F.A.Q. -
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I get both sides of the graphic?
Yes. The left and right sides
are included with each kit.
Are the kits
easy to install?
Yes. These kits have been
designed to be installed by one person in about 20 to 30
minutes. You can view the step-by-step instructions by
clicking on the How-To link.
What tools
will I need?
A stiff plastic squeegee and a sharp razor
knife. You may wish to make a wetting solution–one drop of
dish soap to one quart of water–so you can lift the kit
back up during installation to remove large air bubbles or
just to make adjustments as needed. Use a clean spray
bottle but don't use too much soap, one drop per quart is
plenty. Some pro installers like to install kits dry since
there is no drying time before you can remove the premask,
and they have the experience needed to avoid air bubbles
and placement problems. It is recommended that you do a wet
installation on kits 40" and larger. The smaller 'mini'
kits should be installed dry.
Will the
graphics damage the paint job?
No, it does not. In fact, we
have several customers who change their kits often for a
new look. We also have some customers who like one design
so much that they have the same style kit installed on
their next new vehicle.
Are they
permanent?
The graphic kits can easily
be removed within the first year, but after that you may
need to heat them up with a blow dryer (not a heat gun) to
make it easier to remove them. The graphics are considered
permanent since they are manufactured and tested to last
for years in harsh elements but can be removed at any time.
Can I move
the kit to a different position after I install
it?
Kits
can be removed at any time with a little effort, but they
can not be re-used once they are removed. In other words,
get it right the first time or be prepared to buy another
kit. That's why the instructions suggest that you do a "dry
fit" first. Place the entire unopened kit on the vehicle
with some masking tape, and move it around until you are
happy with the position. Then make reference points for the
corners of the kit with masking tape on the car. When you
remove the kit and begin the installation, you can place
the kit back on your corner marks to make sure it's exactly
where you want it.
Can I cut the
kit into smaller sections and re-arrange them on the
vehicle?
Yes. Some graphic kits have
been specifically designed in several pieces, even though
it ships as a two-piece graphic kit with a left and a right
side. Each side of the kit is designed to look good when
installed as a one-piece graphic, but you have the added
option of re-arranging the pieces to change the look of the
kit. Each side might have several smaller pieces that can
be carefully cut away from the main kit and installed
separately, allowing you to create a one-of-a-kind design
to fit the vehicle. The Inferno, a flame kit, has 3 pieces
per side–it looks good as a long one piece kit or it
can be stacked top to bottom for a taller front-end
flame effect for hoods. It's most commonly used for
front wheelwell flames. Other graphics that can be
sectioned and re-arranged are the Hydro, Shattered, Splash, Thistle, and Sport which has a "Sport" text tag
that can be moved anywhere. You can see more examples
of the multi-piece kits on the Workshop pages.
Can I install
more than one kit?
If you want to cover a larger
area, try one of the larger kits shown in the catalog.
Sometimes two or more kits can be used on large trucks or
conversion vans, but the most common graphics that are
applied two or three times are flame kits. The front end of
a vehicle can be covered for a full custom flame job. Other
kits that can be doubled up are Shredder which is made of
seperate sections that can be re-arranged as a larger
group, and the Hydro for a heavy splash effect.
View the Workshop for more ideas.
Your designs are only limited by your imagination.
Can I have a
professional install it for me?
Yes. There are literally
thousands of professional graphics installers located
throughout the United States. Just fill out the e-mail form
for information on the pro-installers in your area. If you
are a professional installer, use the same e-mail form and
we will add your company information to our
installer/customer-referral database. If you live in a
different country, try contacting local sign shops, window
tint or custom auto shops to find an installer in your
area.
Can I get my
own custom design made?
Yes. Call us and we'll help
you, depending on what you want.
How can I
avoid pulling the kit back up when I remove the
Pre-Mask?
The pre-mask is a clear layer
on top of the kit which allows the kit to retain its shape
when you place it on a vehicle. You squeegee the kit right
through the pre-mask layer and remove it when the kit is
completely squeegeed onto the vehicle. If you are doing a
wet installation, wait at least 15 minutes before removing
the pre-mask layer. When you remove the pre-mask, pull
evenly and slowly, and pull back at a sharp angle to avoid
lifting the kit.
How do I
remove small bubbles in the finished
Kit?
The
best way to avoid bubbles in a kit is to take your time and
make sure you have a clean surface. Squeeqee the kit SLOWLY
and press FIRMLY from front to back, working from the
center to the outside and doing small sections of the kit
at a time. Even then, you may get some small bubbles which
can be removed later by using a pin or sharp blade to cut
the edge of the bubble and work the air or water out
through the opening. Some small bubbles may dissapear as
the kit dries. Kits can be installed wet or dry, but it is
safer to install a kit wet. It can be pulled up from the
back during installation in case you get a fold or large
bubble. A dry kit may have less bubbles at first, but it's
a one way street, and there's no turning back. Once it's
on, IT'S ON! As you get more practice and confidence
installing kits, you will find it's faster to do dry
installations. Most pro-installers prefer to install them
dry as there is no drying time before removing the premask.
What's the
best way to install a kit?
View the step-by-step
How-To page to see how to install a
graphic kit by yourself. You can do this yourself if
you take your time, but it helps to have another
person standing at the back of the vehicle to hold the
back of the kit and keep it away from the vehicle.
Start by peeling off a foot or two of the backing,
beginning at the front. Spray the exposed kit and the
car and then tack down the front of the kit onto the
vehicle. Press down the first inch or so of the kit
and proceed to remove the rest of the backing,
exposing the kit and it's adhesive. The front of the
kit should stay put as you hold the back of the kit
away from the vehicle to avoid unwanted placement. It
is important to keep the kit taught, or lightly
pulled, to keep the kit from bunching up. Have you
ever had a piece of tape come back on itself? It's
almost impossible to pull it apart, and more than
likely you will just get a new piece of tape instead
of trying to salvage the old one. Well, that can
happen with a kit too, so when you begin the
installation, keep it slightly taught at all times.
Another good tip: hold down the front of the kit with
some masking tape in case your helper gets carried
away with the taughtness and starts to slide the kit
towards the back of the vehicle. Once you completely
remove the backing, spray the entire kit and the car,
then start to squeegee from the front to the back as
your helper keeps the back end of the kit about 6
inches away from the vehicle. If you are by yourself,
just lightly place the back of the kit down and tack
the corners in place. As you squeegee the kit, you
might start to bunch up the kit. You should be able to
lift (snap) it up again, and re-tension it as needed.
Wait 15 minutes and remove the pre-mask by pulling
back at a sharp angle to avoid lifting the kit.
Finally, use a sharp razor knife or blade to lightly
cut the door openings. Do this carefully so as not to
cut into the paint finish. It is best to trim the
graphic back 1/8 of an inch from all edges. In other
words, don't cut in the center of the opening and fold
the kit behind the door or into the door jamb.
Instead, make 2 cuts, 1/8-inch in from each edge. That
will give the kit a better grip on the vehicle and
avoid lifting the edge from dirt, moisture, cleaning,
and waxing. Check out the step-by-step How-To page to familiarize yourself
with simple steps to installing a graphics kit on your
vehicle.
Still have your own questions?
e-mail us at autotrim@autotrimexpress.com
