I hope I'm not teaching anyone to suck eggs here, but I've just fitted a set of stripes to my white Lounge.

On previous cars I have bought the same self adhesive vinyl stripes and stuck them straight onto the car. It was a nightmare getting them straight first time and I was left with a few bubbles which I had to pop with a pin.

This time, took some advice from a friend. Washing up liquid and water in a squirty bottle. Clean the car, "T-cut" it. Spray the area with the foamy water. Take off the backing paper and offer up the stripes. Even though the stripes are self adhesive you can move them around, squeegy any excess water and still move them around to make sure they are straight. Leave them overnight then take off the backing paper.

Hey presto, straight, bubble free stripes.

Cannot second this water/washing up liquid enough - works so much better than just putting on straight.

Also make sure you squeegee outwards from the middle of course. When I first did it, I just squeeged randomly. Didn't work. :bang:

We need a full "How to Vinyl" guide.
Pictures please!

Id like to vinyl more of my car but I don't think I could do a good enough job

It's so easy and quick like this. I did both sides in about half an hour. Will post before and after pics tomorrow.

I used this method to apply a windscreen visor strip recently - a job recommended to be done by two people - and accomplished it easily and quickly by myself.

Pictures attached. Before the stripes and after the stripes. I think the white cars look much better with them.

typecastboy said:

Pictures attached. Before the stripes and after the stripes. I think the white cars look much better with them.

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Good job, personally I'd go for stripes or rubbing strips but not both! Too much going on IMO but I have to admire what you've done to both cars

You think? I think it looks good myself. Car already had the rubbing strips but I think the stripes are needed on white ones.

Just got to do a bit of painting on that nearside rubbing strip. Then wax the car and then it's going up for sale.

I too am part of the side stripe brigade. Yessss.



I think if you had rubbing strips and big stripes like mine it would be different, but I think that looks really good!

How did you get them dead straight? Also it looks like it's a straight stripe across the door hinge and doesn't stop for it!

Noxide said:

I too am part of the side stripe brigade. Yessss.



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I think if you had rubbing strips and big stripes like mine it would be different, but I think that looks really good!



How did you get them dead straight? Also it looks like it's a straight stripe across the door hinge and doesn't stop for it!

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They are lined up with the crease that travels the length of the car. Because they went on wet it was easy to slide them around to get them dead straight.

I actually took the picture before I trimmed the edges. I don't wrap them around, I cut them about 1mm short if the end of the door both sides.

The washing up liquid spray is a great tip for applying stickers and film etc, just gives you that extra security of getting it spot on. Not great in the winter unless you can garage it to dry and stick

n1ck500s said:

The washing up liquid spray is a great tip for applying stickers and film etc, just gives you that extra security of getting it spot on. Not great in the winter unless you can garage it to dry and stick

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I did mine in November, it doesn't need warmth. The water just dries out over night leaving it all stuck. No bubbles!

This November there has been plenty of water overnight !