Install Draping cars in clear sheets of plastic isn't glamorous work. Being good at it won't make you friends and it won't make you as famous as the guy with the dyno. Too bad, because crackerjack vehicle wrap guys are the only ones separating such odious pieces of gravel, rock, and road debris from embedding themselves within your bucket's freshly applied paint. Or, in this case, our NSX's. The best protective films are the ones you can't see. Crystal Autoshield's Norbert Ibarra's done this once or twice so a bubble-free finish was no coincidence. Best of all, you can treat VentureShield just like you would a clear coat, which means you can clean, polish, and wax like you always have...or haven't. Ibarra treated the NSX's hood, front fenders, front bumper, and rear spoiler. Can't tell, can you?The best protective films are the ones you can't see. Crystal Autoshield's Norbert Ibarra' There are tricks that keep guys like Ibarra from wasting material and money. Ibarra uses a mixture of water and baby shampoo he calls his "slip" to keep the material from sticking to itself. Get the ratio wrong and you'll end up with bubbles that won't go away or film that won't stick. Ibarra applies the mixture evenly to the film's sticky side and again to the paint.There are tricks that keep guys like Ibarra from wasting material and money. Ibarra uses a But it's still easy to waste material and money. Ibarra preps the paint with alcohol for a grease-free surface. Any wax, dust or debris left on the paint will show up behind the film and won't allow it to stick. Prepare yourself now though, because no matter how hard you try, dust and debris will no doubt find their way underneath that film.But it's still easy to waste material and money. Ibarra preps the paint with alcohol for a There are enough choices when it comes to automotive paint protection films to put you to sleep rather quickly. VentureShield, a product of Venture Tape Corp. based out of Rockland, MA, is one of them. Like all paint protection films, VentureShield won't protect your paint from flying boulders and it won't make cruddy paint look good, but it will keep things like pebbles from prematurely sending you back to the body shop. VentureShield is also one of the only composite-based films on the market that's warranted against cracking, bubbling, even yellowing. Sold. Applying paint protection film looks easy. It isn't. Turns out, it's much more difficult than the time you applied the JDM Soshinoya badge to your back window (you know who you are). To avoid bungling up several hundred dollars' worth of film before success, we called on nearby Crystal Autoshield to handle the install. Bubbles and soap residue will be stubborn. Once the film's applied, Ibarra stretches it and scrapes the bubbles and soap residue out with a tint guy's "turbo squeegee." Patience is key here as stretch marks come easy as do "pull back" lines if the film is lifted for any reason, like when you realize it's not going to cover your entire fender and you pull it back off. VentureShield is sold in 58-inch sheets, though-the widest of any manufacturer-which makes stretching it across the NSX's hood in one piece entirely possible.Bubbles and soap residue will be stubborn. Once the film's applied, Ibarra stretches it an Watch for peeling. Ibarra wraps the edges dry and heat shrinks them for a seam-free appearance. A sharp razor blade is used to trim the excess.Watch for peeling. Ibarra wraps the edges dry and heat shrinks them for a seam-free appear The corners will hate you. Ibarra's got his own tricks for wrapping inside and outside corners. It starts with a simple cut and ends with lots of pulling, trimming, some swearing, and more heat.The corners will hate you. Ibarra's got his own tricks for wrapping inside and outside cor Front bumper pieces can be complicated. This is where that computer-aided cutter comes in handy. But computers will only get you so far. Understanding which direction to apply the film and doing so without letting it touch the ground is just as important.Front bumper pieces can be complicated. This is where that computer-aided cutter comes in The small pieces are often the most difficult. Compound angles like those for the mirrors look easy. They aren't. The compound stretching means these small pieces are just looking for ways to fall off.The small pieces are often the most difficult. Compound angles like those for the mirrors Don't get the wrong stuff. There are less expensive automotive protective films out there but very few are as durable as VentureShield nor provide the orange peel-free finish you want.Don't get the wrong stuff. There are less expensive automotive protective films out there CONNECT Ventureshield n/a CA http://www.ventureshield.com Crystal Autoshield n/a MA http://www.crystalautoshield.com By Aaron Bonk Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
