Reddit reviews OLFA 5019 SVR-2 9mm Stainless Steel Auto-Lock Utility Knife

IMHO you can wrap your roof without much issue, even with no experience. Here's what I'd recommend:

1. An Assistant - Get friend and ask them over to help with the process. The piece(s) of vinyl that you will be working with are very forgiving but once you remove the paper liner there is no going back. That second pair of hands and help will save you lots of time and grief.
   
2. Clean, clean, clean! - It is important to know that vinyl will show you any debris that is sitting on the paints surface - i.e dirt, tar, bird sh**, salt buildup (pretty bad here during MI winters), missing paint chips, dents, etc. If your paint is in good condition, the best practice is to clean the surface with regular water to remove any loose dirt. Followed by a wipe down with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (found at all drug stores) until a clean, dirt-free surface is achieved. This will help you achieve that smooth, glossy surface we all love to see!
   
3. A Good Sharp Blade - You will have to cut the vinyl at some point and you'll need to be fairly precise so you don't cut too much off and expose the color of the roof underneath the vinyl in some obvious and aesthetically unappealing way. My recommendation is to get an Olfa Knife like this one and have it handy. A sharp edge will keep your cuts clean and neat(-ish). Be sure to when you snap the blade to expose the new, sharper edge that you discard the old portion safely. Nothing ends a wrap session faster than a trip to ER for stitches.
   
4. Don't Let the Vinyl Win - As this is your first wrap and as issues arise keep in the back of your mind that, "as long as you haven't squeegeed down that section, you have a chance to save the piece!" Patience is the most important tool for your maiden wrap. Give yourself time to look and see what you (and your assistant) are doing and DON'T RUSH.
   
   I would like to offer my opinion and response to a few things that u/urworstdaydreamr wrote that I felt needed some extra clarification:
   
   >...it seems the top and preferred brand is Avery Dennison. Followed by, in no particular order: 3M, VVIVID, and Orafal/Oracal
   
   Debatable - The top wrap film companies (by market share) are 3M, Avery Dennison, Orafol, Hexis, KPMF, Sott, and VVIVID. It is strongly recommended that you use 3M or Avery on your first wrap. They are the most widely used and are easy to find and purchase. They are also the most installer-friendly. Your preference will depend on a lot of small differences between the various companies. Please research not only how the vinyls install but how much residue and glue they leave behind when removed.
   
   >“Air release/egress/channel” is as it sounds. The better brands, like those mentioned above, have a backing on the film that allows air trapped underneath the film to be pushed out.
   
   Clarification - The backing paper has extremely thin "peaks" that run across the it and when the vinyl material is extruded onto the paper. The "peaks" in the paper form channels in the vinyl and adhesive which allow for air to pass through them when the paper backer is removed and the vinyl is applied to the car's surface.
   
   The "Material and Prep Price" Section - Debatable
   
   **PLEASE DO NOT BUY WRAP MATERIAL FROM EBAY OR AMAZON.** Buy from where the pros buy! Metro Restyling or Fellers are the places that we professionals buy material from. Both sites are open to the public and you can search for tools and a plethora of colors. Don't be swayed, buy good material.
   
   I have full faith that you can do this without having to take it to a wrap shop! Good luck!!

Some will point you towards getting the tamiya knife, and here's a similar style olfa art knife. Note the replacement blades for the olfa. I also happen to use snap off blades, in addition to xacto and the tamiya knife. I have an olfa one. I happen to not use exacto knives for gundam anymore though. The tamiya model knife and olfa snap off meet my needs just fine due to the angles of cuts I tend to make and angle of the cutting edges of the knives.

And some sand paper, since you included putty.

And lastly, some cheap ass brushes to go along with good paint brushes; decent tooth pics (if you snap it off, the thin layers of wood can be a cheap fine detail brush)... etc.

> using a marking knife instead of the pen to do the marking out would have helped with my chiseling too.

I'm a marking knife nerd. I have a few nice ones. Usually I just use an $8 Olfa snap-blade knife from HD since it's always in my pocket. The other secret weapon is blue painters tape. Sometimes I have a hard time seeing the knife lines. If I lay down tape first I can peel it away from my knife lines.

Apple iPhone 6s: work phone w/ dbrand Green Carbon Fiber skin

Samsung Note 8: personal w/ dbrand Black Carbon Fiber skin

Custom Genuine Leather bi-fold wallet by local professional

Work keys, sim popper and tile

Samsung Gear S3 Classic w/ band from amazon

Black screen cleaning cloth

OLFA SVR-2 knife

Pilot G-2 0.38 Blue pen

Nametag

BeatsX Blue

This is the best answer, Olfa is pretty much the standard for good quality snap off blade knives, tajima is maybe slightly higher quality tools but blades are the same. If you are cutting heavy thick stuff i recommend the type with a thumbscrew for blade lock instead of the faster slide lock style as they sometimes can come unlocked when you are pressing down hard.

I use this one for light duty precise cutting: OLFA 5019 SVR-2 9mm Stainless Steel Auto-Lock Utility Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006O87O6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Qqthyb2DSX0Q5

This is what i have for heavier stuff: New Olfa Limited NL LTD-07 Paper cutter knife from Japan https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017M6QSI2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_otthyb8RK59QF

Both are excellent and the blades are noticeably sharper and last longer than any other knife like this ive found.

I ordered one on amazon a few months ago.

OLFA 5019 SVR-2 9mm Stainless Steel Auto-Lock Utility Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006O87O6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NqQ8BbEWEG8VN

Edit: spelling

Are you referring to this or this? Olfa seems like a good option. I used to use their autolocking safety knife when I first started, but it wasn't the most comfortable (obviously since it wasn't designed for hobby work).