3M Vinyl Wrap Advice

[poconojoe]

Hi all, I was given a loner 2020 Silverado that had the woodgrain accents on the doors. It looked kind of nice, even for fake wood.

I have no experience with vinyl wrap, but it doesn't seem to be that difficult to apply. I think I'm up for the challenge. I just have to get up the Kahunas to mess with my new truck! 

So here are my questions... what if I don't like the look after installing it? How easy is it to remove and will it damage the silver plastic parts in my 2019 Silverado LD?

Thanks,

Joe

[VanguardK2]

3m vinyl is easy to apply. You wouldnt have to take your plastic trim out at all if you are clean about your cuts but the finished product would suffer since you cant get the nice tight cuts and the pry tool all the way into the cracks. Having it warm by either sunlight or heat gun JUST A LITTLE can go a long way to applying. Most of the time I dont heat m iij new but occasionally I will as it's always in my non heated garage. Use a non marring tool to remove your trim pieces since it's new and be sure to smooth out the wrap as your applying it to make getting bubbles or imperfections out easier later on.

Best case: slightly warm, not enough to melt through vinyl, pry tool and remove trim, felt end on a credit card or stiff object of the like.

But you can always get crafty to get it accomplished in the end. Good luck, post pics afterwards for us!

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[poconojoe]

1 hour ago, VanguardK2 said:

3m vinyl is easy to apply. You wouldnt have to take your plastic trim out at all if you are clean about your cuts but the finished product would suffer since you cant get the nice tight cuts and the pry tool all the way into the cracks. Having it warm by either sunlight or heat gun JUST A LITTLE can go a long way to applying. Most of the time I dont heat m iij new but occasionally I will as it's always in my non heated garage. Use a non marring tool to remove your trim pieces since it's new and be sure to smooth out the wrap as your applying it to make getting bubbles or imperfections out easier later on.

Best case: slightly warm, not enough to melt through vinyl, pry tool and remove trim, felt end on a credit card or stiff object of the like.

But you can always get crafty to get it accomplished in the end. Good luck, post pics afterwards for us!

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk
 

Thanks for the tips and encouragement!

I do have a heat gun. I gather you suggest using a low setting on the heat gun.

 

I do need to invest in a set of trim removal tools.

 

What about removing the vinyl in case I don't like it? Is it easy to remove? Will any damage occur to the plastic parts?

[VanguardK2]

Of course! I have used cheap vinyl and used 3M and I Hve had zero issues with the 3M. The cheap stuff will probably leave a residue you have to clean off. I'd you dont have plastic pry tools I'd suggest a thin flathead screwdriver and a towel but it might not be forgiving like a plastic pry tool. Also yes a low heat setting on the heat gun will help form it if it's one with a pattern rather than solid color.

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[Snowcamo]

3m will mend easy with the wife's blow drier. If not removing parts I overlap the cuts a little bit to allow the extra to tuck into the crease. Clean the surface with rubbing alcohol. Apply 3m film. Spray a solution of mild soapy water then squeegee from the middle outward. Lastly tuck any extra into the creases.

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