Krawler Koncepts Tips and Tricks for Installing "Inside" Skins

[Krawler Konceptz]

After lots of Requests of How To Apply the "Inside" Skins...

Crawler-Dad the "King" of Applying Skins is telling all his secrets

Watch for the thread to be updated shortly

[CRAWLER-DAD]

OK,its not that difficult but you need to know a few things...

things to ask yourself or if I was there it is what i would ask you::::::

START- will you be making your own lexan templates or are they supplied for
rig ?

If you are using supplied templates its a little more difficult

If you are making your own templates this is the easiest procedure..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
So supplied templates will go as follows....

1-make sure your skins fit your supplied template before removing them for application
2-in a spray bottle(I used an old windex bottle) you are gonna mix 1/2 a teaspoon or so of dish soap to a bottle of drinking water(I use DAWN liquid soap) shake well and let the bubbles settle
3-generously spray mixture to supplied templates and apply each skin slowly and precisely to the template
4-next get a hard plastic card(like a grocery store card) or whatever you have and gently start pushing the water from the skin starting in the center and pushing the water to the edge..use paper towels to soak up excess water so not to let the water get back under the skin
5-keep pushing till you do not see any bubbles..at this time dry it all off thoroughly and let dry for 24 hrs
6-trim the skins to your templates and bend your template if necessary
7- now your DONE !! congrats you have just mastered "inside skin application"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Making your own templates........

1-start with a adequate piece of lexan and follow steps 1-7 from above,the only difference is you can put your skins down any way you want..for instance..V4BJ skins only come with a small hood decal..I preferred a piece to go all the way to the rear of the chassis So when lining up the hood I cut out extra length of lexan and used my choice of vinyl color to apply behind the hood skin
2- when trimming your skins..take your time and when using scissors you will notice you have to give yourself a 1/32nn extra beyond the edge of your skin..as the scissors will try to nick the skin..
3-when your done with trimming use a dremel with a barrel sander and finish trimming..
4- YOUR done..congrats you have just installed your "inside skins"

any question on my process please PM me

MORE HINT or TRICKs

when making your own templates,and you have a straight panel to cut..I use a metal ruler and with a razor blade you will score a line just deep enough to create a cut that you can bend the lexan and it will snap..it will break along the score line and give you a PERFECT edge that does not need trimming ..

GOOD LUCK to EVERYONE
I hope this will help you all with questions on how to apply KrawlerKoncepts SKINS

NOTE: soon to come will be application Tips and Tricks for applying 4pk wraps from KrawlerKoncepts..

[clarkrw3]

Very cool CRAWLER-DAD I will be taking notes

[CRAWLER-DAD]

hey rob,your local so i can help you if needed!!

when you do your 4pk I have a heat gun..it good to have

[clarkrw3]

Thanks!

Originally Posted by CRAWLER-DAD

hey rob,your local so i can help you if needed!!

when you do your 4pk I have a heat gun..it good to have

[CD13]

I got some tips from Crawler Dad in Arizona for the 4PK. Thank You and it worked much better. I'm getting another top for the battery cover so I'll post some pics when its done.

[Krawler Konceptz]

Crawler-Dad Rules...
Thanks again Marc...

[Knarly Nerd]

So yuou bend your panels AFTER installing the skins? I am using the stock Beetlejuice panels which are fairly thick. I'm afraid of breaking the skin at the bend...??

Would Windex or Glass Plus work instead of soapy water?

Originally Posted by CRAWLER-DAD

OK,its not that difficult but you need to know a few things...

things to ask yourself or if I was there it is what i would ask you::::::

START- will you be making your own lexan templates or are they supplied for
rig ?

If you are using supplied templates its a little more difficult

If you are making your own templates this is the easiest procedure..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
So supplied templates will go as follows....

1-make sure your skins fit your supplied template before removing them for application
2-in a spray bottle(I used an old windex bottle) you are gonna mix 1/2 a teaspoon or so of dish soap to a bottle of drinking water(I use DAWN liquid soap) shake well and let the bubbles settle
3-generously spray mixture to supplied templates and apply each skin slowly and precisely to the template
4-next get a hard plastic card(like a grocery store card) or whatever you have and gently start pushing the water from the skin starting in the center and pushing the water to the edge..use paper towels to soak up excess water so not to let the water get back under the skin
5-keep pushing till you do not see any bubbles..at this time dry it all off thoroughly and let dry for 24 hrs
6-trim the skins to your templates and bend your template if necessary
7- now your DONE !! congrats you have just mastered "inside skin application"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Making your own templates........

1-start with a adequate piece of lexan and follow steps 1-7 from above,the only difference is you can put your skins down any way you want..for instance..V4BJ skins only come with a small hood decal..I preferred a piece to go all the way to the rear of the chassis So when lining up the hood I cut out extra length of lexan and used my choice of vinyl color to apply behind the hood skin
2- when trimming your skins..take your time and when using scissors you will notice you have to give yourself a 1/32nn extra beyond the edge of your skin..as the scissors will try to nick the skin..
3-when your done with trimming use a dremel with a barrel sander and finish trimming..
4- YOUR done..congrats you have just installed your "inside skins"

any question on my process please PM me

MORE HINT or TRICKs

when making your own templates,and you have a straight panel to cut..I use a metal ruler and with a razor blade you will score a line just deep enough to create a cut that you can bend the lexan and it will snap..it will break along the score line and give you a PERFECT edge that does not need trimming ..

GOOD LUCK to EVERYONE
I hope this will help you all with questions on how to apply KrawlerKoncepts SKINS

NOTE: soon to come will be application Tips and Tricks for applying 4pk wraps from KrawlerKoncepts..

[Krawler Konceptz]

Originally Posted by Knarly Nerd

So yuou bend your panels AFTER installing the skins? I am using the stock Beetlejuice panels which are fairly thick. I'm afraid of breaking the skin at the bend...??

Would Windex or Glass Plus work instead of soapy water?

Apply the skins first and make sure to allow them to fully dry about one full day. Then bend the panels, if your worried about marking up the skins then apply some tape the the skin after it's dried and the when you bend the panels. The tape helps protect the skins from getting marked up.
As for Installing the skins I use a spray bottle filled with water and two/three drops of liquid dish/hand soap. I hope this helps.

Thanx
Rob

[Knarly Nerd]

Thanks, Rob. I used to use Windex when applying decals so I'm confident it will work. It's soapy water with a little ammonia added. What material are the skins made from?