Well....... for a long time I've been intending to do something different for our trike's fender's protection. When we bought it in 2004 it had clear 3M stuff on it but it was lifting and discolored so I pealed it off soon. Then I replaced it with a temporary pair of dark tint window tint static cling stuff, looked OK. I once tried clear as well but it would get water or bubbles underneath and look dirty around the edges.
I installed the cat's eye amber marker lights at the front of the fenders some where back in mid-late 2000s (I have some wire behind there fastened to the screws and running over to the frame to wire tie the lights power sire to, made from about 3/16" dia galvanized steel wire) and I never looked at vinyl snap on bras because I'ld have to have cutouts for the lights ..... and then I'm back to sagging loose looking fit.
Last year or two I have been using more 5% VLT Static Cling tint .... but it just didn't fit so good around the lights, some red showed through, and it was always meant to be temporary.
Some time back, I had purchased a bunch of heavy textured vinyl with adhesive backing
(I saved the vendor, I've purchased from him a few times now, many widths: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stick-on-Vinyl-Bed-Liner-Truck-Gravel-Guard-18-x-10-Sheet-Pebble-finish-/371247684508?hash=item5670161b9c:m:mkbsaCrkYjuQ2GufVOnIy1w).
I knew it was tough stuff ..... as I had once used a bunch to cover the top of my Cyclemate trailer where the clear coat had lifted .... had pealed all the loose paint and sanded it and put this vinyl on it. I installed it in sections, using a roller and some heat for corners and it has held up well .... it was intended to be temporary ..... trailer cost more to strip and paint than it is worth so my plan was .... and still is .... to have top side "Line-X" coated. More recently I used it to cover a wooden under seat storage compartment for the back seat of my '07 FX4 and other things .... it's not expensive.
This is the same stuff used for steps .... on utility trailer fenders, truck steps, etc .... looks like the Line-X that's in my '07 FX4's bed actually, just thinner and easier on the skin ...... no grit, just a good deep textured surface. I still have a bit so yesterday I popped the chrome trim off the lights, removed the Static Cling stuff, cleaned the fenders several times with wax remover and water ..... and made a bunch of measurements. When I mounted those lights I took great pains to place them the same left to right, etc. .... and level.
So I decided on size, made these a about as tall and a 3/8" wider, measured and located the light base cutout, used chrome for shape .... drew it all on paper backing of my material .... and cut one out. Tried it on the right which it was cut for and found that it fit perfect .... flipped it over and tried it on the on the left fender next and ....
..... "SHAZAMM!" ...... dang ifin it didn't fit just as good. I used it as pattern for the other one, 1-1/4" radius corners, etc.
Then I used a new razor blade to "just score" the paper backing in a carefully considered pattern with out cutting vinyl so that I could remove sections as I placed it in place .... starting by removing the paper for an inch around the light on each side (top, bottom, both left and right). I then held in place and found that the oval opening fit the light base like it was meant to .... rotated a hair to line up ..... press in place and started pressing pieces in place ..... using a small wooden roller like you use for wallpaper and borders ..... first the upper middle, then the lower middle under light, then pull the paper off the edges and used roller to press and a heat gun on low to soften the stiff vinyl over compound curves.
Roll it all a few times, snap the chrome back on the lights .....
I installed the cat's eye amber marker lights at the front of the fenders some where back in mid-late 2000s (I have some wire behind there fastened to the screws and running over to the frame to wire tie the lights power sire to, made from about 3/16" dia galvanized steel wire) and I never looked at vinyl snap on bras because I'ld have to have cutouts for the lights ..... and then I'm back to sagging loose looking fit.
Last year or two I have been using more 5% VLT Static Cling tint .... but it just didn't fit so good around the lights, some red showed through, and it was always meant to be temporary.
Some time back, I had purchased a bunch of heavy textured vinyl with adhesive backing
(I saved the vendor, I've purchased from him a few times now, many widths: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stick-on-Vinyl-Bed-Liner-Truck-Gravel-Guard-18-x-10-Sheet-Pebble-finish-/371247684508?hash=item5670161b9c:m:mkbsaCrkYjuQ2GufVOnIy1w).
I knew it was tough stuff ..... as I had once used a bunch to cover the top of my Cyclemate trailer where the clear coat had lifted .... had pealed all the loose paint and sanded it and put this vinyl on it. I installed it in sections, using a roller and some heat for corners and it has held up well .... it was intended to be temporary ..... trailer cost more to strip and paint than it is worth so my plan was .... and still is .... to have top side "Line-X" coated. More recently I used it to cover a wooden under seat storage compartment for the back seat of my '07 FX4 and other things .... it's not expensive.
This is the same stuff used for steps .... on utility trailer fenders, truck steps, etc .... looks like the Line-X that's in my '07 FX4's bed actually, just thinner and easier on the skin ...... no grit, just a good deep textured surface. I still have a bit so yesterday I popped the chrome trim off the lights, removed the Static Cling stuff, cleaned the fenders several times with wax remover and water ..... and made a bunch of measurements. When I mounted those lights I took great pains to place them the same left to right, etc. .... and level.
So I decided on size, made these a about as tall and a 3/8" wider, measured and located the light base cutout, used chrome for shape .... drew it all on paper backing of my material .... and cut one out. Tried it on the right which it was cut for and found that it fit perfect .... flipped it over and tried it on the on the left fender next and ....
..... "SHAZAMM!" ...... dang ifin it didn't fit just as good. I used it as pattern for the other one, 1-1/4" radius corners, etc.
Then I used a new razor blade to "just score" the paper backing in a carefully considered pattern with out cutting vinyl so that I could remove sections as I placed it in place .... starting by removing the paper for an inch around the light on each side (top, bottom, both left and right). I then held in place and found that the oval opening fit the light base like it was meant to .... rotated a hair to line up ..... press in place and started pressing pieces in place ..... using a small wooden roller like you use for wallpaper and borders ..... first the upper middle, then the lower middle under light, then pull the paper off the edges and used roller to press and a heat gun on low to soften the stiff vinyl over compound curves.
Roll it all a few times, snap the chrome back on the lights .....
