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painting mag signs
Hi all.
i’ve just cut some mag sign blanks for a customer, in preparation for making the signs, he’s now decided, as advised, to have them spray painted by the local shop who recently did a little repair work to his van (and still have the paint),
now, i know over time that the white vinyl coating on these can (ok, will) shrink slightly, so, before i take them to the body shop in the morning, a few questions…
if they’re painted onto the white vinyl, are there any pointers with regards the paint used (undercoats mainly) ?
will the vinyl still shrink if it’s painted with auto paints ?
would it be better to try and remove the white vinyl and have them painted bare ? if so, how will will paint stick to it, and is the vinyl sided, ie, will only stick one way around ? i ask the latter so i’m sure to mark the side to be painted if it’s the case !
thanks.
Hugh
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11 Replies
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not sure that would work Hugh, the paint may crack with the removal of mag’s for cleaning etc. but if someone else has done it and proves me wrong would be interested to see and hear. Can’t you flood coat with vinyl 🙄
Lynn
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Hi Lynn,
have been through every single swatch book i can lay my hands on, and nothing is a very good match (very fastidious customer), so someone on here suggested having it painted, a couple of people i think, they’ll only be on the vehicle some of the time, the rest they’ll be stuck to the inside as he subcontracts to some big companies,
i would think the paint would be ok, roof and side panels will flex somewhat and the paint there sticks ok, i’m sure those who suggested it would not have done if they hadn’t done it,
Hugh
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Ok that’s good then only said I’d never done it, it’s nice to see it works, a future option 😎
Lynn
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hugh the white was keyed with 800 wet and dry and used as the undercoat,
tell the sprayer that you do not want a thick coat then as i said cover with a cast clear vinyl as a clear coat, that will stop the paint cracking when flexed.
tell the customer that he is always to keep them flat.
and to throw under arm when putting them in the back of the van 😉 -
It can be done, Chris’s advice is good.
I have heard of people getting it basecoat/clearcoated with no problems.
Surface has to be cleaned and scuffed but it can be done.
Remember to charge accordingly as this truly is a custom job.
Love…..Jill -
thank you both for the advice,
he’s actually organised the body shop side of things, so he’ll be paying them separately, though I’ll enquire as to how much it is for future reference,
thanks again.
Hugh
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Hi all, if the paint is left over from repair work on a van would it not have to be oven dried. If that’s the case i’m not sure the mags or vinyl would stand up to the heat or am i talking bowlocks. 😳
Cheers John
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not sure mate, the sprayer is as bewildered as me ! he didn’t nkow whether to laquer it, etc,
in the end i said to put a light laquer over the water based top coat so make it look metallic and protect it, and i’ll laminate it properly,
i don’t think he’s gonna oven bake them, i’ll have a word with him,
if he does, i’d suggest he leave them on a very flat surface so they don’t warp, i had a set of mag left on some back seats of my old trooper while it was at a garage, it was when we had that real hot spot last year into the 30’s, well my car was sat in full sun all day, for several days, with no windows open etc, the mags resembles everything they were laying on, almost vacuum formed, they’re stuck to my fridge in the workshop now, but took a year to flatten nicely !
anyways, i guess i’ll let you know the end result soon enough, he won’t be painting them for a week or so yet, so if anyone has any comments i should pass onto him, then please pass it on !
hugh
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Had some vinyl spray painted to put onto magnetics to match a van that was getting re-sprayed they have stood the test of time no problem 😀
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thanks fred. did you laminate too ? i’m gussing it’ll be better in this case as they guy will clean and remove them regularly.
re the care of mag signs, i used to have a little thing that someone on here sent me, which i just printed off and gave to the customers with their signs, to be honest it’s been so long since i read it, i can’t recall all that it said, does anyone have something like this please ? mine was lost in the last crash a couple of months back,
thanks.
Hugh -
Didn’t lam it was more a show thing rather than heavy day in day out use
but that was a couple of years ago and they’re still ok
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