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will i flood coat wet or dry?
Hi Folks,
I need to flood coat a 2′ X 2′ sheet of clear 4mm clear perspex with black vinyl. My supplier doesn’t have black FoamEx Ultra in stock at present, so I’ve decided to take this option as an alternative.
I’ve flood-coated FoamEx and perspex before (dry) but I had an extra pair of hands to help me out, i.e. someone to hold the vinyl while I squeegee the vinyl onto the surface. However, at present I don’t have anyone to help me out so I have to go at this on my own. Therefore would it be easier to flood coat it wet instead? Anyone with any useful tips when it comes to flood-coating various materials of this size and greater. Even when I do this dry, I still manage to have many small bubbles.Much appreciated.
Thanks. Declan.
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25 Replies
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quick reply, popping out… do it wet. perspex is one of the hardest things to apply dry 100% successfully.
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quote Robert Lambie:… do it wet.😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮
I have to agree, perspex is a pig to flood coat.
Try floating it on with water and a natz of Fairy liquid using a felt squeegee, I find that the easiest way, No need for application tape you won’t have to much trouble with it being only 2′ sq. 🙂
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quote Robert Lambie:quick reply, popping out… do it wet..Am i seeing things????? :yikes:
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Must’ve been that bang on the head affected him 😕
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nice one Phil, hadn’t thought of that, that explains it.
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bump on head… what bump… oh that bump.. nah i feel 100% fine now, thank you…. p1ssed my pants and forgot my name a couple of times, but hey! i feel on top of the world mum. 😀
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quote Phill:Must’ve been that bang on the head affected him 😕just what i was thinking !
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OK, explanation time… :lol1:
there is a process for anyone learning to apply dry. the first thing you must achieve is not perfection but confidence. learn to control the vinyl, how it works and a method of application. once this has built up you can try more difficult substrates to apply to.
foamex is probably the easiest to apply to, so that’s a good beginner type board. its virtually impossible to get bubbles if the strategy you use to apply is right.
perspex on the other hand is like applying vinyl to vinyl… sticks first time, virtually no forgiveness. as dec has said, hes on his own… applying on his own in a moderately warm workshop/room could prove more hassle than its worth. if it goes badly wrong it will also take him back a few steps confidence wise. another issue with perspex is static build up. the charge attracts all the crap in the air and it seems to stand out much more on perspex than anything else. yes, there are ways around the above issues but i suspect dec is just wanting a quick fire solution on these panels?
i know i advise dry dry dry, i stand by it… however, this is complete flat area, water will zero out any charge and the drying out of the fluid will be pretty fast ide think. the vinyl will certainly have no bother building up a good tack on this material. -
Declan,
2×2, I would give it a go dry, nothing to loose if it goes t1ts up.
if you are using a cast vinyl, use app tape, if not do it without.
Peter -
Thanks lads and Rob for the explanation …
I’ll try it wet so, and let you know how I get on.Cheers, Deci. :lol1:
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quote Peter Normington:Declan,
2×2, I would give it a go dry, nothing to loose if it goes t1ts up.
if you are using a cast vinyl, use app tape, if not do it without.
PeterI agree Peter. 2 x 2 is only a small area. App tape and the hinge method, no problem.
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:baby: :nagnag: :baby: :nagnag: :poke:
right… the lot of you… duck!
here comes my toys. dummy, rubber duck, teddy… I’m clearing my pram, Get out the way. :lol1:i cant win… if ide said dry, the replies would have been, but but but wet wet wet :lol1: :lol1:
I’m walking off into the sunset, my nappy/diaper sagging at the back pee rash on my legs, eyes bulging red, snot running from nose… sod the lot of yeah! 😉
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OK we all duct (as appossed to ducked) As the tape is argued about, its actually called gafer tape,
Anyway, Rob… I can see why you said WET.
No dis to Declan, But a 2×2 flood is very (or should be ) easy.
If you are unsure how to do it single handed, or dont have the confidence, then wet is better than a cock up. On a flat panel of this size it dosnt really matter.Rob, perhaps you can post the link to one of your demos on flood coating?
If you never done it (anything)before, it looks dificult, Once shown, you wonder how you never thought of that!!
Peter
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:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: The problem is Rob, everyone expected you to say DRY! You shouldn’t change your mind like that without warning us. 😛
Seriously tho, I’d be doing it dry for such a small area 😎
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Having been shown how to dry fit vinyl recently, I’d probably plough on trying it dry with the hinge method. Maybe even without thinking about the static! Now my mum does have a little "pillow" thingy she uses in her card making to eliminate static but I dare say it’d take a while as it’s only little. With my window film cap on, I’d say wet, because you do have more control over the material and the cleanliness of the work where static is involved.
I think I’m with Rob on this one, wet application would save doing a really good job with the hinge method, then finding all the lumps and bumps caused by dust!
Adam
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quote Adam McGuire:then finding all the lumps and bumps caused by dust!
Adam
Mist a spray of metholated spirits over the surface and let it dry with evaporation, …. no more static 😉
Cleaning with windex should have a similar result
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quote :I’m walking off into the sunset, my nappy/diaper sagging at the back pee rash on my legs, eyes bulging red, snot running from nose… sod the lot of yeah! 😉….. usual friday night then Rob? 😀
Apply to perspex WET!!!!!!! water and a smidgen of baby shampoo, soak it and squeedgee out the water.
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quote :I’m walking off into the sunset, my nappy/diaper sagging at the back pee rash on my legs, eyes bulging red, snot running from nose… sod the lot of yeah!no change there then! :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
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Marcella said: Apply to perspex WET!!!!!!! water and a smidgen of baby shampoo, soak it and squeedgee out the water.[/quote]
Also spray lots of water mix over the vinyl, and use a rubber-edged squeegie, helps to stop any drag or scratching. Works for me!
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Spray Wet… practically everything we do is wet
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Hi All,
Thanks for you help.
I’ll flood coated it wet as most of you suggested. Very easy to apply compared to a dry application. Just hope that the adhesive on the vinyl has not lost any of its strength due to coming in contact with the water and washing-up liquid mix.Rob, perhaps you can post the link to one of your demos on flood coating?
Thanks, Declan
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Declan,
this is the demo
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=6233Peter
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quote vtecdec:Hi All,
Thanks for you help.
I’ll flood coated it wet as most of you suggested. Very easy to apply compared to a dry application. Just hope that the adhesive on the vinyl has not lost any of its strength due to coming in contact with the water and washing-up liquid mix.Rob, perhaps you can post the link to one of your demos on flood coating?
Thanks, Declan
just remember, if it is a waterbased adhesive, the glue may go milky for a while, and it will not have full adhesion for a day or two. depending on your weather.
All the best…. I’d still do it dry tho 😉
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quote :just remember, if it is a waterbased adhesive, the glue may go milky for a while, and it will not have full adhesion for a day or two. depending on your weather.
All the best…. I’d still do it dry tho 😉
Shane, don’t you mean "a week or two"
L J -
quote John Simpson:quote :just remember, if it is a waterbased adhesive, the glue may go milky for a while, and it will not have full adhesion for a day or two. depending on your weather.
All the best…. I’d still do it dry tho 😉
Shane, don’t you mean “a week or two”
L Jhhmm english weather… probably mate 😛 Aussie weather… 2 days would cover 😉 it
….I’d still do it dry tho 😛
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