Volkswagen ID.3: Repair painting work. Paint finish – decorative strips and films

• Material information
• Attaching decorative strips and films
• Procedure for attaching

Material information

Material information

Important

● Depending upon the intended application, decorative film sheets are available cut ready-to-apply or as bulk material in rolls. The film must be stored dry at approx. 15°C. Heavy temperature drops, frost or direct heat will have a negative impact on the material and must be avoided without fail.

All factory decorative films are self-adhesive. To allow shipment, storage and correct application, the thin (millimetre range) decorative film is sandwiched between a thick protective paper and a slightly thinner application paper. Both paper layers are removed during the application process.

Layers:

The backing is a thick, usually waxed paper with the manufacturer's mark (e.g. “Scotchcal 3M”). When rolled together, this paper must be on the inside.

1st Layer: self-adhesive decorative film

♦ This is a 0.7 mm thin PVC film which can vary in colour and contains a non-hardening acrylic adhesive.

2nd Layer: application paper

♦ Although the application paper is relatively thin, it is bright and resists tearing. It allows you to see the contour of the film lying underneath. When cut to size, there is also a part number on the section. When rolled together, this side must always be on the outside.

3. Layer: application paper

♦ Although the application paper is relatively thin, it is bright and resists tearing. It allows you to see the contour of the film lying underneath. When cut to size, there is also a part number on the section. When rolled together, this side must always be on the outside.

Attaching decorative strips and films

Attaching decorative strips and films

Do not apply film to newly painted vehicles

Important

● Before applying the film, fresh paint should be allowed to air off for about three weeks at an average temperature of +20°C.

Information on attaching the film

After having applied the film to the entire surface, press on firmly but carefully with the blade once more and then pull off the application paper at an 180° angle.

Visible air bubbles should be popped open at their edges with a fine needle. Then squeeze out the air by going over them with the blade.

Procedure for attaching

Procedure for attaching

Preparation

♦ The surface must be completely smooth and free of grease. Clean surface with silicone remover.

♦ The working area and the decorative film or strip should have a temperature of +15 to 25°C.

♦ Before the process begins, the adhesive film should be at room temperature.

♦ The vehicle should be lifted on a pillar hoist for more extensive adhesive operations.

Procedure:

♦ “Dry” bonding for “experts”: The film is precisely bonded to the contours of the surface by “smoothing with a blade” immediately after removing the protective paper.

♦ “Wet” bonding for novices and for extended surfaces: the substrate and the film are moistened with water mixed with dishwashing detergent. On this soap film, which prevents immediate adhesion, you can precisely float the adhesive film to the proper position in order to press it on with a blade. The thin film of low surface-tension water underneath is then squeezed out so that there is no loss of adhesion.

Required tools and equipment for attaching the decorative film:

♦ Felt squeegee

♦ Plastic blade, for use with thick and thin films

♦ Sharp, straight paper scissors, approximately 80 mm long

♦ Pin with glass head

♦ Lint-free cloths

♦ Sponge

♦ Washing-up liquid

♦ Plastic bucket

♦ Silicone remover

Procedure

The procedure described here has been tried and tested in practice. It makes no difference whether the application is “dry” or “wet” or whether you are working with ready-made cut sections or bulk material on rolls.

Cut film to size or hold the ready-cut components of the entire set against the target area with the protective paper toward the body and then tape in position.

Important

● Reference marks are recommended for installing larger sections. Tape strips applied to the body are connected with ruler lines above the top application paper.

Check all parts again for correct position and whether they have been cut properly.

♦ Adjust height of pillar hoist, if used

♦ Set up supplementary lamps to obtain the best possible lighting if required

♦ Check all tools and equipment; these must be ready to hand during the subsequent operations.

♦ Work with a second person when attaching films to large surfaces.

– 1) Pull off the protective paper from the entire surface on one film end and, with the help of the application paper, position precisely and press on with the blade.

– 2) Using the reference marks as a guide, gradually pull off the protective paper and, at the same time, press on the film with the blade through the application paper, always pressing from the inside to the outside.

– 3) If larger creases or other irregularities should appear, the film can be pulled off again, as it is still attached to the application paper; then reposition the film and smooth with the blade once again!

The recommended procedure for removing the application paper and smoothing when applying extremely long films is as follows:

All vehicles (continued)

– 4) Attach the tape to the middle of the film strip, pull off the protective paper up to this point and then cut it off.

– 5) Attach the film strips true to size using the application paper and the reference marks.

– 6) Starting at the tape, use forceful, overlapping strokes of the blade to smooth and press on the film through the application paper.

Example procedure for wet attachment procedure

1 - Protective paper

2 - Adhesive tape

3 - Decorative film with application paper

In difficult cases it is often easier to use the wet application technique.

– Spray soapy water onto the body.

– Bring the film in the correct position.

– Squeeze out the water underneath the film with the blade.

– Repeat the work sequence on the other side of the tape strip.

– Pull protective paper -2- off decorative film -1-.

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