Plastidip vs. Vinyl
- Thread starter jjfultz
- Start date
Chevy2012sonic
New member
I have both plasti dip and vinyl and they hold up pretty well. It all depends on preference
2012 chevy sonic
Blackhartredcar
New member
I have gloss black vinyl on both of the bowties on my car and they still look like new. Admittedly, they have only been on 2 months. However, that is after several car washes, daily driving on the freeway, and all around town with zero wear. I am really pleased with the 3M vinyl.
gasonright
Member
I think I would prefer to have vinyl on the bowties.
SonicBoy24
New member
Plasti-dip is better, here's why.
Unless you get the precut vinyl perfectly cut to our bowties, it is a pain to cut perfectly with the small clearances between the chrome and gold. Also, you can easily get air bubbles behind the vinyl that are hard to get out, not impossible, but hard to get rid of.
I have had plasti-dip on both of my bowties for almost a year and a half now, and they both look as good as they did on day one. I live in NY and they have through salt, snow, rain, bugs, and they are both perfect (The rear one actually gets more salt because the sedan trunk gets covered).
Plasti-dip is impossible to mess up, and you can easily remove it whenever you want, I'd say it comes off easier than vinyl does.
My plasti-dip experience? My buddy's 2008 Charger (the entire car), my bowties and sonic word, my friends lancer (rims and front bumper), my rims....
Unless you get the precut vinyl perfectly cut to our bowties, it is a pain to cut perfectly with the small clearances between the chrome and gold. Also, you can easily get air bubbles behind the vinyl that are hard to get out, not impossible, but hard to get rid of.
I have had plasti-dip on both of my bowties for almost a year and a half now, and they both look as good as they did on day one. I live in NY and they have through salt, snow, rain, bugs, and they are both perfect (The rear one actually gets more salt because the sedan trunk gets covered).
Plasti-dip is impossible to mess up, and you can easily remove it whenever you want, I'd say it comes off easier than vinyl does.
My plasti-dip experience? My buddy's 2008 Charger (the entire car), my bowties and sonic word, my friends lancer (rims and front bumper), my rims....
Blackhartredcar
New member
I had the same worry about the vinyl with my car. However, with a really sharp knife and just regular 3M vinyl on a roll I was able to have results that looked like it came from the factory. Although, I will admit it took a very steady hand, and it was slow process to avoid the bubbles. I think it comes down to comfort zone with what you are working with. I have seen great results with both
Here's my 2 cents. I did my badges with plastidip about a year and a half ago when I bought my Sonic. They still look like they did on day one, therefore I have no reason to do it over again. However, if I were to do to it all over, I think that I would choose vinyl. Vinyl should be easier since you don't have to worry about either masking or overspray. I can't imagine that it is difficult to apply vinyl to such a small area. Vinyl is available in a much more satisfying array of colors, patterns, and textures. If you don't feel comfortable with an exacto knife and a heat gun, then by all means go for the plastidip. Hard to go wrong either way.
savegejon123
New member
I like vinyl on the ties cause it has some shine to it. I found dip too dull. Also I liked the carbon patterns. Vinyl on ties is probably one of the easiest things you can do. You should be able to get any bubbles and once its on just run a butter knife around the groove between the chrome and then carefully slice with an xacto. Even if your shakey as hell, once you have the groove its hard to go wrong. With my experience dip has only every gotten messed up from something I did (nicked with my key) I havent had any normal driving conditions make any impact on my dip. Im slightly afraid of something pulling it off, but Im pretty sure most people think its paint and dont even think about that. (I say that cause i saw a riced out vw with its hatch dipped and most of it was coming off and it was really tempting to give this huge edge a pull haha)
bergeron007
New member
I literally JUST dipped my bowties (removed all other emblems)
it was incredibly easy. A local buddy of mine did his entire car a while back, looks great still. I worked in and operated a body for a while and was SOO skeptical you have no idea. but it is worth a shot-
Dip- minor masking, easy peel for trimming
Vinyl- a razor blade to the paint!!? careful
it was incredibly easy. A local buddy of mine did his entire car a while back, looks great still. I worked in and operated a body for a while and was SOO skeptical you have no idea. but it is worth a shot-
Dip- minor masking, easy peel for trimming
Vinyl- a razor blade to the paint!!? careful
SuperSonicRS
New member
Personally I would go with a high quality 3m vinyl. Tho trying to do the smaller bowties on the steering wheels and centercaps seem like a tedious job. Also I belive I have seen black factory emblems for the sonic but upwards in price of $100, but these would be of the better quality of the available options
Hemplacrosse4
New member
Where can I find the precut vinyl you are speaking of for the outside front and back bowties?
SouthFLSonic
Active member
I believe you can find em on eBay but honestly it is super easy to just stick the universal sheet and let the blade follow the edge of the vinyl. That is how I did mine the first time and they looked great, I just really wanted all the chrome gone so I decided to just Dip it all.
thatchickk
Member
I found stickers for the bow ties on Amazon. Came with 4, two for the front and two for the back in case you mess up. I used the extra stickers to cut out smaller ones for the bow ties on the wheels. Mine have held up really good in extreme heat and cold.
Hemplacrosse4
New member
thatchickk
Member
They aren't available from the seller I got them from anymore, I just looked. But I'm sure they are the same thing.