Austin Area TW Chapter (all gens welcome, even T4Rs; heck, just make it a Toyota and we're good)

Just in case, anybody needs cold beers straight out of the Tacoma:

http://austin.craigslist.org/spo/5910246175.html

 

I got you beat by a few years.

You got me beat by a few.

I was born at Seton on 38th.

 

​

 

Makes no difference, you're here, that's all that matters.

 

Well said.

 

Finals are done!! Should be back in town some time this week. I miss Austin y'all dagum

 

@Texoma It does matter! Cause I was here before Chad.

 

Sorry just saw this. Yes sir, I definitely do vinyl. I also work with a badass installer for the more complex wrap jobs and between the 2 of us, there's nothing that can't be done. As far as standing up to Texas heat, it's more than just that. You have to take care of the vehicle in general with washing. Little things count like not letting grime build up around the edges, not scraping at the edge, don't blast at the edge with a pressure washer, watch any edge peel and snip it before it grows, etc. Basically the edge is the key to maintaining a wrap. Wraps aren't bulletproof, but he's had his personal M3 wrapped for almost a year now in blue brushed metal vinyl. We've done full color wrap jobs on commercial vehicles 3+ years ago that are still on the road today doing dirty jobs (Lamb's Tire). For extra hold we could use adhesive promoter or even clear UV paint around the edges, but that comes with the cost of a painful removal later on so it's a give and take.

Another option is I sell lower cost films that aren't as durable as 3M but still look excellent and has the air release adhesive. I sell a lot of them to the DIY tuner types through the car show scene and ProWrapSource.com. I have like 5 diff colors of carbon fiber in stock at any given time. This is actually the material I used for my TRD HookEm decals out of.

Anyway, if you'd like to take a shot at having it done or buying the film and doing it yourself, shoot me a PM.

 

I want my roof wrapped badly

 

AINT N'UN TO IT BUT TO DEW IT BRUH

 

Bad ass!!!! Trying to figure out if i will need a new gasket for the third brake light or not....been asking around. Cant get a solid answer

 

if I recall, I think it would be best wrapping 2 piece. 1 for the top, then 1 on the back. Results in less stress over that curve as opposed to forcing things. With the air release films, as long as you aren't super anal and do a good job of prep (double wash + alcohol bath) it's not really hard and even the lower costs films are forgiving.

Why do you need a new gasket?

Just buy this and it comes with a gasket!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Taco...ash=item4d503a2c3e:g:Ib4AAOSw8d9UtJ0P&vxp=mtr

 

Right on!!! Just in case i have to pull the whole housing off the truck and the foam gasket that sticks to both sides gets jacked up..

Ive already got a blacked out 3rd brake light all LED lit

 

Yeah to do the wrap right you're gonna want to pull the light off, wrap up in there, then install the light over. That'll use the gasket to "tuck" the edge and make that part fail proof. Even if the gasket comes off in 1 piece, you'll want to make sure it's super clean and weather proof. Otherwise, given the stress the film would be under in that part, that will be the first part to fail. Full wrap prep is a lot like paint prep. You pull off lights, handles, bumpers, rubber, etc. People wonder why it costs so much when done right, or go to a place that cuts corners a variety of ways. There's no shortage of shady corner cutters in the wrap game.

 

so are curves (like the back of a Tacoma where you suggest using 2 pieces) stress risers for vinyl? for my roof, I was thinking you could terminate the vinyl under the rubber strips/ moldings? you have a physical location that you work out of? i might try to swing by some time and chat you up.

 

Curves are basically the #1 stress factor. Flat wants to be flat, especially when under constant Texas heat. Once that edge starts to come up the slightest bit, moisture and dirt get underneath. That's the beginning of the end. You see this a lot on the trunks and bumpers of wrapped cars. One of the ways to help extend adhesion is adhesive promoters. A lot of inexperienced (or corner cutting) wrap places with speed up the process and get away with using lower quality vinyl by using copious amounts of the stuff. The customer doesn't know what type of vinyl is on the car so for all they know they are happy with it, but when it comes to removal it's a nightmare. In extreme cases it can cause paint damage. A seam in 2 pieces isn't the sexiest thing you can do, but sometimes it's the best. I may be wrong and Rory could tell me 1 piece is no problem. I'm just remember my 2013 roof and I'm pretty sure I would have done it in 2 pieces. Vinyl manufacturers have come a long way in producing better films, but in the end, it's still adhesive backed vinyl. It's actually been a long time since I had a physical location. Most of the installs are on site anyway (commercial signs, wall wraps, commercial vehicles, etc) and for the most part, I'm the design guy. I do the cutting and some installs at my house and Rory is the mobile install master. I believe hands down he's the best installer in the state and one of the best in the country. He does installs all over the state, and out of state as far as Vegas. I can install, but I'm not nearly that much of a beast.

Check out our FB page to see bunches and bunches of pics (new website coming soon).

 

We don't just do small stuff

 

Been on TW for a while just found this thread, thanks to @ChadsPride. Live on the north shore of lake travis just a little ways up 1431 from cedar park. Whens the next meet/cruise?

 

We meet at the Oasis on Lake Travis every second Sunday of the month.

Its an event called Cars & Coffee.

Its starts at 9am but I usually arrive ~8am and park in the back left lot (we get a pretty nice lineup sometimes)

Hope to see you around brother!!!


PS - we could set up a meet anytime really!

 

We should totally do a trip out to Hidden Falls Adventure Park, its just down to highway from where I am, and less than 1 hour or so from most everyone. I'm only 2wd but have a buddy with a lifted 4wd tundra and some jeeps.