a good water soap mix and sqeegeed (sp) them well, you should have not had many bubbles. Not being able to see what you are talking about makes it hard to tell if time and the sun will help. btw, I never liked the pin trick.

Jul 16, 2007 | 09:50 AM

Nick1

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 753

Likes: 2

From: Denville NJ

No clay bar, but I washed the areas several times the week before, cleaned with windex, and did a final with alcohol. Did this also on my Camaro awhile ago which came out good although that was white stripes. The new ones are black on a torch red C5 which has "good paint". The looks is like minibubbles. Some feed back indicates that they may dissapate (which I am routing for), others have a more dismal opinion. I am familiar with small bubbles and know how to pin and roll them out. grrrrrrrrr

Jul 16, 2007 | 09:51 AM

Z0SLIK

Race Director

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 12,071

Likes: 0

From: Hoover Alabama

Had the same problem. Put it in direct sun light and it should be fine.

Slik

Jul 16, 2007 | 10:45 AM

jackj

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 1,551

Likes: 0

From: Flowery Branch GA

good luck ever getting those strips off. I always clay bar & then wax Prior to installing strips, the glues used today are VERY agressive,

good luck.

Jul 16, 2007 | 11:08 AM

Ol'55

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 9,420

Likes: 8

From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackj

good luck ever getting those strips off. I always clay bar & then wax Prior to installing strips, the glues used today are VERY agressive,

good luck.

Not true. I just last week had a professional bling shop remove my crappy old non Avery vinyl stripes and the Corvettestripes.com Avery stripes installed (thanks Mike) and all is good although i know what the OP is seeing as I have the same look on mine. I'm told over time the vinyl will shrink (heat from the sun was also mentioned) but will probably never have the same finish as the clear coat. Now to get back to "you will never get the stripes off." They used a machine process that (this sounds scary, but it works and is very safe) removes the old graphics with a pencil eraser type wheel. When hearing of this process I cringed! But it works just fine and doesn't marr the finish one iota. Pretty much any shop that does tint and audio installs is a good target.

Last edited by Ol'55; Jul 16, 2007 at 11:11 AM.

Jul 16, 2007 | 02:00 PM

Vetteman Jack

Administrator

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 368,535

Likes: 24,825

From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.

C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021

MO Events Coordinator

St. Jude Co-Organizer

St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26

NCM Sinkhole Donor

CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran

Did you get them from Mike at Corvettestripes.com? If so, give him a call and ask for advice. I'd bet he'd give you some pointers even if you didn't buy them from him.

Jul 16, 2007 | 03:27 PM

Nick1

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 753

Likes: 2

From: Denville NJ

Thanks everyone for your comments. Mike of course has been very helpful but I like to hear other view points also. He even offered to replaced the problem sections.
I'm going to let it be for a month or so and only roll out the typical scattered bubbles.