The 3m stuff is pretty cool, but harder to perfect than I thought. Cutting it to get straight lines on the car is more difficult than I thought. Right now have it on the center part of the hood. I plan on putting it on the door handles as well, however I am not sure how to take them off properly.
The way 3M advises cutting with an exacto blade has me a little scared about the finish of my car after I cut it. My pressure was very light and I tried to only get the vinyl but I know I had to hit the finish in some places. I am sure I can wet sand it later if I want.
I'll post some more photos after I vinyl some more, ones that are out of the shadows too.
Exacto on your paint?
You might try making a template first with tape and paper. Create the edges with 1" blue tape or auto masking tape. Then "fill in" the design with paper or tape. Your should now have a crude representation of the stripe or what ever design you are putting on the paint.
Using tape now frame that design. Apply tape as closely as you can along the edges of your template.
Carefully remove the template only from your vehicle trying not to distort the shape. You should have the outline marked on the vehicle with the tape that you used to frame the design.
Take the template and apply it to the 3M material and carefully cut out using a straight edge. Then remove the template from the 3M.
You'll apply the 3M using the same technique one would use to apply window film;
Get a card table or flat clean surface and locate next to your vehicle, preferably in a garage out of the wind etc.
Wash your hands well. Make sure the paint is clean.
Fill a trigger spray bottle with clear water and a few drops of dish soap. Spray a light coat of the water/soap mix onto the paint. Peel the backing off the 3M material and spray the mixture to the sticky side.
Taking care not to touch anything to the sticky side gently apply it to the paint as closely to the desired finished location. With the proper amount of water between the paint and the film you can slide the film into the desired final location. Don't be afraid to gently lift a portion of the film up to spray more water under it.
When you are happy with the location of the film spray the top of the film and with a clean small squeegee work any air bubbles out from under the film. Again don't be afraid to lift an edge of the film to add more water.
Once you have the bubbles out and the film is perfectly flat give the top one more spray of water and gently squeegee the whole surface down to ensure the whole film has felt pressure against the paint. Follow up with a soft cloth taking care not to run it across the edges in any direction other than parallel to them so as to not pull the film up.
I've done my own hood stripes on my MINI as well as countless other vehicles and surfaces using this technique. The water will not affect the glue as you squeegee most out from between the film and paint. The remainder will evaporate.
As for the door handles. Are you putting film on the handles or the wells behind the handles?
If you are talking about the handles I would not use film. It will be all but impossible to get good results. Besides if you are going to remove the handles to cover them you might as well paint them, or have it done. Remember the long term effect rings and other items in your hands will have on the paint though....chipping and scratching.
If you are talking about putting 3M on the handle wells... that's going to be difficult too. The contour is pretty dramatic for such a small area. The only thing I can suggest in using vinyl is a hair drier and trying to stretch the film into the recess of the well. Again, you might be better off painting that area.
Good luck, let us know how it goes.
