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Apply Vinyl to Large Outside Window
I have printed and trimmed to size 12 sheets of vinyl, each measuring 1200 mm x 700mm for application to the outside of a shop window. I tried to apply the first graphic panel but found the vinyl very "stretchy" so it was changing shape. Can somebody suggest what I can do to the graphic panels to make application easier?
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19 Replies
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are you using application tape? Otherwise the warmer it is the more likely it is to stretch.
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No. If I use application tape, will it stop the vinyl stretching and will it be easier to apply?
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Yes.
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I think I would put these on wet without application tape using a felt squeegee to avoid marking.
Soak the window with water, put the face of the print on to the glass ( the water will make it hold.
Peel off the backing paper. Soak the glue side with water. Wet your hands, lift the print off the glass, turn around and flop on to the glass in the right place. Squeegee out from the centre.
Use a bit of washing up liquid in the water to help slide etc. -
As peter said – this is also my preferred method.
I NEVER use application tape unless it’s to hold cut parts together.
Dave
ps. But all my window prints are laminated so a bit more rigid and ‘stretch resistant’.
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App tape all the way.
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I would normally laminate this kind of thing and not use app tape, but if unlaminated then use tape.
Have the prints off-gassed and dried properly? They shouldn’t be overly stretchy!
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Hey Gavin,
I’ve done large laminate prints out doors. If its a hot day it doesn’t matter if its laminated or not any tension on the sheet will stretch it with the heat.
The only way I found around it is to app tape it.
If the heat from the sun isn’t distorting the sheet then you shouldn’t have a problem with stretching.
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Hi Jason
quote :I’ve done large laminate prints out doors. If its a hot day it doesn’t matter if its laminated or not any tension on the sheet will stretch it with the heat.your just winding us up right 😉 hot day – stretching in the heat – oh if only we had such problems
all the above solutions will work here
John
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quote :If the heat from the sun isn’t distorting the sheet
if only! 😀
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There is a product called a Megaroller which comes in different sizes developed by a guy who had the same problems , it will be on sale here very soon, i have tried it and applied a similar size vinyl sheet dry in about 30 seconds.
check out either Megacom or megaroller on google.
I will have one in a week or so and will show Robert he can do a video link , i know how he loves to be on camera !!
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Cameron this thing? http://www.megaroller.dk/
The English site isnt working at the moment.
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That looks an awesome piece of kit. Save you alot of time
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quote Jason Xuereb:Cameron this thing? http://www.megaroller.dk/The English site isnt working at the moment.
wow 😮 that looks the bizz, surely it’s not that easy…is it 😕
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Wonder how it goes when you need to panel up sheets.
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not so sure about that, leveling by eye 😮 and it’s easy to apply digi prints to glass and would not take that much longer to do taking in to account the loading of the graphic etc.
but does look cleverly made.
Warren
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not so sure that’d work so well if you had to butt up to window edges etc, you’d always run the risk of bubbles in the areas where the roller cannot fit, though i guess i’d need to see it work to make proper judgement.
did a big Job with Rich urqhart today, flood coating 9 big windows (approx 50m of 1220 vinyl) and the only way was wet, soak window, soak graphic, lay up and squeegee, much like etch vinyl would be done on such big panels, not sure that machine would save much time really.
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Have you guys seen the Big Squeegees?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ndSmuZzBsQ
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid … 0886593967
It may do what you need at at a fraction of the cost (im guessing) of the megaroller.
I have a few of the Big Squeegees and I highly recommend then. If you have any questions, call Dale (the inventor) a great guy.
He is contactable dale@bigsqueegee.com
If you email him tell him Ian or "lunatic Taskbar" sent yer.
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O Lol winding you up… 😀
For me…Dry…Dry…Dry!!! unless it’s an inside fit reversed with a white laminate. Then definitely wet 😀
Got up to 35 degrees the other day…God I love it HOT!
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