www.empireclearshield.com
1 800 839-1557
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Application Tools Necessary:
Squeegee
Two (2) Heavy Duty Spray Bottles
Prepared Slip Solution
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
Non-scratch Absorbent Cloths or Blue Lint Free Shop Paper Towels
Wax/Adhesive Remover
Olfa Knife (optional)
IMPORTANT: Read all instructions thoroughly before beginning application.
GENERAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Installation should always be performed in a controlled environment with a temperature
range of 60° to 90° F. Application should not be performed in direct sunlight or in windy
conditions.
Prepare supplied slip solution per instructions. Prepare the alcohol/water solution using one
(1) part alcohol to two (2) parts water.
Remove any wax on the surface with 3M Adhesive Remover and a soft cloth. Contaminates,
such as bug residue, road tar, grease, oil or dirt, should be removed by cleaning the surface with
the slip solution and wiping with the non-scratch absorbent cloth or lint free paper towel.
Verify size and placement of all parts before removing liner.
Clean hands thoroughly. Even the smallest amount of dirt on your hands will transfer to the
adhesive, causing an undesirable appearance. Also, always keep your fingers wet to prevent the
adhesive from sticking to your fingers. Do not needlessly handle the adhesive side of the
material. Keep contact with the adhesive side of the material as brief as possible and keep your
fingers wet, as fingerprints will show thru the material.
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HOOD:
Wet the area of the hood where the kit will be applied with the slip solution, as well as your
fingers. With the material rolled up, pull a small amount of the film away from the liner on one
end. With the rest of the kit rolled up in one hand, use your other hand to hold down the end of
the material that you have pulled loose from the liner on the appropriate end of the hood. Then
slowly begin to pull the liner towards the opposite end of the hood, forcing the material to be
rolled out onto the hood. If the kit has a relief cut, be careful not to stretch or tear the material in
this area. You may have to use your fingers to free the material around the relief cut from the
liner. Once past the relief cut, you may proceed normally. A relief cut is any narrow cut-out in
the material which deviates from the normal hood line for the purpose of allowing the material to
lay flat over heavily contoured surfaces.
With the material laying on the surface, apply more of the slip solution between the hood and
the material to allow the kit to be easily positioned on the hood. Lift the material from the hood
one side at a time to spray the material and the hood with the slip solution. It may take some
gentle tugging to lift the material from the hood, but care should be taken not to excessively
stretch the material. Also, spray the top of the kit with the slip solution prior to positioning the
kit so the squeegee will not drag the kit out of position.
Now with the material moving freely on the hood, center the kit between the fenders,
approximately 1/8” from the front edge of the hood. Be sure the kit is level across the width of
the hood. The kit may not line up with every edge of the hood, which is normal since stretching
may be needed to relieve excess material caused by the curvature of the vehicle. You may
proceed to the next step as long as the kit is symmetrical from side to side. If it is not, however,
you must realign the kit, ensuring the whole kit is symmetrical at every edge.
Once the kit is in place, spray a small amount of the alcohol solution between the kit and the
hood in the center of the hood. Make several small vertical strokes with the squeegee in the
center of the hood, starting gently and increasing pressure with each stroke until you have an
area 3-4” wide from top to bottom that is free of the solution. The kit is now anchored to the
hood in the center and will not move freely so you do not have to worry that the kit will slide out
of place.
After anchoring the center of the kit, lift one side of the material back to the point where the
material has adhered and spray the adhesive side of the material and the hood with the slip
solution. Place your hand on top of the kit and stretch the kit into position, making sure that the
kit lines up along the grille and edge of the hood, keeping the 1/8” gap between the kit and the
front edge of the hood. Spray the edge of the material with the alcohol solution, forcing the
solution between the hood and the kit, and tack the corner using the squeegee. The alcohol
solution promotes quick adhesion and helps prevent the material from lifting up around the edges
after the area has been squeegeed. Keep the top surface of the kit wet to ensure that the squeegee
slides easily over the material. (Note: When using the alcohol solution, the material will adhere
to the paint very quickly, so it is necessary to work quickly to achieve the desired appearance.)
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From the center of the area that is now free of slip solution, make a horizontal pass with the
squeegee to the edge of the hood. Then, starting back at the center, make short, upward,
overlapping strokes from the middle to the top edge, moving toward the side of the hood. Do the
same with downward strokes from the middle to the bottom edge. Keep in mind that firm
pressure is needed in order to avoid leaving water or air bubbles trapped underneath the material.
Squeegee the trailing edge of the kit down into the ridge on the hood until it is completely
sealed. This can be difficult, so pay close attention to this step. Drag your fingertips downward
through the contoured area using firm pressure and hold. Doing this will stretch the material
down into the heavily contoured area and pull out the majority of excess material along the front
edge of the kit. It is important to not let the material pop back up in the area above your
fingertips. For the most part, suction alone will be holding down the material. If you do not hold
firm, even pressure with your fingertips on the material, air will be allowed back in and the
material will lift back up. A small bubble under the material is allowable. If you encounter
larger bubbles, you may need to release the material, re-wet the area and retry this step. With the
material now in this position, follow behind your fingertips with the squeegee to complete this
step.
While stretching downward on the film around the grille, squeegee the film from the ridge to
the headlamp, using firm pressure.
If any area around the edges has lifted back up, wrap a non-scratch cloth or lint free paper
towel around your squeegee and go over the edges again. This will absorb the moisture around
the edges that interferes with adhesion.
Repeat these steps for the opposite side of the hood.
FENDERS:
You may use the alcohol solution alone for application of smaller fender pieces. It is usually
best to start by lining up the upper edge of the piece with the edge of the fender, while ensuring
that the front edge of the material is about 1/8” from the edge of the fender.
Make a very gentle narrow pass with the squeegee along the upper edge of the kit piece. Too
much pressure on the squeegee when making the first pass may drag the material out of place
with the squeegee. As the material begins to adhere to the paint, you may use increasingly
firmer strokes until all the alcohol solution is removed from beneath the upper edge of the
material.
Once the material is anchored at the top, gently pull the bottom edge down with your fingers,
while making sure that the adhesive is thoroughly wet with the alcohol solution. While pulling
downward on the material, make a firm pass with the squeegee from the top edge all the way to
the bottom edge.
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Finish by passing the squeegee over any remaining “fingers” in the material. For vehicles
with heavily contoured fenders, you may need to wrap the squeegee with a non-scratch cloth or
lint free paper towel to push out any stubborn areas.
MIRRORS:
Thoroughly wet the mirror with the alcohol solution and lay out the material on the surface.
Be sure to use enough solution so the kit moves freely on the surface. Align the kit so it is
positioned evenly around the edge of the mirror and squeegee the inside edge in place.
With wet fingers, stretch the material outward firmly until most of the excess wrinkles are
pulled out from the top and bottom of the kit.
Using very firm pressure, squeegee from the inside edge of the mirror to the outside edge.
Use a firm amount of pressure to cause the squeegee to flex, indicating enough pressure to lay
the material down evenly.
Squeegee the wrinkles that remain on the edges. Once again, you should notice a bend in the
squeegee indicating enough pressure to lay down the material evenly.
Go over the edges with a squeegee wrapped in a non-scratch cloth or lint free paper towel, to
ensure the material does not lift back up.
FINISHING TOUCHES:
When all the pieces of the kit have been applied, check all the edges to make sure nothing
has lifted up. If any area has a small finger that has developed, spray some alcohol solution into
the finger and squeegee again, and hold your finger on the squeegeed spot for a minute or so to
make the material stay down. Make sure the vehicle is not washed for at least 24 hours.
APPLICATION HINTS:
You can’t use too much solution.
Overlap strokes to avoid trapping air or solution under the material.
Pay special attention to curves and contours where bubbles most often form.
Excessive stretching is not recommended; however, some gentle stretching may be required
to fit some curves.
The material may be gently pulled back again if necessary to reposition the kit, or if dirt, air
or excessive solution is under the material. Do not worry about small bubbles of solution
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trapped under the material as the solution will evaporate over time, making the spot
unnoticeable. Air must be removed, however. Check the kit often for bubbles as any attempt to
pull back the material must be done within ten (10) minutes of application or excessive
stretching will occur.
If the material is accidentally stretched too far, the kit may overlap the pattern area on the
vehicle. When this occurs, it will be necessary to trim the edges of the kit with an Olfa knife or
other window-tinting knife. Take extra care not to cut all the way through the material into the
paint. Only cut through the urethane layer, and not all the way through the adhesive and into the
paint. Be very gentle and increase pressure only if necessary to get through the film. Pull away
the excess film with your fingernail.
Applying relief cuts may be tricky. It is imperative not to stretch the area around the relief
cut, or you will have a more difficult time with the application. If you are unsure about how to
handle the area around the relief cut, or if you have any questions, before you begin call our toll
free number: 1-800-839-1557.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
No special care is necessary for the kit once installed. Wash and wax the vehicle as you
normally would. When using high-pressure sprayers, do not place the nozzle directly against the
edges of the kit or lifting may occur. You may experience a wax build-up along the hood lines
or kit edges. Use a cotton swab or soft brush to gently wipe away excess wax. Swirl marks can
be buffed out with a light coat of wax. Avoid picking at the edges or corners, as irreparable
lifting of the material will result.
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