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New frame has just turned up.
I've paid the suppliers to fit an invisiframe kit.
They've done it really badly with loads of air bubbles and a couple of bits of dirt.
What's the best way to remove the sections in question?
Will they stick back down again?
Before doing anything else, give them a call...
Having done it myself, with the supplied tool, it's a tough old job if you've got a fairly intricate frame. Lots of patience required, and plenty of preparation. If you've paid for the service and don't feel happy with the results, I'd at least phone or email them first myself given I know how hard of a job it is...
Removing it is just peeling it off carefully - but it will stretch now its set, so the kit is basically toast. I would be asking for a new kit an starting again/sending it back.
Having done a fair few of these, I can say that:
Odd bits of dirt are inevitable, hopefully its not too bad. We clean the bikes with IPA before invisiframing, but its a workshop not an electronics clean room, so its really hard to get it 100% dirt free.
Air bubbles - hmm, you can get a 100% perfect one, but its hard. The [i]odd[/i] small bubble I would say is acceptable, or put another way pretty much impossible to completely eradicate because you just cant see them all the time until the kit sets/you get it outside in the light (by which time its too late). But you should be looking at 1 or 2 no bigger than 2-3mm on a downtube for example. More than that and its a pretty bad job done... but it happens.
When you've done one you'll appreciate that its probably not something to go back to the supplier overly harshly about!
PS - I hope its not one I did 😉
Benpinnick lol no it's not been done by you guys!
There are probably 20 or so air bubbles ranging in size and 2 bits of dirt that I've noticed.
I appreciate its a tricky job, that's why I paid someone else to do it.
I guess I will have to call on Monday when they are open. I'm itching to get it built up so kinda hoping i could heat up, lift and reposition the vinyl with out the air bubbles!
It was only done about 24-48 hours ago, any chance the bubbles with shrink/disappear?
The adhesive on vinyl is pressure sensitive so you won't be able to peel it up and re-stick it now it's cured. The trick with vinyl is to get it on [i]without[/i] bubbles in the first place rather than try to remove them afterwards! You can remove a few bubbles by pricking them but doing loads like that is a bit of a bodge.
Sounds like they've installed it dry (badly) rather than wet. Dry application of vinyl is possible but takes more skill as you have to keep the correct tension in it at all times to avoid air bubbles. If you want to remove it get a bit of gentle heat on it from a hairdryer to soften the adhesive first if it's not coming off cleanly.
I've never used invisiframe, is it anything like helitape?
If so you can get rid of bubbles in that by gently heating with a hair dryer to raise the pressure a little. Then pop it with a pin and the air rushes out. The soft material sticks back down really easily.
Something to try if you decide to DIY it.
Ive tried peeling them off, but they do stretch too much (heat/no heat makes no difference it stretches) then you run into trouble as it starts to overlap welds, other stickers etc. Its really not viable as a fix up. Piercing the holes is nigh on impossible too as its really stretchy and self healing to a certain extent so even when you finally make a hole (harder than it sounds) it will let some air/water out then seal up again, so you have to make another, every hole stretches the film and you end up with small wrinkles like a baggy pair of tights. Not good.
Invisiframe fitting is all about three things:
1. The right amount of water on the sticker
2. Patience
3. Technique, specifically one that uses the squeegee to get the water out in a consitent, repetitive manner that works from the middle outwards, making sure you don't miss any bits.
Anything near the edge probably can be lifted and fixed, but the glue wont hold so well once you do that so expect it to peel over time.
Putting Invisiframe on for the first time was about the most stressful thing I've done with a bike (and I do pretty much all my own maintenance and builds). It needs a lot of care but it is possible to get a near-perfect finish. There's no way to get those bubbles out now and the result sounds unacceptable to me. if it is to you then get it done again properly.
Thanks folks, I've contacted the shop that have installed the kit and have sent them some photos.
They've said its unusual for them and may offer to collect the frame and redo the kit.
utting Invisiframe on for the first time was about the most stressful thing I've done with a bike (and I do pretty much all my own maintenance and builds).
I've got my own bike shop, and it was by far the most stressful thing I've done! 😆
Seriously though, great product, but it's a huge faff to fit. Took 2 of us 2hrs (so 4 man hours) to fit it to my bike. With that in mind, next frame I get will just go straight to Invisiframe and I'll just pay them to do it for me. My workshop labour rate is £30 an hour, so considering they only seem to charge £30 fitted (and they do an excellent job from those I've seen), I can't recommend the DIY route based on personal experience...
I'm going to ask the shop if they will pay for Lee at invisiframe to redo it.
It's not that difficult if you are patient and have some water and washing up liquid. The first time I did it I was left with a few very small bubbles. These can be removed with a pin if you're bothered.
I've just had my patrol done by invisifrane (Lee) themselves. If you're in the Shropshire area it's well worth it plus I think fitting is around £20 on top of the kit price. Worth it if you're clumsy and lazy like myself.