3M™ 1080 Series Vinyl Wraps Matte | Shift | Carbon Fiber

3M™ 1080 Series Vinyl Wraps

Anyone can buy a car and claim it’s the “coolest on the block. You may have a sleek Porsche, a heavy-duty RAM, a classic street rod or a luxury Audi, but if it’s not customized to fit your style, it looks like every other car in the world — plain and simple.

3M™'s 1080 Series Wrap allows you to tailor your vehicle so it stands out from the crowd. Regarded as one of the best vinyl wraps in the industry, 3M™ Wrap Film Series 1080 has high-quality properties and expert reliability, making it ideal for DIY application.

What Is 3M™ 1080 Wrap Film?

The 3M™ 1080 Series is a vinyl film installed on the outside of a vehicle to produce the finished look of a fresh paint job. Without the steep cost of re-painting your car, a vinyl film can protect your car’s painted surfaces and allows for a simple installation process. You can use the vinyl directly out of the box, and a clear-coat application isn’t necessary. The 3M™ 1080 is also a dual-cast, long-term wrap that’s 3.5 millimeters thick.

A significant advantage of the 3M™ 1080 Series Wrap is that it comes in 60” rolls. It can cover any section of a vehicle without seams or bubbles. The vinyl resists mild alkalis, acids and salt, along with fuel spills and water. Matte, satin and gloss types have a seven-year life warranty, while carbon fiber and brushed metals have a five-year lifespan.

1080 Series Film Specs

1080 Series 3M™ vinyl wrap films are made for use it right out of the box. There's no need to print or apply an overlaminate. And, since they're manufactured with dual color layers for dimensional stability and durability, you can depend on them not to discolor or deform even around the craziest of curves. Enjoy the convenience and quality of this 3.5 mil cast film.

• Dual-cast vinyl film in a wide variety of colors
• Available in five styles: matte, satin, gloss, carbon fiber, and brushed metal
• Pressure-sensitive adhesives
• Invisible, air-drain channels for bubble-free results
• Sold by the foot in 60 inch rolls so you can wrap anything without seams
• Semi-permanent and removable
• 7 year life for Matte, Satin, and Gloss
• 5 year life for Carbon Fiber and Brushed Metal

Available Colors and Styles

3M™ 1080 series colors are available in more than 80 distinctive shades — anywhere from matte black and satin pink to gloss blue or green. Your options are endless by paring any of the 80 colors with one of the six main styles: gloss, matte, satin, brushed metal, carbon fiber and flip films. Dual color layers prevent your vinyl from discoloring.

Gloss Vinyl

The 1080 Series Gloss style gives your car a high-gloss shine with a metallic flake. You can choose from classic colors such as red, blue and black all the way to Atomic Teal and Storm Grey to add a distinctive look to your car. Avoid the hassle of painting by installing the 3M™ 1080 Gloss Vinyl to enhance your vehicle’s durability. With a seven-year lifespan, the gloss vinyl will conform to tight turns and angles to leave a glossy finish. The design of gloss films replicates the appearance of a fresh paint job without the higher cost.

Matte and Satin Vinyl

Finding a difference between the 3M™ 1080 Matte and Satin Series may prove a bit challenging — but we can help. Matte wraps provide a flat, soft luster on your car while satin wraps give you a look halfway between gloss and matte. Satin gives you a subtle shine, a quality not found in a matte vinyl. Matte films have little to no sheen, while gloss has the highest amount. The 3M™ Matte 1080 series is available in 12 colors, and the Satin 1080 Series is available in 17.

Brushed Metal Vinyl

The Brushed Metallic Vinyl combines the look and feel of a brushed metal with adhesive properties of the 3M™ 1080 Series. For both indoor and outdoor use, the brushed metal film comes in five colors — aluminum, black, steel, blue and titanium. You can install the vinyl on your dashboard, your boat or cover the outside surface of your truck. The 3M™ Brushed Metal Series provides endless application options.

Carbon Fiber Vinyl

With the 3M™ Carbon Fiber Vinyl Wrap, you can feel the weave of the film with your fingertips. Choose from white, grey or black to enhance the look of your vehicle. Applying a carbon fiber film gives off a genuine look of carbon fiber with the ease of using self-adhesive and pressure-activated qualities. If you want to install a long-lasting, bubble-free film with true-to-life textured grains, the 3M™ 1080 Carbon Vinyl is the perfect option.

Flip Film Vinyl

The 3M™ Flip Film Series is a head-turning chameleon style available in six colors such as Deep Space and Electric Wave. The shade-shifting flip films cycle from one end of the color spectrum to the other, creating a stunning effect. With a five-year lifespan, the dual cast 3M™ Flip Film Vinyl won’t discolor.

Applications of 3M™ 1080 Series Wrap

At this point, you have the color and style of your vinyl film chosen. You’re excited to begin your DIY project, but where will you start?

You have the freedom to choose which sections of your car you want to wrap and to what extent. Take a look at these five different options when using the 3M™ 1080 Series Wrap:

• Full: A full wrap prevents damage to all your vehicle’s painted surfaces. It’s the most distinctive look to install on your car and will be sure to make heads turn.
• Partial: You can place partial wrap on an area of your choice. Whether you wrap your front bumper to protect it from debris or the back bumper for an exotic look, you can’t go wrong.
• Roof: While many people apply a film to the hood of a vehicle for a contrasting look, it can also break up the different colors schemes of your car for a more stimulating appearance.
• Cockpit: Cockpit wrapping is another contrasting combination that carries your color design throughout the vehicle, including the pillars around your windows.
• Hood: People often install carbon fiber to the hood of cars for a boost in performance. But you can create the same visual change by applying carbon fiber patterned vinyl. You may not receive a better performance rate for your car, but the wrap will give you the same look for a lower price.

How to Apply 3M™ 1080 Vinyl Wrap

The 3M™ 1080 vehicle wrap film has pressure-sensitive adhesives for easy application. You can slide the film for precise positioning and repositioning. Invisible air-release channels form a bubble-free application. In this case, you don’t need to apply an overlaminate because the wrap is the protective layer. However, cleaning matte colors is easier with overlaminates, and neon colors become more resistant to fading. The 3M™ 1080 vinyl requires dry installation and is semi-permanent. You can remove the vinyl film with heat or chemicals.

Ideal vehicles to be wrapped by the 3M™ 1080 film include — but are not limited to — sports cars, exotic cars and track cars. It’s also ideal for the vehicle to have the correct paint to substrate bond for an even process. Vehicles with scratches, dents or rust may make film installation difficult because the damages can become visible, but you can sand and prepare it before installation for a less drastic appearance.

Receiving a 60” roll of 3M™ 1080 Vinyl Wrap may seem intimidating at first. You may worry about bubbles, smooth seams and the general difficulty of a DIY installation. No matter your questions, applying vinyl film is a seamless process if you follow these guidelines:

Flat-Surface Installation

1. Wash each surface where you want to install the vinyl.
2. Measure the size of panel you want to wrap on your car, cutting a little extra. It is easier to trim too much extra than having too little and being out of luck.
3. Remove liner from the film.
4. Place the vinyl on the desired section of your vehicle — the adhesive technology allows you to position the film.
5. Spread the film to remove large wrinkles, but don’t stretch.
6. Use the heat gun in circular motions, allowing the adhesive properties to conform to the car.
7. Use a squeegee to apply intense pressure. Starting from the center and pushing outward, remove any air bubbles trapped between the film and surface of your vehicle to an exit point — the air-release channels will make this process easy.
8. Remove any excess bubbles with an air release tool and press the film once more onto the surface.
9. Re-heat and squeegee the edges of the film to assure strong adherence.

Note: The biggest mistake when applying vinyl is excessive stretching. Although the material gives, forceful stretching may tear your vinyl, and it may not accurately align.

Bridging Installation

1. Bridging refers to elevated areas on your vehicle such as on the hood or side.
2. Stop applying vinyl 10 centimeters before the edge.
3. To avoid tension, lift the film and squeegee to the edge in one sweep.
4. Wait until the surface is cool from the heating gun to squeegee the vinyl.
5. Don’t stretch the film at bridging areas because it may cause shrinkage or color fading.

Tips

• Never use wet application methods for the 3M™ 1080 series.
• Avoid sensors or safety equipment.
• Align vinyl to the appropriate section of your car — if needed, use masking tape to mark alignments.
• Use a squeegee or other soft materials to avoid scratches.
• Use a heat gun to adhere the vinyl — never use a torch.

Note: Matte finishes are prone to permanent glossing if you apply too much heat.

Pressure-Adhesives

• Slide vinyl into correct position — easy to reposition when needed.
• Stretch to fit rounded edges — film can stretch up to 130%.
• The snap-up feature loses its properties if you apply strong pressure and reposition the film or if you remove the film from its original liner and reapply.

Air Release Channels

• Allow trapped air to release through edges of film.
• Work from the center out.
• Channels will damage if you attempt to reapply the same liner.

How to Care for 3M™ 1080 Vehicle Wrap Film

Like most additions to your vehicle, applying vinyl is not a one-and-done process. Regular upkeep of your 3M™ 1080 Vehicle Wrap Film will keep it appearing fresh and maintained. Here is a guide on how to clean your vinyl and what to avoid.

How to Clean

• Hand washing is ideal.
• If you cannot hand wash your vehicle, use a brushless carwash.
• Rinse off the top layer of dirt and grime.
• Use hot, soapy water or other wet, non-abrasive solutions with a soft sponge to wash your vehicle.
• - Regulate the pH balance of the cleaner between three and 11.
• Use a squeegee to dry and prevent water marks.

What to Avoid

• Scratching, scrubbing or any use of abrasive tools that can cut the film.
• Harsh chemicals and brushes.
• Parking near trees, shrubs or other objects that can scrape your vehicle.
• Waxing and polishing matte, satin, carbon fiber, straight fiber or brushed metal finishes.

Note: If moderate scratching occurs for any reason, use a heat gun at no more than 225 F to repair the vinyl.

Pressure Washing

• Pressure washing is not the best option, but if need be, follow the strict guidelines.
• Make sure pressure is below 2,000 psi and the temperature of the water is below 180 F.
• Use a 40-degree wide spray nozzle.
• Stand one foot away at 90-degree angle.

Difficult Contaminants

• Bird droppings, tree sap, bugs, pollen, etc.
• Spot clean and soak with hot, soapy water.
• Rinse and dry.
• As a last resort, use isopropyl alcohol.   

Fuel Spills

• Immediately wipe off fuel with a rag.
• Wash, rinse and dry, same as general cleaning.

How to Store Your Wrapped Vehicle

Proper storage of your wrapped vehicle is vital to preserve the film’s durability and color. Vinyl can degrade from prolonged exposure to sun and begin lifting from acidic weather patterns. Here are simple steps for protecting your car:

• Store in a garage or shaded area.
• Protect your vehicle from rain that may contain acidic properties.
• Use a cloth or cover if garage storage is unavailable.
• Immediately have a professional remove the film to avoid staining on the car’s paint if your vinyl starts to turn brown.

Our Recommendations

While the process of applying a DIY 3M™ 1080 Series Wrap is simple, certain techniques can help ensure a seamless finish. For example, textured, metallic and color flip films may have directional characteristics. In such cases, you do not want to alternate the films lengthwise and widthwise. It can leave your vinyl looking unparalleled and unprofessional. Because colors vary depending on each manufacturer, you should use the same lot number of film for consistency.

It’s also recommended you use your vinyl film within two years from the marked manufactured date and one year after opening.

Here are a few recommended ways you can use 3M™ 1080 Vinyl Wrap:

• Solid color vehicle detailing
• Standard vehicle graphics, detailing and decoration
• Multiple layered of graphics
• Commercial vehicle and fleet graphics, emblems or striping
• Watercraft graphics applied above the static water line only

Be the “Coolest on the Block”

Owning a vehicle that looks exactly like everyone else’s is acceptable for most people — the same color, same style and same design. But making your car the “coolest on the block” requires dedication, an eye for detail and a genuine passion for cars.

Installing the 3M™ Vehicle Wrap Film generates a vibrant color for your vehicle with smooth finishes. It’s one of the most eye-catching changes to make to your car that will turn heads. Rvinyl offers the 3M™ 1080 Vinyl Wrap in six styles and more than 80 colors to fit your specific dream-car details. At Rvinyl, you are not only purchasing a roll of film — you are investing in backed-up research and technology.

Get More with 1080 Series Vinyl Wraps

1080 Series Vinyl Wraps

When you want to wrap your car, truck, boat, SUV or just about anything else, you want 3M™ 1080 Series films. Made by a company with an unparalleled reputation, you'll love the look and performance of these DIY car wrapping films. 3M™ 1080 Series offer you a choice of more than 80 different colors and finishes so you can get exactly the look you want without the mess of painting it yourself or the expensive of bringing your car into a shop.

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