advice needed fitting Etched Glass Vinyl please?

[Ian Johnston]

cure for your white dots.

Use a cigarette lighter ( SERIOUSLY ), A quick run over of a flame from a lighter will remove the white marks in etch glass that are caused by stretching, crease’s and bubbles.

Ian

[Bob Scullion]

Ian

How do I direct the heat onto a vertical surface? could I use a heat gun?

Is it a case of I’ve stretched the vinyl when applying or not overlapped properly(my strokes)

Thanks for the reply

Bob

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[Ian Johnston]

a heat gun works, but it does too large an area, a lighter is a small flame that work just were needed, hold it just below the mark.

try it on you window in the office, it works

[Stephen Henderson]

I have a chefs blow torch in my tool kit, easier than a lighter, get yourself one handy for a lot of jobs 😀

[Martin Pearson]

Bob, never tried it myself sorry but if Ian says to use a lighter and you are looking for something for more of a vertical surface then maybe a pipe lighter would be better.

I have whats left of a doming kit knocking about somewhere and it had a little gas blow lamp for removing the bubbles in the resin, might just have a go with that and see how well it works.

Pin pricking bubbles in etch is not to good an idea if you can help it as the hole can normally be seen, apart from getting the technique right with overlapping strokes it is important to make sure the edge of the squeegee stays sharp. With use they tend to develop a curve of some description on the edge which can lead to bubbles as not all the air is forced out properly.
You can normally see if the edge is flat or not when you look at it. If it’s not flat then you can resharpen the edge by rubbing against another squeegee.

[Cheryl Smith]

quote Ian Johnston:

Use a cigarette lighter ( SERIOUSLY ), A quick run over of a flame from a lighter will remove the white marks in etch glass that are caused by stretching, crease’s and bubbles.

Ian

what a great tip Ian…thanks for sharing that one…another bit of kit to put in the tool box.

[Bob Scullion]

Pin pricking bubbles in etch is not to good an idea

Martin, if I do get a bubble or 2 in the etch vinyl how would you remove it without some form of escape, surely if I just try to heat the area the air will expand and make it worse.

[Stuart Miller]

I do all my etch wet to avoid this problem. Unless there is some intricate graphics in the pane which need to be done dry, but then small bits of etch rarely get the white marks. I don’t think I have ever popped a bubble on etch as it shows so much.
Will try the lighter trick, good tip.

[Bob Scullion]

quote Stuart Miller:

I do all my etch wet to avoid this problem. Unless there is some intricate graphics in the pane which need to be done dry, but then small bits of etch rarely get the white marks. I don’t think I have ever popped a bubble on etch as it shows so much.
Will try the lighter trick, good tip.

I know what your saying Stuart but unfortunately either through my fitting method or whatever on this occasion I ended up with approx half a dozen small bubbles at various points when I done it dry and thought I had no option but to pierce them and push any air out.

As a matter of interest, what solution do use with etched glass when doing wet? do you use your tint/film solution, baby shampoo/baby bath or rapid tac?

Does anyone use the dry apply type of etched film and if so is it any better in reality.

Bob

[Stuart Miller]

Yeah Bob just use my normal tint slip solution. Water and Baby shampoo.
I’ve done few dry and although I haven’t got bubbles I have found that the squeegee leaves a few white marks which I’ve never been happy with so just do it wet and always get a good result for large panes. So used to tinting wet that its not any hassle.

[Bob Scullion]

I’ll do the same if its flood coating but these ones have a pattern cut out in the vinyl and thought it would be better rather than doing it wet.

hate trying to remove the application tape if I’ve had to do it wet.

Cheers

Bob

[Stuart Miller]

yep Know what you mean, its an awkward decision whether to go wet or dry when there are graphics cut out.