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Can you wet apply bubble free?
Good morning
Before you all start raising eyebrows and tutting :lol1: let me please explain.
It is for a customer over a long distance so we are unable to apply it for them.
It is a printed and laminated panel 2.4m x 1.35m, and we thought we would use bubble free to assist the customer in applying to a well varnished sliding door (which I believe is removable so can lay flat).
We have given instructions for a centre hinge application and to use two helpers to hold the vinyl off while the third squeegees but now I am concerned that, not having done it before, things might go downhill rapidly.
Hence my latest thinking of floating it on with wet soapy stuff, but can it be done wet with bubble free (perhaps the liquid will get ‘stuck’ in the air channels)?
John
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10 Replies
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I think you already know the answer to this!
No – the purpose of bubble free is to make the need for ever wet applying obsolete. And yes – the water will remain in the air release channels and make fitting MORE of a pain!
If they must wet apply – do it in standard vinyl.
DAve
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John, as to the original question I have no idea sorry but David’s answer seems to make a lot of sense. Reason for post was to maybe suggest you change the instructions you are providing slightly. With two people supporting the vinyl you may cause more problems than you would with just one.
Not sure how you have written the explanation but if you have 2 people at the same end then they are going to have more trouble getting the tension right and may fight against each other causing it to twist. If you have one at each end then you risk them pulling the centre hinge off the substrate. I know it may be easy for the likes of you and me but as this is for people who have no experience of fitting vinyl the less people involved the better :lol1:
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Just a follow on from Martins suggestion – perhaps you could recommend identical twins hold the vinyl at the same end. Identical twins have more empathy with each other then ordinary people so maybe they would do a better job working the vinyl together…
..I’ve taken this too far haven’t I 😕
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Not quite as far as I thought you were going to take it when I first read Identical Twins Phill :lol1: :lol1:
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Thank you both for the replies; yes bubble free dry apply it is then, not printing and laminating again with ordinary, it was wonderful feeling a few days ago as the prints were flying through the laminator perfectly, gloss laminations coming out the other end until I got that awful realisation feeling come over me, yep looked at job sheet and in big letters for this job, ‘MATT LAMINATION ‘. If I stay quiet and good for a while boss might not take it off my wages or force me to eat the useless gloss one (even tried to matt laminate the glossed one but in my hurry to hide the mistake the laminator decided to crease it!
Where was I? oh yes, your point taken Martin, but difficult time is after removal of baking paper and flipping over, remember it’s over four foot wide, surely two people taking time here if no experience?
Or perhaps better to apply vertically with a hinge at about 6 ins (or even right at top) and a helper holding the unpeeled part flat to the door so it doesn’t bow?
John
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John I’m not a particularly big person and I don’t think it is that wide. Pick one end of the graphic up by yourself by the corners and you will see what I mean. Plus if it’s hinged in the centre or there abouts it isn’t going to be miles long so not really to much for one person.
I would leave it the way it is rather than try and change to a hinge at the top or at one end, the longer the length they have to apply the more chance of it running off.
Two people would probably be OK but I just thought it may be easier with just one. -
I’d also think a wet app might screw up the varnish underneath.
Love….Jill -
Points taken again, I suppose the squeegy person can help the other to get the sticky length into position at base of the door.
Thanks again folksJohn
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John, i’m not trying to tell you how to write the application guide, if you think it would work better with two people holding it then write it that way. I was just offering an alternative option, sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn’t lol.
I don’t have any experience with mail order graphics so it was just a thought.
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Understand fully Martin, we normally don’t do mail order sales but we do a lot of work for a photographer and an interior designer who both move around in high circles so often don’t think of the practicalities when they are earning so much; we earn well from them I am told but in this instance the job is over 200 miles away and the customer said they would fit themselves.
Apart from fitting instructions I shall mention that it might be a good idea to source a local sign company to fit it.
John
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