-
application tips please for apa truck vinyl?
Hi all,
I have a curtain sider to do on saturday, my first one!
After some research & searching the board archives i’ve ordered in some "truck vinyl" from apa as this seems to be the stuff to use.
Any hints or tips on application? they were supposed to include a tech sheet with the delivery but it looks like it got left out 🙁cheers
Paul -
9 Replies
-
The most important thing to remember is to make sure the curtain sider absolutely clean. Don’t skimp on this step.
Other than that, treat it as any other application I suppose.
Cheers
-
I’ve never done one, but I have heard that it makes life easier if you have someone on the other side of the curtain holding a sheet of plywood against the curtain, to give a rigid surface to work against. I have some samples of the APA curtain material and it is like shite to an army blanket! That is, very sticky.
-
i agree with whats been said so far, also, have at least 3 bodies on site.
one inside with sheet of plywood, 3/4 inch is best. other 2 bodies, one applying one holding vinyl hovering surface as you apply towards them. thats a dry application tip though. i wouldnt do it wet if you could avoid it.
it “is” very sticky stuff.
use felt squeegee too, slightly worn one, helps prevent the squeegee digging in at the corners. -
thanks for the tips guys, the customer is putting the vehicle through a truck wash beforehand, will this be good enough or should i take some meths or i.p.a along as well?
had a banner job yesterday so used some of the truck vinyl on that as a test to see what its like to work with, i was suprised after reading the posts on here that it wasn’t as sticky as i was expecting. Found it easy to peel off afterwards, though having checked it again this morning it does seem to have grabbed a lot more now.
Once again thanks for the tips
Paul
-
Paul youre right, It didn`t strike me immediately as being really sticky and it does take time to stick properly to the curtain material.
As long as you have properly cleaned the curtain and left absolutely zero residue, then it`ll be fine.
Don`t be tempted to go picking at edges to “see how well it`s stuck”. Just leave it to stand 24 hours (for extra safety) and then release to customer.
Good luck.
Rod
-
Paul, the reason it sticks better after being down for a while, is that the glue is formulated with the expectation of placisers migrating from the banner material thru the glue to the vinyl.
As this migration happens, the glue gets stronger. That is the basic difference between banner vinyl and ‘normal’ vinyl.
The only other tip apart from what the others have said, is to heat the vinyl up when you have finished.
This will speed up the migration and it will be stronger adhesion as a result.
Cheers
Shane -
Just my 2 cents. When we first used APA truck film we were advised to use a meths/water mix to apply it, “Helps with adhesion” and also our supplier would not guarantee it staying on a curtain that was over 2 years old due to the lack of plasticizers in the curtain.
This was all about 3 years ago so the adhesive may have been modified by now.
Cheers
Johnny. -
like has been said clean down with meths…
watch for fitting tempretures. if it is humid you will have a tough time appling. try get a well shaded or in some sort of hanger. the cold helps prevent instant adhesion. -
Cheers guys, i’m just heading off to the job now, will be taking some meths and ipa with me. job has to be done outside i’m afraid, at least its not raining- yet 😮
Log in to reply.