How do I apply my graphic kit the right way?

Before we start

Prepare required tools: Medium for degreasing, e.g. brake cleaner / plastic squeegee / hot air hair dryer / Scissors / household roll or a lint-free cloth

Find a suitable job. The biggest The enemy of adhesive films is dirt and, above all, grease or oil Residues; the cold and dirty workshop in winter is not exactly that optimal place. Depending on your preference, the plastic parts can be assembled stick on the bike or separately.

Are the “old” plastics being used? should there be any quirks, scratches, scratches or the like before the Processing can be smoothed with fine emery paper. Then thoroughly clean.

Clean and degrease

Prepare required tools: degreasing agents, for example brake cleaner / plastic squeegee / hot air hair dryer / scissors / household roll or a lint-free cloth

The meticulous preparation is for one presentable result is essential! The plastic parts – whether used or new – degrease thoroughly with the cleaner. Especially on new plastic parts silicone residues often still adhere. The surface appears light matt, you can start applying.

Tip: The work can and should be with clean hands. But the surface of our skin has a natural grease film and therefore cleaned surfaces should look like Possibility not to be touched with the fingers. It is therefore recommended proceed step by step and first degrease and stick only a part. Then degrease and paste the second part and so on.

Apply the graphics

Prepare required tools: degreasing agents, for example brake cleaner / plastic squeegee / hot air hair dryer / scissors / household roll or a lint-free cloth

The basic principle is: from the middle stick outside! In the case of large parts, the carrier film should be used first peel off in the middle a strip one or two centimeters narrow cut out and then the two halves of the carrier film again glue it back onto the graphics.

Now the graphics on the plastic part align and ideally to the recesses for the mounting holes orientate. Do you have the correct position on these holes and the edges the middle strip is found, on which there is now no carrier foil more, firmly pressed and glued on. Now you can go from this middle starting, peel off the carrier film piece by piece and by hand or go with the squeegee and press firmly. For smaller parts, it is sufficient to first use only half of the Remove carrier film (see pictures) and then also work from the center outwards and then the Remove the remaining carrier film and again from the center outwards to proceed. This should work without any problems on flat surfaces however, for example, including an air bubble, simply reinsert the decor Loosen the piece and remove the air bubble. It is often tricky Bulges, corners or the edges. The hot air dryer comes here at the latest for use. Carefully warm up the decor with the hair dryer, because that’s how it will be Material a little softer and therefore easier to shape.

Attention! When using the hot air dryer be careful and don’t heat the graphics up to hot. If in doubt, prefer to start first try an old graphic kit or plastic, how much heat such a plastic can tolerate. But don’t worry, you get a feeling very quickly when the material becomes noticeably and visibly softer with the added heat. Most films even require a certain amount of heat when applying, which is why the use of an ordinary hair dryer is out of the question. As well one should be careful – if the decors are applied directly to the bike should – with the handling near petrol tank and petrol-carrying Lines.

Finish

Compensate for the last bumps on the adhesive edges with the addition of heat and with a squeegee and press down firmly. Finally, use the hot-air dryer to warm up all the graphics again, especially on the curves, and press firmly so that the adhesive can develop its best effect. Leave the fully applied bike in place for 24 hours and ideally at room temperature and touch it up the next day if necessary, warm it up with a hair dryer and press it on for the last time.