Flip key mod. Good result.

[Ronin]

So, I was looking at what I could do to my newly acquired flip key and thought I’d have a go at some vinyl wrapping. Having never used the stuff before I wasn’t sure what I was letting myself in for, I mean was it going to be really easy to apply or was I going to spend hours and hours delicately applying heat and massaging the wrap onto the flip key. A bit of Youtube-ing later and it looked like it was going to be ok, so I cracked on. The vinyl was bought off ebay, 2 x A4 sheets cost me £1.40 so there was no excuse not to give it a try

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Pic1 – these are the tools I used. (Can you call a hair dryer a tool?) nothing fancy although I could have use a blade with a handle but I used what I had in the house.

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Pic2 – after taking the key apart I heated up the plastic casing a bit and applied the wrap to both ends. The difficulty for me, as a first time wrapper, was getting the corners nice and neat. But the more I did the better my technique got. Cutting out the button holes is also trickier than it looks, at least it was for me. I also used the thin handle of a tea spoon to indent the grooves in the plastic casing, worked a treat and once the wrap had cooled down it stayed in shape. Surprised myself with that one!

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Pic3 – the finished article. Once I had all the wrap applied I went over it with the hair driver a few times to try and get all the edges neat, I’d say that 90% of the key is nice and smooth, the only part that needs a little attention is the section where the key ring loop is, I just couldn’t get it right. Must try harder.

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All in all I’m pretty happy with it, now I’ve got some practice in (and because the key ring area is not as good as it could have been) I’m going to tear it all off and do it all again taking even more time, using an even thinner blade (with a handle!) and an even steadier hands. Oh and working on a nice flat work top, as opposed to my bed, might help. The flip mechanism isn’t affected in anyway, in fact the annoying gab that I posted about has now gone and the fit is even better. Result. *

There is, however, one issues I have to sort. Where the winged MG badge button sits it’s become a tighter fit because I folded the wrapping so it stuck to the underside of the casing, if that makes sense. What I am going to have to do is very carefully cut around the badge area so the button can be pressed without it sticking. Apart from that I think I did ok. This may lead me to go nuts and start vinyl wrapping a load more stuff! Rear wing, chrome sill strips, door mirrors, my watch, my pen, the list is endless! Haha!!

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Anyway I hope you found some of that useful.

[greendriver]

You've made a nice job.

[gazza190]

Looks like a clifford key now. Nice

[Le Mans 190]

nice job

[7.5]

Ace, i like the mg logo keyring too

[Brabus]

That looks really good. Top job