Wedding car ribbon

[JackReacher]

I've read that attaching ribbon to a car can damage the paintwork by effectively acting as sandpaper moving around on the paint in the wind.

Does anyone have any tried and tested solutions to this problem?

[elanfan]

I’m guessing it’s only going to touch the car in a very small area. If this is the case attach a couple of layers of Sellotape which won’t be seen and you can easily remove later.

[JackReacher]

elanfan said:

I’m guessing it’s only going to touch the car in a very small area. If this is the case attach a couple of layers of Sellotape which won’t be seen and you can easily remove later.

Yes correct only the bonnet lip and the A pillars. I've never attached sellotape to paint before, is it easy to remove after?

[Evercross]

First World Problems!!

If the car is clean then the ribbon will do no damage. Any 'sandpapering' would be because of grit being rubbed in by any movement of the ribbon. Use some common sense - I assume that if the car is being used for a wedding then it will have been valeted to within an inch of its life.

WRT sticky tape - no worries. Just apply some wax below where you are sticking it (buff first obviously) and it should peel off easily providing you don't then leave it there for weeks. If any glue gets left behind (possible on a warm day) then just use the same wax or some tar remover to clean it off.

[elanfan]

Just turn over a small edge of the tape to aid removal. Best glue remover is spirit wipe from a body shop.

[vikingaero]

Use some of the 3M Scotch Invisible sellotape. It is slightly matte and much less adhesive in strength,

[Alex_225]

I assume the ribbon is only going to be on the car for a day at most and likely for the majority of that it'll be sat still and the ribbon pulled tight so won't be on the bodywork.

If the car is completely clean you'll be totally fine. Even as an OCD oddball with my cars, I can't see that being an issue at all.

[757]

Yep it does, had it on my vintage Beetle, left overnight and the wind whipped it up good, and made faint whirling scratches on the bonnet, being black it's noticable.

[BrokenSkunk]

JackReacher said:

I've read that attaching ribbon to a car can damage the paintwork by effectively acting as sandpaper moving around on the paint in the wind.

Does anyone have any tried and tested solutions to this problem?

How about not getting married?
[/stereotypical answer for this forum]

[joropug]

Don’t use packaging tape (brown) as I once did to seal a door that wouldn’t shut properly. Ripped all of the lacquer off the next day when removed

[COM31E]

I used an old Jag as a wedding car when my mate was getting married on a shoestring.

To avoid said chafing of the paint, I left it as late as possible to apply the ribbon, then removed it immediately after I dropped them at the reception.

I then went and got stfaced.

I wouldn't leave on overnight, ever.

[JackReacher]

Thanks all, I suspect it is most damaging while on the move with wind resistance, will minimise the time its on the car..

[CarCrazyDad]

JackReacher said:

I've read that attaching ribbon to a car can damage the paintwork by effectively acting as sandpaper moving around on the paint in the wind.

Does anyone have any tried and tested solutions to this problem?

Theoretically yes.
If the car is clean and the ribbons are clean then the likelihood of damage is low.
If you can have them tight, not flapping around it would help.

[fastbikes76]

JackReacher said:

Thanks all, I suspect it is most damaging while on the move with wind resistance, will minimise the time its on the car..

Make sure the tape is nice and taught is the key to no scratches!

I tied mine to one A pillar and then through the bonnet hook while the bonnet was raised about a 1/3rd up, and then tied to other A pillar. When you close the bonnet properly it pulls the ribbon taught and no flappy flappy or marky marky

[thecrow]

Did this on mine for our legal ceremony, tied to the sun visor bracket inside, through the bonnet catch. Car and ribbon were clean and no marks left!

[JackReacher]

thecrow said:

Did this on mine for our legal ceremony, tied to the sun visor bracket inside, through the bonnet catch. Car and ribbon were clean and no marks left!

Thanks, good to know. Was that normal plastic ribbon?