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what tips can i get for fitting diamond Grade Reflective?
I’ve been asked me to fit a couple of Diamond Grade reflective car kits, the customer has ordered the materials.
I’ve read Robert Lambie’s post about making up the kits, posted earlier this year, which was helpful.
I’ll have to some indication of cost before I start, so if anyone with experience of fitting the material and can give me any specific tips and problems to watch out for I would appreciate it.
Steve -
18 Replies
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Just remember, the material sticks as soon as it touches, so NEVER attempt to pull it off to reposition or it’ll delaminate. Also, it will not conform around compound curves so be careful. Even if it looks good on the day it has a habit of popping off a week later if there is any stress in the material.
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Wot he said 🙂
Also if you think you may end up having to remove it in the future put normal vinyl on first.Steve
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Thanks very much.
Been out all day so couldn’t reply earlier. I hope the kit has been made to take the body shape into account, I have’t seen it yet. I did wonder about putting it on over ordinary vinyl, the vehicles are going overseas so removal is not going to be my problem.
Steve -
Who’s making the kits for you? (If you don’t mind me asking.)
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andy, who is that guy you know that does these kits mate? i actually have another few jobs coming up and wanted to get in contact with him.
he emailed me a while back but my outlook crashed and lost all unsaved emails and contacts. 😕 (this post just remined me) -
Really don’t know who the supplier is. I’ll speak to the client next week so I’ll ask then.
Steve -
Rob, Colin Burton at PVL UK.
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thanks andy, ill send him an email or give him a buzz monday. 😀
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Sorry to hijack the thread, but ehile the subject is up, whats the most conformable reflective out there?
Matt
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i would say the stuff i have used here in this demo had to be the most conformable i have tried. http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=17585
that said, i dont want to misslead anyone into thinking this stuff can be wrapped. although i have "zero" problems with these vehicles and would do the same again tommorrow, keeping to flat panel work is advised.
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Ive used nikkalite in the past Rob, but found it really hard to work with.
Not at all conformable, and grabs like hell. Ive read that post a few times before. And find it hard to believe thats nikkalite ?
Cheers
Matt
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quote valegraphics:Ive used nikkalite in the past Rob, but found it really hard to work with.
Not at all conformable, and grabs like hell. Ive read that post a few times before. And find it hard to believe that’s nikkalite ?
Cheers
Matt
Matt, i don’t think "any" reflective is "easy" to work with, you just have to take the best from the bunch, that being what works best for you.
depending on fitting conditions, any vinyl can grab the surface fast if fitted dry. reflective is normally a pretty hi-tack at the best of times… at least the ones i have used over the years have been. this is probably the wrong way to describe it, but most of the lower costing and a few high costing reflective seem to be made up like a sort of paste. when you pull it away from the surface it breaks up/tears very easy. making it a bit of a nightmare to remove. i think this is due to a mix of the vinyl and microscopic glass balls that make it reflect. if it was 100% vinyl, it would stretch, but because its made up of both it falls apart when tugged.
the demo IS showing nikolite reflective like it says and it has been fitted exactly as shown, no problems what so ever. even today those vehicles have had no problems with the application or vinyl.
one thing i can say about nikolite, and it maybe you have used the old stuff… they have improved it by adding an over-laminate of what looks like a polyester or vinyl film. this greatly improves the vinyl in my eyes as its much glossier and the over-film prevents it from tearing.
at the end of the day we both probably fit vinyl different, what works for me, may not work for you. -
I think your right about using the old stuff Rob. I HAD to apply wet. Or it grabbed and tore when trying to conform to slight curves. ‘orrible stuff!
I was just wondering if theres a thinner reflective on the market?
To be on the safe side i try to fit reflective on top of 751c so theres no worries about removal.
Cheers
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The Mactac Maclite 5700 reflective claims to be conformable, it’s certainly very flexible but again the glue is very aggressive and it falls apart when pulled.
They say it’s engineering grade whatever that is, it is very reflective but not as much as diamond grade.Steve
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Many thanks steve.
While im here mate. Whats your method of keeping the cadet tracking well over more than 2mts.
If i have a long job on 😮 it tends to skew no matter how i set her up?
Any tips?
Cheers
Matt
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You have to make sure the vinyl is tight on the roll first and that it’s on the roll not coming off in a cone if you see what I mean.
You then just pull it through and with one hand pulling the vinyl in the middle have your other hand holding the metal roller at the back to stop it spinning. You can also pull some extra material through and then roll it back, don’t touch the roll do all this by moving one of the metal rollers the vinyl sits on. I can get good accuracy this way, just done a big job in 5 sections that used around 60m of vinyl with no running off.
Steve
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quote valegraphics:I think your right about using the old stuff Rob. I HAD to apply wet. Or it grabbed and tore when trying to conform to slight curves. ‘orrible stuff!I was just wondering if theres a thinner reflective on the market?
To be on the safe side i try to fit reflective on top of 751c so theres no worries about removal.
Cheers
Matt, the new 3M 180c reflective with controlltac is excellent stuff to fit and is fairly soft to work with. Heaps better than nikkalite for fitting.
Oracal is good material, has better adhesion than just about anything out there, but that said, the 3M stuff is good to put on and remove with its new ‘removeable adhesive’
Only complaint is the cost, but then you get what you pay for in adhesives.
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Steve. No matter how i "set-up" the media it starts running off after 2mts or so. Tried measuring from the platen too !
Shane. Thanks for that mate.
Matt
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