WARNING!!
CAMO VINYL BUYER BEWARE!!
ALL ONLINE CAMO VINYL PRODUCTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUALLY
LOW PRICE DOES NOT MEAN GOOD QUALITY.
Over the past few years the licensed vinyl camouflage market & it’s demand has increased by leaps & bounds. As a result, many camouflage marketers & manufacturers have desperately tried to find ways to produce vinyl camouflage covering (wraps) cheaper. In order to do this it will mean they have to cut corners somewhere. They only have so many options when it comes to doing this: Use inferior vinyl, inferior inks or Inferior laminates. The information below will help you to be an informed camo vinyl consumer & will help you to find the right wrapping film for your camo project.
What to look for when shopping for vinyl camouflage covering:
1. A quality brand vinyl film intended to apply over curves, contours & corrugations AKA “wrapping film”.
2. Inks that are outdoor durable preferably: Solvent, Eco Solvent, Ultra Eco Solvent or Screen (w/hard laminate) (UV inks not recommended although they are becoming the industry standard)
3. Hard rolled on or sheet laminate covering. (spray laminate not recommended for outdoor or long term use)
SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS:
What some camo dealers don’t want you to know….
INFERIOR VINYLS: In order to lower the cost some online camo companies have opted to use vinyls that may not be intended for wrapping vehicles, ATV’s, Utility vehicles and the like. When shopping for Vinyl Camo coverings YOU MUST ASK: Is the vinyl you are using “wrapping film?” If they say yes make sure they are using a reputable brand: 3M 160 or 180, Oracal: 3551 or 3951, Avery: MPI 1005 or MPI 1800 & the like… (more quality vinyls avialable not listed) If they are not using quality vinyls DON’T BUY IT, YOU’LL BE SORRY!
INFERIOR INKS: Another way to cut cost is by using inferior inks. This will be much harder to determine if you purchase the film & think you will see a difference, you won’t. Even if inferior ink was used you will not be able to tell for at least 6-12 months & by then it’s too late. Prior to purchasing your camo covering YOU MUST ASK: Is the ink you are using intended for long term outdoor use? Is the ink: Solvent, eco Solvent, ultra eco Solvent or (screen printed w/hard laminate)? If yes, chances are you are getting a quality ink product that will last but that is only 1/3 of what you need for a good quality camo vinyl covering. If they say they are using UV inks we strongly recommend you search else where. UV inks will not give you a long lasting outdoor vinyl wrap. It will look great when you first get it but it will fade much quicker than normal. BUYER BEWARE!! PRICE IS NOT EVERYTING!
INFERIOR LAMINATE: Laminate is used to protect the image from scratches, scuffs, general wear & the effects of UV rays. Many online companies are cutting cost by using inferior (calendered) laminates not intended for wrapping camo or the are using the more popular liquid or spray on laminate. When shopping YOU MUST ASK: Do you use rolled on sheet laminate OR do you spray your laminate? If they spray, BEWARE!!! You will have much less durability than if you choose a product that has a rolled on laminate. Rolled on or sheet laminate is actually a second material that has about the same thickness as the actual vinyl that the image is produced on, so, you have double the thickness in film plus a much more durable finished product. Rolled on laminate makes your camo covering image a subsurface or under the surface image so it is well protected for years for durability.
REMEMBER: PRICE $$ IS NOT EVERYTHING WHEN SHOPPING FOR CAMOUFLAGE COVERINGS.
What you want in a quality camouflage covering: Good quality film with outdoor inks laminated with sheet laminate not spray.
We hope this information will prove helpful in your search for a quality vinyl camouflage product.
If you have further questions please feel free to contact us at 866-289-2358.
