Hints And Tips For Installing Peel and Stick Heat Shield Material

Few products are as versatile and effective at deflecting heat away from a surface or object than Sticky™ Shield from Heatshield Products. But, knowing some useful tips for installing Sticky™ Shield can make using this adhesive backed heat barrier material as easy as pie.

Sticky™ Shield

Developed using Heatshield Products proprietary and specially formulated BioCool™ thermal barrier material, Sticky™ Shield:

• Reflects over 90% of radiant heat • Is perfect for insulating firewalls, transmission tunnels and floor pans to stop heat intrusion
• Is effective on street cars, race cars, Jeeps/off-road vehicles and more
• Features built-in adhesive backing, making Sticky™ Shield installation easy on almost any clean surface

HP Sticky™Shield can handle up to 1,100 degrees F of constant, non-direct (not in contact with heat source) heat and 2,000 degrees F intermittent heat. It works at deflecting heat with less than one inch of airspace between the barrier and the heat source, but is over 90% effective when at least one inch of airspace is between Sticky™ Shield and the heat source.

Besides the previously mentioned surfaces, This self adhesive exhaust heat shield is also great to use on the underside of hoods, on factory air filter boxes to help lower intake air temperatures, wiring junction boxes close to heat sources, a variety of things. Here are some tips to use when installing Sticky™ Shield so everything looks great and the material stays firmly in place even after countless heat cycles.

BENDS

ABOVE: Because of the makeup of Sticky™ Shield’s BioCool™ material, installing the material around sharp bends (like on factory air boxes, wiring junction boxes, some firewalls and transmission tunnels) can cause an issue and not allow the materials built-in adhesive to work properly. In these situations, the best method is to avoid wrapping the material around a bend. Instead, cut Sticky Shield into two pieces and have the edges meet over the bend. This eliminates the tension bending Sticky Shield sharply causes that works against the adhesive holding the material in place. Then use Cool Foil™ tape to seal the seam.

PEELING BACK ADHESIVE COVER

ABOVE:Sticky Shield’s built-in adhesive backing helps make installing the material a breeze. But peeling back the film over the adhesive backing can prove troublesome (sometimes outright frustrating) to do with just a fingernail. A simple razor blade makes the job easy. Just use the edge of the blade on the corner of Sticky Shield to peel back the protective film enough to get a grip on. Then just peel away as you install Sticky Shield. We've also got a video on the Heatshield YouTube channel showing this tip and how to do it.

CUTS TO MAKE SHAPING EASIER

ABOVE:Installing Sticky™ Shield around less acute shapes can still cause an issue or two with making sure the adhesive backing takes proper hold, and for getting a clean, professional looking install. Sticky™ Shield is easy to cut and shape, only needing a pair of good scissors to cut, or for more exacting work a sharp razor blade. Using pie-cuts and other shaped cuts will give Sticky™ Shield extra flexibility for shaping to the installation surface, along with fitting tighter and cleaner on things like air boxes and wiring junction boxes or other components.

SURFACE CLEANING

ABOVE: Sticky™ Shield’s built-in adhesive backing isn’t that lightweight Post-It note type stuff. But like most adhesives, it needs a clean surface for proper adhesion. Even if it’s a plastic surface, you can still have grease, oil and/or grime contaminating the surface that will prevent Sticky™ Shield’s adhesive backing from adhering properly. Before installation, use a good degreaser like Simple Green followed up by a solvent of some sort (denatured alcohol, brake cleaner, MEK, etc.) to make sure the surface is free of residues. Careful on the solvent front though and make sure it’s not something that will harm a painted/finished surface or plastic in some way.