Detailing DECALS

[TrufflePig]

Okay not sure if this has been asked before but it probably has.

Is it okay to go over FACTORY DONE DECALS on my MINI.

the decals are on the hood and on the quarter panel (which is a checkered flag)

is the quarter panel going to be a pain...

i attached a pic.

is this going to be a problem?

there is also bonnet stripes.

do i have to tape the edges off or what?

thanks

[OctaneGuy]

Yes wax right over it. The MINI factory stripes are vinyl. I just detailed another MINI today, and M21 over the factory stripes made the black look even darker and helped even out the mottled appearance of it from stains and other spots.

[TrufflePig]

hi richard,

thanks.

will i have to go over the edges of the checkered part with say a detail brush or q-tip to remove the wax or will the SS MF do the job.

[OctaneGuy]

When I did the bonnet stripes, I placed some 1/2" painters tape lightly on the vinyl to seal the edge as well as protect the vinyl when I ran my buffer over it. You can do that if you're afraid of wax build up on the edges.

Are the checkers solid vinyl or are there negative voids in the vinyl that shows paint through the checkers? I haven't yet seen a Checkmate up close.

Richard

Originally posted by TrufflePig
hi richard,

thanks.

will i have to go over the edges of the checkered part with say a detail brush or q-tip to remove the wax or will the SS MF do the job.

[TrufflePig]

Originally posted by OctaneGuy
When I did the bonnet stripes, I placed some 1/2" painters tape lightly on the vinyl to seal the edge as well as protect the vinyl when I ran my buffer over it. You can do that if you're afraid of wax build up on the edges.

Are the checkers solid vinyl or are there negative voids in the vinyl that shows paint through the checkers? I haven't yet seen a Checkmate up close.

Richard

it seems as if the checkered quarter panel is just one big piece on top of the paint.

is that what you're asking?

will the buffer ruin the decals and burn through them.

i was thinking before i started the thread to put tape on the edges so that when the buffer went over it it would be okay. as in the DVD when Mike put tape on the hood of the Vet in the raised section so it didn't get worn down.

that would help?

the checkered quarter panel isn't going to be fun? should i tape all the edges there?


thanks

[OctaneGuy]

It appears from the photo that it has silver checkers and the blue checkers are voids or holes allowing the blue paint to show through. If I were doing the vinyl that's how I'd do it, otherwise you would have to colormatch the vinyl.

If that's the case, I would likely do that whole area by hand and avoid the buffer. The buffer won't burn through it, but its safer in case printed vinyl was used in which case the buffer might remove the ink. Again since I've never seen it in person I can only guess based on past MINI OEM stripes.

It'll be crazy to mask off each checker square. Lol. Personally I wouldn't mask it and just not use the PC on that panel until I've been able to test it and determine it was PC safe.

Richard

[TrufflePig]

Originally posted by OctaneGuy
It appears from the photo that it has silver checkers and the blue checkers are voids or holes allowing the blue paint to show through. If I were doing the vinyl that's how I'd do it, otherwise you would have to colormatch the vinyl.

Richard

yeah that's what it is.

sorry my bad for not understanding the lingo.

its just one piece with holes, sorry squares cut out to allow the Space Blue colour to show.

i was already thinking to do by hand. so doing the whole area by hand is good then and a safe bet right?