Vinyl wrapping forks? Anyone done it?

nickrh

I am just embarking on a frame respray and rebuild of an old GT I just picked up on Fleabay. I am having the frame powder coated in matt black and want to do something with the forks too.

It's easy enough to powder coat the lowers but I thought it might look good to do something a bit different. It struck me that vinyl wrapping might work particularly if I use a random or repetitive design that doesn't need lining up.

However, as I know literally nothing about vinyl wrapping, I don't have any idea if this is doable or cost effective. Anyone had any experience of vinyl wrapping anything to get an idea of cost and feasibility?

BTW - Haopy New Year!

Barrelmaker

Vinyl is cheap as chips and easy on a flat or lightly curved surface, but on a fork with lots of curves and intricacies it will be a pig, then you will also have the seems and it will probably start to peel once some water gets under it.

WindyG

Hydro graphics might be a better option http://www.diydipkits.com/ it's becoming very common now on hard to do car parts.

ritchiehulse

i think it is doable as i have seen cars that have been fully wrapped even around bumpers, but i wouldnt imagine it would be able to take much of a beating, imagine if you scraped it, than it would look a mess, saying that most have fox stickers on anyways so i say risk it for a biscuit just dont fall off!!!!!

ritchiehulse

another random option that people are doing on cars is "stickerbombing"

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&sa ... x=98&ty=71

just a example but there are loads on google images

nickrh

ritchiehulse wrote:

another random option that people are doing on cars is "stickerbombing"

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&sa ... x=98&ty=71

just a example but there are loads on google images

Like the look of this, and with it being a random pattern it hides all of the joins and edges. Just want to make sure it doesn't look bobbins! Otherwise, I could just powder coat them to match the frame. Hmmmm.........

ritchiehulse

stickerbomb it! tbf if you dont like the look of it, just rip it off and powdercoast it

sparky.2002

You can't powder coat lowers without removing the bushings first.The heat will damage the bushings.check sig for wrapped lowers

nickrh

Yeah, I just found out that I cannot powder coat the forks as the bushings are "non serviceable". Which means an alternative plan.

Having seen the stripped polished bare metal effect, I could live with that. Then just add some decals.

sparky.2002

Don't do it! The magnesium in the lowers oxidizes in no time leaving them looking crap. That's why I've wrapped them. Considering wrapping the frame now too...