We have introduced cold pre-stretch for wrapping in the past, which is a beneficial technique. And today, we will be showing you how to use this specific method do wrap a hood.
Unlike a standard method, we start with the corner this time and pull the film away from the edge. In this case, there will be no tension on the corners. And the material will shrink back right to the corner if you heat it. This is how you would get perfect corners. With the technology of adhesive where there is reposition with air regress, we can easily stretch the material and get it in place. Thus, wrapping the flat area in the middle becomes very easy.
Usually, when installers have a more aggressive film to wrap a hood, they would start with the hinge. But as you install in this way, the tension would then move to the corners, which can become tricky as it is easy for corners to wrinkle. However, if you start with the corners, it is almost promising that you would achieve the promising quality of your work.
First, spread your film over the surface of the hood that is about to be wrapped. Hold the material with the triangle technique towards the upper corners. And we can wrap it deep behind the corners there. By doing this, we create glass from side to side of the tops. The permanent hinge would necessarily begin at the top in this case.
When it comes to the corners at the bottom, pick the material up and towards the edges with the triangle technique as well, and work on the flat area in between the corners. You can do precisely the same as for the upper corners: pull the film towards the corner and wrap it deep behind using triangle technique to create glass.
Thus, here you can see, this trick is not just about cold pre-stretch and starting with corners, but also it has another keyword: triangle technique.
Do not squeegee the film until you get 100% glass there, because the adhesive is not yet touching the surface of the hood at the moment and you can use the reposition technology.
Once the corners there are set, you can work around the material in between the corners. Keep in mind that when you pull the film, pull it with even hands so that you can spread the tension out, especially when it comes to the edge. Keep working from left to right and shifting the material back and forth until you create 100% glass on the main surface area. And you can now squeegee it.
When the four corners have already been wrapped, the material is tucked behind them, and there is glass on the area. So you can use a wet squeegee buffer with soapy water on, just in case the film gets scratches.
You would realize how easy for you to squeegee on the surface, unlike starting with the middle part first and work towards the corners. In this way, there is no tension on the corners but on the flat areas, especially the sides. So you can work up and down with your squeegee on the surface very quickly.
Corners at the bottom can be a bit more challenging to deal with than the upper one. After you squeegee the film, come back to the corner at the bottom of the hood. You can heat it a little bit, and you will see it shrink back and literally underneath the edge. And you can simply take your knife and make an empty corner there.
The trick with cold pre-stretch is always: heat it, shrink it, seal it, and work it away.
As you work the film away from the corners, you make one little slide with your finger at the base of the corner. You might find there is tension. And the tension is actually on the material on the flat area between the corners. You can hold it up rather than pull it, and relax the film. As you heat it up, the tension will be taken out.
Now, make your cut to the edge with a blade in 180 degrees from the edge – so that it gets full cover. Angling your blade out as far as possible will get you a perfectly symmetrical cut. Once the cutting is done, you can pull the excess material away and seal the wrap. But keep in mind though: only sealing the edges rather than the corners.
Comment and let us know how you feel about this technique if you have tried out.
