When it comes to decking out your truck, you are always looking for something special to make it stand out in the crowd of aftermarket-enhanced rides you see all over the place. Vortex has taken the next step in custom liners with the ability to do 3-D images which literally come out of the bed or wall of your truck. This look really makes the competition take notice, giving your truck a personalized look that no one else has.
The process is fairly simple but has to be done right to get the proper durability and quality, as well as the right look. Be it a coat of arms, a skull, or simply a logo, the end result appears to push its way through the liner, and the effect is incredible to see and more impressive to show off.
Vortex has the ability to perform this technique easily, primarily because of the company's self-bonding Vortex material and the patent-pending low-pressure system it uses. The system allows complete control of secondary- and third-color applications by letting the applicator get in close for detail work. The self-bonding Vortex material is unique in that other liner materials can't bond to themselves to allow different color tone effects, such as outlining or shading of the 3-D image. The Vortex material will crosslink onto itself, form a permanent bond and not de-laminate as with other coatings.
Here, Vortex is going to create a 3-D image onto a piece of 3/4-inch plywood that will set inside a bed slide in the back of a 3/4-ton Chevy Avalanche. Follow along as the process takes shape.
First, the bed was measured,...
First, the bed was measured, and the board was cut to fit inside the slide. The image could have also been applied directly to the truck if the customer wanted. Typically, it is recommended to have 3-D images on the wall of the truck, such as the front wall behind the cab, so that the cargo hold area can still be used effectively.
A simple form was made and...
A simple form was made and sand poured into it to create a bed for the thin plastic mold that was being used. This held the shape of the mold during the plastering stage. If a solid form was used, the sand bed would not be necessary.
The form was then pressed...
The form was then pressed into the sand.
Next, the molding plaster...
Next, the molding plaster was mixed to a creamy consistency.
The molding plaster was then...
The molding plaster was then poured into the newly made mold.
After the mold had cured --...
After the mold had cured -- typically within a couple of hours (it was actually hardened overnight) -- it was easily removed from the mold.
The mold was placed in position...
The mold was placed in position on the wood and secured with a special urethane adhesive to secure it and fill any gaps in between the mold and the wood itself.
The mold was placed in position...
The mold was placed in position on the wood and secured with a special urethane adhesive to secure it and fill any gaps in between the mold and the wood itself.
You can't spend enough time...
You can't spend enough time on detail. Keep in mind that the Vortex material was going to be a minimum of 1/8- to 1/4-inch in thickness, so fine lines would be buried and your detail lost. Using a high-speed grinder, Vortex cut deeper impressions into the mold to make them stand out through the Vortex liner material when completed.
The Portable Vortex Sprayliner...
The Portable Vortex Sprayliner System was completely self-contained. All we needed was an outlet to plug into, and we were ready to go. No cumbersome or expensive compressors were necessary as with typical sprayliner systems that are locked to a building. The portable aspect of Vortex was what set it apart from the rest of the crowd.
First, the base color of Vortex...
First, the base color of Vortex red was applied to the entire project. It was uniformly sealed, then lightly textured to blend in the overall look. Vortex can adjust its spray wand to a variety of textures. For 3-D imaging, the fine texture mode was chosen to help keep the detail of the mold intact.
The 3-D mold itself was covered...
The 3-D mold itself was covered with masking tape to allow an accenting color to be applied to the background, but not onto the 3-D mold.
An accenting color of black...
An accenting color of black Vortex was applied around the perimeter of the panel and also around the 3-D mold to make it the primary focus of the liner. Third and fourth colors could have been applied, but the general rule was less is more. Too many colors and excessive 3-D pieces would detract from the overall look we were trying to achieve. Keeping it simple made it far more impressive.
The 3-D mold was unmasked...
The 3-D mold was unmasked to reveal the final product.
A final step was to place...
A final step was to place the board into the bed slide.
The final result was not only...
The final result was not only a clean look, but also an impressive addition to the Chevy Avalanche.
From any angle, the 3-D bed...
From any angle, the 3-D bed was an impressive sight.
The portability and versatility...
The portability and versatility of the Vortex Sprayliner system sets it apart from others.