anyone advise me how to work applying vinyl dry?

[Robert Lambie]

if you are applying to a completely flat surface mate and vinyl app is new to you then do what suits you best. if that is wet then wet it is…
if its a table top, it wont be cold like a car door etc, depending on table top surface could be very smooth and gip the vinyl well. im guessing the table top is that bit warmer as its a wood etc so the vinyl will cling harder. another thing, with large areas of vinyl, its hard practicing alone. always better having an extra set of hands to hold the vinyl taught while you apply. also, use application tape on the vinyl with a felt squeegee, far more forgiving. 😀

[Phil Halling]

Professionals (and Rob) ?

Rob- application paper AND a FELT squeegee ? surely you cannot get enough pressure on with that combination to make good surface contact .
I would have reccomended ap paper and a gold squeegee.

Phil

[Robert Lambie]

yes definately phil 😀
he is clearing having bother with immediate tac of the vinyl on the table. whatever surface it is he needs to reduce that tac if he is to apply it successfuly dry. hense why i said (application tape on the vinyl with a felt squeegee, far more forgiving.) 😉

the application paper with help reduce stretching of the vinyl, especially as newbies seem to be a little heavy handed while handling unmasked vinyl, causing stretching with their finger tips were vinyl is held. 😀

[Phil Halling]

yes I agree with the ap paper but surely with the lack of pressure of a felt squeegee he will be more prone to minute bubbles, especially as the ap paper will in effect reduce the pressure on the adhesive ?

[Robert Lambie]

hi phil
not sure I know what you mean mate…
vinyl, pressure sensitive film, whatever we call it, has come along way these days. Back when it came about “I think” the idea behind the nylon squeegee was to create a tool to lay flat the vinyl, applying pressure evenly where you are applying, but at the same time
creating friction heat to help stimulate the adhesive on the underside of the vinyl.
Of course this works very well, (anyone out there ever burned a knuckled while applying vinyl? 😕 :lol1: ) These days vinyl and the adhesive have progressed & there is less call for immediate tack/bite to the surface as it allows those applying dry to lift and reposition the vinyl should they not get it right first time. Pressure is important when applying, don’t get me wrong but we are not talking “teeth gritted, white knuckle applications” here… last week I wrapped a 33ft x 90” rigid sided truck. The whole thing had app tape onto cast vinyl. I applied the lot with a new felt squeegee with one man helping me. No bubbles, creases & was stuck solid.
I don’t feel app tape reduces the pressure, just helps reduce the friction & the skites left from a nylon squeegee crossing and marking the bare vinyl surface. Ultimately it creates a thicker/easier material to work.
All this said, unless these tables he is re-surfacing are perfectly flat, no chips, or woodgrain then a nylon squeegee would actually create bubble, I would imagine.

[Hugh Potter]

i’ve recently started doing everything i can, dry. did a van the other ay which was done all dry and 90% of it with a felt squeegee, only used the nylon squeegee on a small decal i did wet cos there was no room to hinge it first, had only one buble in about 20 lines of text,

i think the secret is just what has been said many times here before, ie “dont let the vinyl touch down, unless the squeegee is puting it there !”

[J_J_O]

Thanks a lot for the advice guys! Next time I will put applicationtape on it and see what happens.
A couple of months ago I bought some lowfriction sleeves that can be used on my gold squeegees, really one of my best investments ( 😀 ) of this year, its goes much better then my felt squeegees and I can give even more pressure.

Thank again!
JJ