Wrap care and durability??? I got questions:

[sodamo]

If wrapping in home garage should you run some sort of air filtration?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Or just accept a few dog hairs as 'unpublished features'

 

[Bee]

2) Yes. They can be removed. For someone that's done it before, it's not that hard but it's a big tedious job. For someone that's never done it, you don't want to, you want to pay someone that's done it before.

If this was a hobby car and I planned to switch out the wraps regularly (once a year), is it just an exercise in futility or is learning to wrap/unwrap something that could be fun?

and what kind of tools do you need to make it not frustrating?

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

If wrapping in home garage should you run some sort of air filtration?

Don't know. But I would unplug the garage door opener to prevent unintended opening. That door traveling above the Slate will drop dust, plus any wind thru the open door will blow some in.

 

[r6tn]

Ok, I'm not a wrap expert but I guess I'm the closest thing around at the moment. My experience is that I worked in collision repair and had a knack for installing decals and ended up being "the decal guy" and ended up doing some partial wraps, like replacing the wrap on the side of a van or bed of a work truck. Most of the ones I did I would say were on the easier side.

I eventually started a small side business doing decals where I used a lot of wrap material (it's basically the same as decal vinyl), and did a few more partial wraps, but not a lot. I never got interested enough to do a full wrap.

If wrapping in home garage should you run some sort of air filtration?

Unless your garage is unusually dusty or you're opening a wrap shop, you probably don't need it. The cleaner the better, but for one wrap you'd probably be ok.

If this was a hobby car and I planned to switch out the wraps regularly (once a year), is it just an exercise in futility or is learning to wrap/unwrap something that could be fun?

and what kind of tools do you need to make it not frustrating?

People enjoy it and it's not really hard to learn. It's the really curvy surfaces that take practice. The bedside and doors would be pretty simple, but the roof and mirrors would be a lot harder and take some practice.

I tend to minimize the tools I use on things. I have a bunch of stuff but if I had to do a wrap right now I would just use a squeegee with felt on it, a "wrap glove" so I can use my hand as a squeegee, a heat gun and a good razor knife.

Taking off wrap/vinyl/PPF, search "lil chizler" and buy a pack of them, they're like squeegees with sharp edges. A heat gun and the chizlers usually work pretty well. If not, I'd use an eraser wheel on most cars but it wouldn't be safe on Slate's plastic panels.

 

[AZFox]

I've wondered how an unwrapped Slate will age, does the surface oxidize and get cracks in it?

Generally speaking, if things are going as originally planned, prepare to embrace visible wear and tear because "highlighting rather than hiding battle scars is key to the Slate ethos"... or at least it was.

See also:
https://www.slateforums.com/forum/t...are-cleaning-protecting-waxing-coating.12699/

 

[Kopsis]

Generally speaking, if things are going as originally planned, prepare to embrace visible wear and tear because "highlighting rather than hiding battle scars is key to the Slate ethos"... or at least it was.

This is actually one of my favorite Slate attributes. My whole reason for getting the Slate is to do the jobs that my EV6 is a little to "nice" for. A finish (or lack thereof) that I don't have to be cautious with is very appealing.

 

[AZFox]

This is actually one of my favorite Slate attributes. My whole reason for getting the Slate is to do the jobs that my EV6 is a little to "nice" for. A finish (or lack thereof) that I don't have to be cautious with is very appealing.

I was put off by this idea at first, but have come to terms with allowing some patina to develop over the years.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

This is actually one of my favorite Slate attributes. My whole reason for getting the Slate is to do the jobs that my EV6 is a little to "nice" for. A finish (or lack thereof) that I don't have to be cautious with is very appealing.

My Slate is replacing a long line of beater cars. It needs to tolerate the same treatment.

 

[BlackFlagBop]

My Slate is replacing a long line of beater cars

Username checks out

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Grant Petersen of Rivendell Bicycle Works called this Beausage - a combination of Beauty and Usage. That is, placing value on an object (or in his case, a bicycle) that gets used and shows signs of use rather than a museum piece.

 

[FlyHappy]

I have a neighbor/acquaintance that owns an auto wrap shop, and though they'll do any vehicle, they somewhat specialize (reputationally) in higher end vehicles (the kind often kept in "auto condos").
The operation is pretty casual, the physical environment nothing very specialized at all - not super clean, not strictly temp controlled. The only thing notable is the lighting is good and plentiful.

I have little doubt that good results are possible in the average DIY garage setting, given modest motor skills and patience.

But put me in the camp of wanting to see how/if the bare PP surface will develop "patina". I rather like that weathered look in general.