APEX hood graphic installation failure

[FBMRHO]

I just installed the hood graphic this afternoon and it was a complete failure. I have seen another post few days people mentioned about wrinkled edges. Mine received with some wrinkles on edges and center. I also noticed in some areas the vinyl was not fully stick to the transfer tape. I followed the instruction and once removed the tape it was a total mess. There are quite a few areas the vinyl has overlapped and left a wrinkle. For those who are familiar with vinyl wrap installation is this due to the wrong application or it’s due to the graphics?

 

[sheepoppa]

I just installed the hood graphic this afternoon and it was a complete failure. I have seen another post few days people mentioned about wrinkled edges. Mine received with some wrinkles on edges and center. I also noticed in some areas the vinyl was not fully stick to the transfer tape. I followed the instruction and once removed the tape it was a total mess. There are quite a few areas the vinyl has overlapped and left a wrinkle. For those who are familiar with vinyl wrap installation is this due to the wrong application or it’s due to the graphics?

Looks like application error. You have to be very tedious when laying it down the first time ensuring all edges are laid flat and no wrinkles.

 

[Joe86]

did you use plenty of soapy water??

 

[FBMRHO]

Looks like application error. You have to be very tedious when laying it down the first time ensuring all edges are laid flat and no wrinkles.

Good to know. I used same technique on the other half with no RHO cut out and it was was perfect.

 

[FBMRHO]

did you use plenty of soapy water??

Yes I use plenty of soapy water and it was moving freely on the hood.

 

[Cautionary Tale]

A heatgun is your friend. It's like a magic eraser for vinyl wrinkles. Also, which tool did you use to apply it? I'd have gone with a soft sided Medium or hard for that application, myself.

Another thought, did you clean the application area and run over with tac cloth? any lint or debris will cause havoc on install.

 

[frogjbm]

Yes I use plenty of soapy water and it was moving freely on the hood.

For what it's worth, if the ambient temperature isn't warm, and I mean like 75+, these issues have occurred for me personally. I keep my shop warm when applying these so they are more formidable. I can't tell you how many of these I've tossed in my day.

 

[Banger]

I just installed the hood graphic this afternoon and it was a complete failure. I have seen another post few days people mentioned about wrinkled edges. Mine received with some wrinkles on edges and center. I also noticed in some areas the vinyl was not fully stick to the transfer tape. I followed the instruction and once removed the tape it was a total mess. There are quite a few areas the vinyl has overlapped and left a wrinkle. For those who are familiar with vinyl wrap installation is this due to the wrong application or it’s due to the graphics?

You mentioned the decal arrived with wrinkles. Do these wrinkles correspond with the wrinkles that ended up on the hood? Or different spots?

 

[Irongoats]

I wrapped my car use heat gun but just enough to make pliable or you'll burn though

 

[FBMRHO]

You mentioned the decal arrived with wrinkles. Do these wrinkles correspond with the wrinkles that ended up on the hood? Or different spots?

Yeah that's my point. They are the same spots. The all black side has very little wrinkles and the installation was very smooth, only one tiny bubble. The RHO side has more cut outs so way more wrinkles and some pieces are not fully stick to the transfer tape. My recommendation is if this is your first time deal with vinyl wrap and receive a wrinkled decal, I will not be 100% confident you will get it smooth.

 

[Joe86]

@Apex Auto Styling

 

[RAM-Ranch-MT]

vinyl is tough, lots of prep and skill to get it to lay perfectly. Maybe install error or maybe it was just to wrinkled due to how they shipped it, either way you will get it on the second or 3rd try! if you dont want to waste more material im sure a local wrap shop will install it for pretty cheap.

 

[Banger]

vinyl is tough, lots of prep and skill to get it to lay perfectly. Maybe install error or maybe it was just to wrinkled due to how they shipped it, either way you will get it on the second or 3rd try! if you dont want to waste more material im sure a local wrap shop will install it for pretty cheap.

Great advice. My local shop is charging me $165 to install hood and bed decals. Totally worth it for me

 

[GregM]

vinyl is tough, lots of prep and skill to get it to lay perfectly. Maybe install error or maybe it was just to wrinkled due to how they shipped it, either way you will get it on the second or 3rd try! if you dont want to waste more material im sure a local wrap shop will install it for pretty cheap.

That's my plan, having my tint shop install the bed decals this weekend. Its way too cold, and install is cheaper than another set.

 

[Space race]

I was afraid the cutout would be hard to work with and I didn’t want a plain decal, so I bought bulk vinyl from VViViD off Amazon and will make my own bespoke stripes instead of a decal. $90 for a 5x15 roll. Install planned for this weekend.

 

[cdy2179]

I just installed the hood graphic this afternoon and it was a complete failure. I have seen another post few days people mentioned about wrinkled edges. Mine received with some wrinkles on edges and center. I also noticed in some areas the vinyl was not fully stick to the transfer tape. I followed the instruction and once removed the tape it was a total mess. There are quite a few areas the vinyl has overlapped and left a wrinkle. For those who are familiar with vinyl wrap installation is this due to the wrong application or it’s due to the graphics?

I did mine last week and it was smoothly adhered to the paper backing with no wrinkles. What you were sent looks kinda jacked up and i'm surprised they shipped it out like that. I hope they send you a replacement for free. You can see in the pic here that the paper and vinyl were perfectly flat.

The few bubbles I had disappeared as the spray dried over the next few days. It looks factory.

 

[Bluesteel1541]

If you get a factory or 3rd party decal on your truck can it no longer go through car washes? Sorry may be a dumb question but I think someone mentioned you should only do hand washes if that’s the case.

 

[Irongoats]

Never heard that one

 

[FBMRHO]

I did mine last week and it was smoothly adhered to the paper backing with no wrinkles. What you were sent looks kinda jacked up and i'm surprised they shipped it out like that. I hope they send you a replacement for free. You can see in the pic here that the paper and vinyl were perfectly flat. View attachment 6296

The few bubbles I had disappeared as the spray dried over the next few days. It looks factory.

I found this in another post. Mine received worse than this and most of the wrinkles were on the RHO side. I’ll contact them and see what they say. Their customer service was not the best never responded my email when the package was not shipped for 5-6 days.

 

[cdy2179]

I found this in another post. Mine received worse than this and most of the wrinkles were on the RHO side. I’ll contact them and see what they say. Their customer service was not the best never responded my email when the package was not shipped for 5-6 days.

Was it shipped in a tube? Mine was rolled up so once unrolled it was perfect. No folds or anything. That's really odd that mine from APEX was in such good shape compared to what you have.

They were slow to ship mine. It took a freaking week from the time the label was created before UPS actually got it.

I ordered on Jan 8th so it took 13 days for them to get it to UPS than a few days more before I got it. At least the product I got was worth it. Luckily my ceramic coating had to be delayed due to weather and I got it on before the coating.