Another curtain topic – APA truck vinyl

[Richard Urquhart]

Nah it feels like this until it been applied, strong smell also but when touched by your fingers feels very very low tac, after a few hours the bond to the curtains is like magic !!!
Rich

[Michael Szwacki]

Thanks Richard

thats what i was thinking. but how it feels just after apply. Will I peel it off together wit paper tack or it will stay in place straight away?

Mike

[Richard Urquhart]

In the cold I would give it a good blast of heat first to get the adhesive going, also another tip. I use a sheet of mdf inside and use a celing prop to hold the sheet tight to make application easy that way you can really push hard.

[Michael Szwacki]

I wish to have those MDF boards and ceiling bar. I know it’s ten minutes shopping at b&q but it wont fit in my car.
Anyway i’m gonna be on my own on 20m trailer. I will have blaster inside and one behind me for good blast. Also heatgun in emergency. It’s 2 logos (1sqm) on the sides and about 10m text between them.
I hope it will work. I let you know.

Thank you Richard

Mike

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

Hi Mike, it does feel like that but I promise you that stuff sticks like SH** to a blanket. Once it hit’s the curtain, it starts to merge with the molecules of the substrate…. you try getting it off once it’s on, I fitted a trailer in sub zero temperatures just before christmas and it’s still stuck fast….. and without using a backing board (but I do recommend using one)

here is that very trailer I did, happy to say it’s still doing just fine… this was fitted with APA curtain vinyl

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[Michael Szwacki]

I have finished the job last night about 7pm and I was so knackered to switch the computer on 🙂
Anyway, I think I fall in love with this vinyl. It is absolutely amazing how it stick to curtain. I didn’t get any heat blowers and curtain was so wobbly I couldn’t tight it more so job was little bit tricky but I managed to do 2 huge curtain sides trucks + cabin and back doors in 12 hours time. I don’t know is it fast or slow but I’m a bit proud of myself. I just wonder why I can feel every single muscle on my body today 🙂

Thanks guys for advice.

Now I’m one of them who will recommend APA truck vinyl to every curtain.

Mike

[Neil Davey]

Well done Michael, that really is hard work on your own.
I know how you feel, I’ve done hundreds of trailers albeit with ink and vinyl masks
but it sure is good exercise.
12 hours is good going as they’re not easy, did you have staging to work off?

[John Hughes]

i believe they now do a printable version.

john

[Gordon Higgins]

quote John Hughes:

i believe they now do a printable version.

john

they do but i have been using the normal apa curtain vinyl through the printer for years and against the print version i could see no difference in the print quality or performance .

[Lee.Bennett]

Hi all,

For the first time in 15 years I have accepted a printed curtain sided box van. The logo I am applying is 1.5 m x 2.5 in one piece. I opted for apa truck vinyl and lam.

Not to concerned about the fitting as we are used to tricky jobs but my real problem occurred today when I laminated the print. The laminate has lots of air trapped & the print looks milky and has lost all it’s colour. Is this normal? I am praying I will go in tomorrow and the air bubbles are gone but I doubt it.

Starting to panic now at around £35 per meter and the job having to leave the body shop tomorrow, I fear I’m screwed.

Any advice/ reassurance much appreciated.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

I recommend contacting apa and asking. Is the over laminate matched to the vinyl from the same supplier?

[Lee.Bennett]

Yes i got it as a kit. Looks a little better this morning. going to run it through the rollers again and see what happens.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

I would give them a call and ask whats normal? Maybe a batch problem. I do know its funny stuff to work with, kind of merges with the pvc fabric on the curtain instead of sticking