Tikigrill Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 The Shelby I've ordered will be here in a few weeks and I have no idea how to handle the stripes. I'm a bit of a perfectionist with cleaning and maintaining cars but I have no experience with vinyl stripes. Can you polish/wax over them or is it best to avoid them except for washing? Any info in this area would be greatly appreciated. Thank guys!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Yes you should put a good coat of wax on the stripes, never let a high power washer near them and they will be fine. If you end up with a problem where they start to come off Ford will replace them free but if you take care of them this will not happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikigrill Posted August 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Is it ok to use an orbital over the stripes or just wax by hand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Is it ok to use an orbital over the stripes or just wax by hand? I would hand wax them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svt13 Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Wax? You don't wax vinyl that leaves a streak. Go buy the zaino AIO thats all you need. Use it on your car and use it on your stripes. Then follow with quick detailer done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R U TRIPIN Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Im in the detailing business and have been since 1992. Go ahead and wax them using a liquid wax. Don't was a paste. Keep a micro fiber towel in the truck along with some quick detailer. If you get anything on them spray it with the quick detailer. Let it sit for a couple of minuts then wipe them off. Also spray the micro fiber with the quick detailer before you wipe them off. If you have the matte black stripes use soap and water in a spray bottle and keep that in the truck as well. you can try the liquid wax on the matte black stripes in an area that won't be seen. They shouldn't get shiny. Sometimes they might get shiny depending on the wax you use. If they get shiny then just wash them off and they should be fine. Hope this helps you out. *note on the matte black stripes. Try a test area before waxing the whole stripe thus to make sure it doesnt get glossy. We have waxed them before and the don't get shiny but will look a little brighter or have a slight shine to them. again try a little spot before doing the whole stripe. As far as the rest of the color stripes. Go ahead and wax away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaporDude Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 If you do end up waxing your stripes, make sure there are no water spots on them before waxing. They will be a pain to try and get out after you wax. I know many people use quick detailer on the matte stripes and they don't look shiney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ingram4868 Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Prior to waxing I used a clay bar on the stripes. It was amazing how much gunk was on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikigrill Posted August 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Guys, thanks for all the info. The car is gray with the matte black stripes so I'm a little bit concerned about them getting a shine. I use Griot's products and I always carry around speed shine in the trunk. I figured that would be fine. But I'd really like to do a serious once over when the car arrives. I plan to do the clay then wax. I'll avoid the stripes with the orbital and stick with the liquids. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COBRA32 Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 how do you get the water spots off the stripes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denohew Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Joy dishwashing detergent is all you need! Don't wax a brand new car! denohew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madlock Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 If you end up with a problem where they start to come off Ford will replace them free but if you take care of them this will not happen. How the hell have you gotten Ford to replace YOUR stripes? I'm some $600 deep into ridiculously-priced replacement sections despite exhibiting the utmost caution in their care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R U TRIPIN Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 how do you get the water spots off the stripes CLR will take water spots off anything. Wet a sponge, poor a little CLR on the sponge. Then wipe the stripes a couple of times then hit it with soapy water and wash and rinse. Repeat if need be. Then apply a coat of liquid wax to them. CLR is environmently friendly. Do a test spot first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikigrill Posted August 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 denohew, why wouldn't I wax the car? It was built a week ago and isn't supposed to arrive for another month. That plenty of time for the paint to cure and harden. It'll be sitting outside in the shipping hard for month. I feel like I should restore it a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 How the hell have you gotten Ford to replace YOUR stripes? I'm some $600 deep into ridiculously-priced replacement sections despite exhibiting the utmost caution in their care. On my lower stripe by the GT500 it started to peel I took it to Freehold ford's body shop and they replaced it free no questions asked, who wouldn't replace yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaporDude Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Body shops usually tell people not to wax their cars for about 3-4 months after they are done painting. That is because their paint booths only go up to 140 degrees to cure the paint. In the factory, they cure the paint at about 200 degrees to give it a much shorter cure time. So waxing your car after you get it is not a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madlock Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 On my lower stripe by the GT500 it started to peel I took it to Freehold ford's body shop and they replaced it free no questions asked, who wouldn't replace yours? Ah. Now I see. It was the dealer who must've eaten the cost - as the stripes are generally something dealers won't submit for warranty. The cost of the individual sections is sickening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy49 Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Ah. Now I see. It was the dealer who must've eaten the cost - as the stripes are generally something dealers won't submit for warranty. The cost of the individual sections is sickening. I thought I read somewhere that the cost for a complete stripe kit was about $2000. Any truth to that rumor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madlock Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 I thought I read somewhere that the cost for a complete stripe kit was about $2000. Any truth to that rumor? Absolutely. Even among the cheapest sources, it's well north of $2K. The SVTPP stripe kit is about $1,600 - being cheaper overall because each segment includes BOTH left and right stripes. The standard 10"-11" stripes are sold as individual pieces, by segment AND side - with (I believe) 26 individual part numbers in all. The most maddening are the 3" sections that cost $80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikigrill Posted August 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Vapor, thanks for the intel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy49 Posted August 18, 2012 Report Share Posted August 18, 2012 Has anyone compared the OEM stripes to the ones that Stuck On You Graphics sells? Hoping for a low cost alternative to OEM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Ah. Now I see. It was the dealer who must've eaten the cost - as the stripes are generally something dealers won't submit for warranty. The cost of the individual sections is sickening. If the dealer had not replaced my stripe for free I would have removed all the tape and had the stripe painted on,regardless of cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullens Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 If you do end up waxing your stripes, make sure there are no water spots on them before waxing. They will be a pain to try and get out after you wax. I know many people use quick detailer on the matte stripes and they don't look shiney. Lots of opinions on this. I never wax my matte stripes. Quick detailer from day 1 and they look brand new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaporDude Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Vapor, thanks for the intel! Not a problem...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Hamilton Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 My 2011 with black stripes is a daily driver and sits outside. So far the thing I've found that works best for water spots and returning my stripes to looking new is 303® Aerospace Protectant. It really "re-blackens" my stripes and gets rid of the water spots. I'm not saying it's something you spray on once a year and forget about it like many of the polish/cleaning products would have you to believe, but I spray them once a week or so as they get dirty and it gets rid of the water spots and refreshes them. You can get it at many RV/boat places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ingram4868 Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Bill, I have also used the 303 product on my hot tub cover and the convertible top of my previous Mustang, it is a great product, just a little pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtkeith Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 I used to polish and wax my flat black stripes on my 03 MACH 1 and they looked great..they stayed flat black but were protected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Hamilton Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Bill, I have also used the 303 product on my hot tub cover and the convertible top of my previous Mustang, it is a great product, just a little pricey. You're right, David. But I haven't found anything else that works as good on vinyl stripes for a car that's not garaged and sits in the sun most of the day .... and I've tried nearly everything I can find. I'm going to start just buying it by the gallon at an RV place near me. The 16 oz spray bottle ($14.95) lasts me about three months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Harman Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Got a tip from the guy who installed my clear bra, told me that turtle wax ice in the spray bottle works great for the stripes and won't streak. Tried it on my matte black stripes, works great just as he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joebob948 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 I use Adam's brilliant glaze on my stripes---it makes them vibrant!!!! I usually get that question about what I use on the stripes from numerous car show entrants!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.