Clear Bra Vinyl paint protection

[Ted Idlof]

Anyone put the Clear Bra vinyl sheeting used on cars on their race car nose? The material looks like it should hold up and extend time between paint jobs by quite a bit. The trick is the patience and expertise to get it on right and look seamless. In my case, since I have neither patience or expertise, that probably means $100 for the shop to do it. I hear you'll probably take the paint off when you peel it off, so I'd consider it simply another $100 on top of the paint job cost.

but it might be worth it if it keeps the nose looking better longer. Any stories to tell?

[rickjohnson356]

Would it work on the leading edges of front wings too?

[Chris Robson]

I just use helicopter tape on the leading edges of my wings and nose, along with any other area that is prone to "road rash".

I believe you can get it from Pegasus in 3 or 4 mil thicknesses. You might even be able to buy it in 10 foot increments vs. a 100ft roll ($$$)

Chris

[RussMcB]

I think it is worthwhile because a nicely painted fiberglass nose will have a lot of chips in it after the first few sessions. Wing leading edges, too.

It is a pain to apply. It might help to have a partner with a heat gun (but it's easy to overheat). I did this last night alone and it was a pain when the surfaces were not flat. I ended up using water and a squeegee with some heat to help it stretch where needed. The water helps repositioning and preventing bubbles.

Plan to wash your hands often if you don't want oily finger prints. Or maybe latex gloves?

It's ridiculously expensive. Check ebay.

[Purple Frog]

At the last few PRI shows there has been a booth that sells a liquid that you spray on any surface and it hardens into a protective film that you can peel off later. It's a big hit with PCA, NCCC, and BMWCCA at their PDX days. To demo it they spray the booth floor and let 40,000 people walk on it during the three days, then peel it off and stuff it in a trash can and go home.

If you are trying to "look Marvelous" on the track, it might not be the best thing, because it dries a bit cloudy. But it does seem to work as a protection, and it is easy.

[rickb99]

Good info Frog. Bein as you didn't tell us, is it this stuff??

http://www.strippablecoating.com/pro...ield_5720.aspx

Or do you know another product?

[Graham Rankin]

I personally swear by it.Yes its expensive, Yes its a pain to apply, particularly on compound curves. But if you have a nice shiney new paint job, I find its a good investment. (Make sure the paint is cured though, otherwise it might lift) Ted,I've usually got some offcuts laying around your welcome to play with.For wing leading edges I find the 2" material the most cost effective.Come find me at Sears Point next week, I'm happy to give you pointers.

Graham

[steve zemke]

Here is a different way to protect your paint job. I have no experience with this product, nor do I know anyone who works there, nor anyone who uses or used their products.
www.wrapwithpaint.com

[SSpiffytoo]

I hear you'll probably take the paint off when you peel it off, so I'd consider it simply another $100 on top of the paint job cost.

Properly applied over a good paint job, then properly removed, you won't take the paint off. Compound curves are a pain in the butt, especially inside ones, but it's doable with some patience.

[Richard Dziak]

Yes, I have used the 3M Clear Shield product on my new Phoenix F1000. You can buy rolls on Ebay of this product. I like the 6" wide to 12" wide sheets. It works great. The car looks good as new, after 13 races and several open track days. I did my whole front nose with the 3M product up to the shock cover. I did the side pods, up and over the sides of the cockpit the rear wings, front wings, and side wings. The 3M product resists chips from rocks and the rubber marks from the track come off easy using a common window cleaner like Sprayway or Mineral Spirts. You can see a photo of my Phoenix at my website below.

You can apply the product using a small spray bottle, squeegee, and 3/4 regular rubbing alcohol and 1/4 baby shampoo. This will give you time to work the product and the spray mix gives you the opportunity to slide the product around for proper placement. Use the squeegee to take out any bubbles. For the bubbles that won't come out, use a pin to prick the air bubble.

Be sure to precut the 3M Clear Shield before putting it on the car. Take your time. After you install the first piece, each piece gets easier to apply.

This is the same product that people place on the front hood of their expensive cars. It is thick and bendable. Use a standard hair dryer to heat and make the product plyable and flexible.

If your afraid to do it yourself, most auto detail shops or window tinting place may do it for you. You will save lots of money doing it yourself. Practice with a small piece on your own car.

I highly recommend this product. It works great and will definitely protect the paint. I don't think any other product can protect the nose better the 3M product. There is also another product called Clear Shield, not a 3M product. The product is cheap, but really does the job in excellent fashion.

I suggest you give it try. Why ruin an expensive paint job with track rock chips and pits.

P.S. You can also wax the product just like paint. When applied, you can't even tell you have it on the car. Won't peel off the paint either when removing.

If you look at my website and the photos of the car under SHOWCASE you can't even tell the 3M product was applied. It's virtually invisible.

[LenFC11]

where are you guys getting this 3m clear bra stuff?

thanks

[Richard Dziak]

Best deal at: EBAY

http://stores.ebay.com/Gaming-System...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

[rickb99]

We aren't allowed to keep 40 or 50 old tech stickers on the car any more. There isn't room for dash plaques in formula cars.

Aren't paint dings and road grit on the car about the only badges of road racing honor and battle we have left? Wear those marks with PRIDE ! They tell a story.

[LenFC11]

rick, normaly i agree with you, and have always had one of those 50-50 paint jobs, but i'm at the final stages of a very complete ground up rebuild, and even though i would have prolly been happy with another 50-50, this time the new body work got a really sweet paint job, and for crazy unkown reasons to me, i think i'd like to keep it that way for a while if possible.

richard, thanks man, going to order it up

[JHaydon]

I can't say how their price compares, but Griot's Garage (griotsgarage.com) sells paint protective film in several widths, by the foot. Look under "Car Manitenance -- Everyday and Storage."

AND, if you order now, you can get a FREE 8 ounce "Speed Shine" ($4.99 value) by entering coupon code (key code?) EMRRS. (Offer expires on October 16th) I wish I needed something from them. Speed Shine is good stuff.

Our clear leading edge tape ain't what it used to be. The old stuff, which was super-thick and super-sticky, was also super-expensive. Then the manufacturer raised the price from "expensive" to "indefensible". We are now carrying a thinner product that isn't crystal-clear like the old stuff, but it's a ton cheaper. I use it to cushion where two body panels meet and rub against each other. (Our black LE tape is still the same product as before.)