-
Cutting vinyl to fit van panels
At the moment we are printing out full colour photos/artwork etc then applying it onto the panel and then cutting round it by hand. But it sometimes doesn’t cut straight or is not perfect round at the corners.
Is there anything I can use to help me and what is the neatest way of doing these jobs.
-
10 Replies
-
James
cut 5mm pin line out of you vinyl, apply around your curves & long the straights use this to guide your blade then peel the the line off. Results are subject to how straight you get the lines to start withKev
-
I do it by hand as well James and I have to admit its not always perfect.
I always console myself with the fact that its not usually viewed at the close proximity that it’s fitted.
Think I’ll try coins as templates for the corners next time and magnetic off cuts for the straights, worth a try.
-
I have thought about maybe using a impact outline and then use the vinyl cutter to cut the path. Some outlines seem to be nearly smack on and others seem to be out by quite a bit. Maybe if you leave a 10mm gap all the way round you cant be far off.
What do you think.
-
Hi
I did a vivaro van the other week which when i used the impact out line for the panels i found it was miles out!!!!
I ended up just resizing the panel of impact to dimensions id took off the van – it wasn’t perfect but job got done..
I have been thinking what to do next time!!
Ade
-
Ade, That is exactly what situation im in at the moment. It was even the same type of vehicle (Renault traffic). Sometimes i don’t get the chance to measure the vehicle up, so I have to rely on the outline.
I don’t understand why the outlines cant be exact as they come from the vehicle manufacturer to start with.
One thing I always struggle with is curves. Some sort of flexi edge would be ideal as you could flex it round the wheel arch etc. But I will try the magnetic strip option as sometimes the blade tends to wonder.
Cheers Ben -
Guys, ive fallen into the ever tempting trap of relying on the superb impact drawings, but i always, always, always find that if we need a panel fill, a simple, straight, level photograph helps, trace and BINGO!
Esp in Corel, just whack the photo in and either trace, or draw your shape by hand.
-
could always try using a french curves set for hand cutting and there is a curious item at the bottom of the page called a flexible curve.
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp? … rc=froogle
-
James
I’ve come across this many times myself over the years and although there is no easy one stop answer there are options. it’s about finding which one best suits you.
Method 1: As Kevin said you can put yourself a line around curve to start with. However i don’t like putting a blade onto paintwork so think about the following: (i use masking tape not vinyl as your image will not stick to it)
find a flexible masking tape (car body shop could point you in right direction) and run that around panel about 3mm inside where you would want to cut your over sized print. Then once your happy with that run a second line of masking tape where you want to cut. Apply print and then you follow the second line with your blade cutting on the first (away from paint) lot of masking tape. Once it’s cut out just remove tape from under the vinyl and stick down the edge.
Method 2: Take a rubbing of panel, we all know how to do this as it always comes up in schools art lessons somewhere down the line. I’ve used application tape before, Apply it nice and flat over the panel (holds itself on unlike the paper in school) then do your rubbing and carefully remove application paper. once it’s off apply it onto your print where your require and cut it all out. you still have to be carefully as your doing by hand but you can do on a bench using ruler etc and your not cutting on paint. Have had good results this way and it doesn’t take as long as it sounds.
Hope this helps. -
Thanks for all your help i think I will try all of the methods listed and see which one works best for me. But I do think taking a photograph of the the vehicle and tracing the outline sounds the most productive method.
Cheers James -
To get an accurate template of a panels shape, I generally cover the panel with application tape then trace the shape of the panel onto the tape using a pencil. Remove the application tape and stick it onto the vinyl and cut out the shape with a scissors or scalpel.
Log in to reply.