Advice on doming on large graphics please?

[Dave Askew]

Hi Hugh,

We always outsource our doming to ‘Dash Dynamics’ (http://www.dashdynamics.co.uk).
We send them the prints in the post, and the finished product comes back within a couple of days.

[David Hammond]

There’s mockridge, they sell kits and also do doming themselves, not used either myself.

[Robert Lambie]

You can buy doming kits from various places…

another to consider is Liquid Lens http://liquid-lens.co.uk/

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[Hugh Potter]

many thanks guys..

Hugh

[Simon Worrall]

Ive done it before with a hand trigger kit they are dead easy to use, and give a lovely result..but .It was very – very expensive and I couldnt justify the cost.

[Hugh Potter]

Thanks Simon,

I’ve looked at the hand gun types, kits from £100-200 depending on the type/size of kit, not sure it would be justified in the job. have contacted a couple of people mentioned above but the decals are too big for them to do.. need to work out if the customer is prepared to spend the money.. !

[Robert Lambie]

Hugh, I would contact one of the companies that do this by machine for the trade and ask for a trade price and add a mark-up mate…

[Steve Morgan]

Hugh,

Try calling Interfax Accuflow 0121 378 2289, they manufacture the resin, I think, I’ve used this company for some years, they are very helpful. It’s not as expensive as you think; you’ll find that £100 will go a long long way.

The largest single piece I’ve done was an oval printed logo that was about 450 x 250mm.

[Dan Osterbery]

we buy our resin from Accuflow and they are very helpful, and the resin is not expensive! We have done some larger than normal stickers for boats etc, it is not difficult, just make sure the graphic is flat level before you start applying the resin!

[Hugh Potter]

Thanks guys,

I’m thinking of getting a 50ml kit and a load of cartidges (accuflow) to try out some samples as it’s ot much money to try it – I can always make some DragonSigns badges for vehicle jobs anyway.. I’m guessing that once opened the tube needs using or it goes off, or does it not?

If the job comes off I’m tempted to get the MDS 400g kit which looks a bit more substantial, better than keep changing carts on the smaller guns too, but after this job it would only be used sporadically and my concern is that it would go off!!

cheers,
Hugh

[Hugh Potter]

quote Steve Morgan:

Hugh,

Try calling Interfax Accuflow 0121 378 2289, they manufacture the resin, I think, I’ve used this company for some years, they are very helpful. It’s not as expensive as you think; you’ll find that £100 will go a long long way.

The largest single piece I’ve done was an oval printed logo that was about 450 x 250mm.

Steve,

do you recall how much resin that decal used? I’m looking at one that’s twice that size!

Some of the work they’ve had done before was made in sections, ie, the E was made of four pieces rather than one, the height was 550 tall so I may end up doing that but would rather try to do in one piece.

Is it hard to apply without bubbles underneath? I asume because it’s semi rigid that would go down nicely but the woman this order is for has said they had awful trouble with the chrome ones!

thanks again,
Hugh

[Chris Windebank]

Hi Hugh, done quite a few chrome badges with no problem. You have about 20 minutes before it starts going off so any left usually gets put on items around the workshop inc business cards, coins, hate to waste it. If bubbles occur use a small torch like a chefs torch and they disappear instantly

[Hugh Potter]

thanks Chris,
I was thinking just that – have a bunch of stickers, magnetic busi card etc to hand in case of left over resin!

how do you deal with dust as an issue? next door to me is a glazier, I’m going to rob a couple of sealed units from his skip and effectively use one as a taple I can level on the bench, and then put the other over the top (spaced of course) to create a barrier, I cant see any other way really!

Hugh

[Dan Osterbery]

Hi Hugh,
we seal off an area, and then set up a glass panel so its level, stick the stickers with spray glue to that glass, and apply the resin, give it a quick pass with the torch in case of bubbles, then we put 4 large nuts in each corner and pop another layer of glass on top and repeat. As long as the first layer of glass is level, then you know all subsequent layers will be good. Having a layer of glass over the top of the drying resin reduces the chances of dust particles landing in it. We find humidity really effects the drying process so we run a dehumidifier for the 24 hour curing process. hope that makes sense if not i can send a photo.

cheers

Dan

[Hugh Potter]

Thank you Dan,

Makes perfect sense to me. I’ll give it a go and see what happens, temp in here isn’t great so it’ll probably be a saturday morning job and left over the weekend to cure!

regards,
Hugh

[Hugh Potter]

quote Dan Osterbery:

Hi Hugh,
w stick the stickers with spray glue to that glass, and apply the resin,
cheers

Dan

can you recommend a spray glue? obviously I want one that’s not going to stick fast permanently!

H

[Dan Osterbery]

Hi Hugh,
we have always used this one! 3M Scotch weld, my understanding is it is a low tac spray, but i would check with your 3m people as products do vary between countries! it has enough grip to stick the backing paper to the glass for 24 hours, then we just peel off the stickers, remove the glue residue with a scraper and a splash of alcohol and its good to go again.

cheers

Dan

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[Steve Morgan]

Hugh,

Sorry for the late reply. The big elipse that I domed was about 550 X 200mm and used near enough 3 cartridges. As a guide I’ve made hundreds of little badges which are 65 X 30mm and I get a minimum of 17 per cartridge. The variable is: how much you waste at the start of the process, you must give at least 2 good trigger squeezes so that the resin is completely mixed when it leaves the nozzle. If it isn’t mixed properly it’ll never set.
I do as Dan does with the adhesive, a good craft stockist should stock ‘3M Spraymount’, it’s not cheap but it’ll last a long time and also the small flame torch – Interfax sell them too.
I made myself a small cupboard with slide out shelves and and a 60 watt lamp in the bottom. The box sits on a shelf perfectly level so the shelves are level as well and with the door closed there is sufficient warmth to held the cure time.Dust of course is not a problem.
I suggest that you cut some shapes and smallish 30mm bold sans serif text and experiment, you’ll find the sharp corners are difficult if not impossible – particularly inside corners, I seem to remember that about 4mm radius is about minimum.

Hope the above is of some help.

[Hugh Potter]

great advice guys, thank you 🙂

think I’ve ordered everything now !

[Robert Lambie]

Keep us posted on how this goes Hugh, would be interested in the outcome if you go ahead and dome these in-house mate.

[Hugh Potter]

Will do Rob,
Just have to order the prints and I’ll have a bash!

what’s the worst that could possibly go wrong!!

[Chris Wool]

Like seeing people have a go
I would cut some similar smaller lettering out of normal vinyl and waist a cart testing rather than risk the prints
Enjoy

[Hugh Potter]

That’s the intention Chris, will have a play with some text and a load of my own ‘signs by’labels prior to doing the main job!

H

[Chris Windebank]

don’t forget that stuff likes rounded corners and it will make your life easier with application

[Patrick Donaghey]

Hi Hugh how did this go what product did you go for thanks inadvance for you reply as i was about to ask all the same questions as you did in your post

[Hugh Potter]

Hi Patrick,
I’ve only used it for small jobs, the customer (ex customer) buys them directly from somewhere else who specialise, then only calls me an hour before the lorry is due to be shipped, or to finish a bit of wrap missed by whoever is wrapping them in 3m cokourflow!!! I digress..

Accuflow, I bought a 50ml kit, use semi rigid resin, 3m mount spray, etc. works well, just remember not to overload with resin – the warmer it is in the room, the further that damn resin spreads if it overflows !!!

[Patrick Donaghey]

cheers