I`ve just bought some Helitape to protect downtube etc on bike; it seems from reading other posts that heat should be applied to get best results, do you heat the frame and tehn apply tape, or lightly apply tape and then heat tape and frame?
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Heat with wifes hair dryer, then apply. Then heat again and massage out the inevitable bubbles.
Just warm the frame with a hair drier. Run your thumb along the middle of say the down tube stretching slightly, Then once the centre is stuck, go back and with both thumbs work the sides of the strip down from the centre out.Obviously try not to touch the sticky side as finger prints show up on gloss paint. Leave a longer end than you need so you can hold it then trim back and make sure the surface is grease or polish free. It can be a very satisfying experience or a very frustrating one depending on how adept at delicate jobs you are. Enjoy ?
Clean the frame well.
Line up the tape and get it cut to shape. It's worth doing this right and checking it a few times. I added a small radius to all of the corners to stop them catching & getting peeled back easily.
Not sure if my method is the best way, but I heat the frame and the tape, then remove the tape from the backing and apply it.
The 3M stuff I bought had instructions for applying it wet using slightly soapy water, in a similar way to window tint.
make sure you thoroughly clean & degrease the downtube first, start at one end, go from one end to the other along the highest point of the tube, then go back & do the sides...
what? just stick it on lol
Thanks guys for this, hopefully I`ll get it on all bubble free---nice shiny new BFe to be protected!
