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3m Controltac – Anyone got any experience of this stuff?
Hi all,
Got the opportunity to do a quote for a large contract today.
Fitting of vinyl on vans only (printed graphics on clear 3M Controltac).Anyway applied it as I would normally but the stuff has tiny ( and some larger) bubbles everywhere.
As the graphics are printed on clear on a white van, the bubbles look like grey spots (hot) 👿 .
I know there’s probably a knack to this material but I felt like a right eejit when I took the app tape off. The potential customer was fine with it though as he thought it was the best test fit he’d seen!.
I’m very fussy though!
Anyway, the decals were applied dry, peeled fully then lightly positioned, tried squeegeing from outer edge in and from centre out ( as per 3M instructions) but wasn’t happy with the results.(tried 3M gold & felt squeegees)
According to the instructions with the decals, you lightly squeegee first then go back over it but no matter what I tried it still had tiny tiny bubbles everywhere.
I’ve been fitting vinyl since I left school ( 17 years!) and can make most applications as smooth as glass but this material is doing my head in!
There must be a knack to it that I’ve missed.
Any clues anyone?????
Cheers
Joe -
4 Replies
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use some the force luke! 😮 :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
seriously though. used it for months on end at one point mate…
i would suggest applying it like any other vinyl. but dont do it light to begin with…was the area you fitted it in, cool/cold?
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I have fitted quite a bit, (bt vans) and dont do it any different than I ussually do.
One thing that may be a problem with printed controltac, If it has been laminated (should have) then passing it through the laminater and the printer, may destroy its “control” It seems to be different than plain controtac vinyl.
I may be wrong though.
peter
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Thanks lads for the replies…
Yes Rob, it was a cold non heated unit this afternoon mate.
Cheers
Joe -
that maybe the reason mate..
a problem many will experience these days (in the cold) is what i call, floating vinyl. you apply it in the normal fashion, but because of the cold metal. it repels the adhesion. its clinging, but only just. now remove your vinyl, as you would any dry application, and it starts to pull the vinyl “away” from the vehicle. leaving this sea of very small bumps, bubbles etc that were not there before hand.
those who fit wet wont know this simply because the vinyl wouldnt even entertain holding, just flop back off the van…
nylon squeegees are better under these circumstances as they create their own friction heat & pressure “in one”. but still it can happen!
ide guess the fact your trying to apply a new vinyl stipulating easy application and initial laying with ease. coupled with what i “think” is happening. is your problem.
ide suggest better fitting conditions… i.e. warm
if out the question try heating the panles just before applying… then also gently just before removing the tape. (but not too much) try ditching the felt squeegee for now too…
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