Local Motors- Vinyl Car Skins Discussion

Ari Ferreira and Dave Rhia (LM Engineer) discuss vinyl car skins. Why is Local Motors using vinyl instead of paint for the Rally Fighter and other vehicles? Ari asks, Dave answers.

• Category

  Autos & Vehicles

[Asher Emerson]

Here's the information on vinyl I referenced.

inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol1­9/vinylchloride&polymers.html

[Asher Emerson]

Part 3. Doesn't sound that great to me. So choosing between the these two non-environmentally friendly products, I'd go with paint, of coarse I'm also partial to paint being a customs paint artist. Just some food for thought everyone.

Poboy Kustoms

[Asher Emerson]

Part 2. Vinyl products don't last near as long as paint (in fact not even close). Yes even water based paint. Most car manufacturers use water based. So considering your vinyl isn't going to hold up that long (5 years if your lucky in Arizona) means your going to have to repeatedly have it re-wrapped extending the cost of your vehicle years down the road. Here's a little info I dug up on the production of sign materials such as the vinyl talked about using in this video.

[Asher Emerson]

I'm always concerned with "newer" technologies and how "green" they actually are. Paint is not exactly "green" but as in California new regulations are spreading across the United States and water borne paint is the new norm and has decreased the amount of VOC put into our atmosphere immensely. Lot's of people have gone the way of vinyl wrap and similar materials mostly because they are cheap and a lot more cost effective to a business but for the world as a whole I'm not sure.

[hombre3000]

Do you have to paint a base coat of some sort to seal the body or is it fine uncoated? I know it won't rust but do you worry about the effects of the atmosphere on the epoxy?

I also feel like Dave should have been briefed on some of the facts before this viewing. I don't expect him to know everything but when you put a camera on him and ask him specific questions about vinyl production emissions, I sort of expect some details.

[LambertxMc]

where can u get the matte vinyl?

[ziggystar1979]

You guys are thinking outside of the box, Finally someone making something capable stock, I hope that you go big, maybe you guys will be like google? They are the best company to work for.