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  • what glue to stick 50mm H metal letters on painted wall

    Posted by williamlau on 28 January 2010 at 10:49

    I am currently helping my client to install 300 sets of individual letters, 2mm thick stainless steel letters on painted Walls. I have tried the following method, they both have advantages and drawback.

    super Glue with vinyl template
    Quick , they are very secure when installing, but after a month , letters keep falling down

    Silicon with vinyl template
    It takes too long to dry, the letters ends up moving downward by 2mm and not level, and better solution is to use a 2mm PVC template, but it cost alot.

    VHS double side tape with vinyl template
    So far the best method, but it takes me 7 days to put double side tape to back of letters

    Just want to see if you guys have better method to mass installing lots of lettes on painted wall without problem.

    I am looking for a laser cuttable or routable double side tape, any one have idea?

    Gordon Jones replied 15 years, 11 months ago 6 Members · 8 Replies
  • 8 Replies
  • Matty Goodwin

    Member
    28 January 2010 at 10:56

    Why not simple fix locator’s?

  • williamlau

    Member
    28 January 2010 at 11:23

    the letter stroke is just about 5mm thick, no space for locators

  • Fred McLean

    Member
    28 January 2010 at 12:47

    Some kind of spray adhesive might be the route to go William.

    F

  • Lyle Knittig

    Member
    28 January 2010 at 17:06

    Would a small amount of VHB tape hold in place long enough for silicone to dry if you did both? Would not need to cover all with VHB but just enough to hold in place for the time for the silicone to set.

  • Alex Wilson

    Member
    28 January 2010 at 17:53

    Hi William

    Try UHU,Bostick or similar clear glue used for modeling. We used that for years bonding brass,bronze and S/Steel letters to most surfaces. You need to squash the nozzle down to a flat shape so only a little glue comes out. Then before you stick the letter to the wall tack off the glue by tapping you finger on the glue until it becomes stringy. This will allow the glue to go off quickly and bond almost instantly. We used to make a template for these letters by cutting a 3mm foamex strip and marking where the letters go with a pen mark onto the foamex taking the lines from a paper template. you can then tape the foamex to the wall so that you have 2 hands free and something to sit the letter on and hold them while they go off which should take no mote that 10 minutes. Remember to do all the straight letters first the drop the template a couple of mm for round letters. Once you have done thes any ‘ypq’s or letters with descenders can be fitted last.

    Best wishes

    Alex

  • williamlau

    Member
    28 January 2010 at 21:02

    Its a headache for me and my installer
    The letters reads

    FIRE DOOR
    DO NOT OPEN
    DO NOT OBSTRUCT

    50mm high, the stroke is just like 3mm to 5mm thick

    I will try to use UHU next time, using UHU wont save us too much time
    as you know its so difficult to brush the glue to the back of letter without any bleeding.

    Perhaps I should charge my client more so that i can allow myself and my installer to do the letters one by one patiently.

    It would be good if any one know anything about lasercuttable or routable double sided tape, so that the letters with be precut with tape to back. this will save a lot of time.

    Thanks guy.

  • Fred McLean

    Member
    29 January 2010 at 08:56

    Another possibility is get some-one to router a solid template with the letters cut out the same thickness as your letters and hold them in place with masking tape or similar as you go

  • Gordon Jones

    Member
    29 January 2010 at 09:30

    ask whoever cut them to give you a template, I assume they were laser cut so it will match perfectly, that will at least help with getting them on straight if you put app tape on the front

    Then ring your local 3M adhesive stockists and ask them for advise.

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