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cannot get vinyl into the recesses on a van?
hi I have done this a fe wtimes now with no real problems. But i had a customer come back with a van today and showed me what has happened, he didnt mind and even offered to fix the problem himself. But i wanted to know what i have done wrong. I have heated the vinyl into the recesses in the van, (VW transporter) they are quite shallow, it was two layers. text, bottom layer black went in fine, hasnt popped up. but the top layer of orange has popped out of the recess, im guessing as it has shrunk, I have a used Hexis Suptac for the black, and Ecotac for the top layer. I have switched all my vinyl to suptac now which is a better vinyl. but im wondering if the orange has popped because it is a cheaper vinyl. dont want to use cast unless it is a very large area going through a recess.
hope u can help??? -
10 Replies
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Matt did you fit the vinyl already layered or separately ? if seperate could you have forgotten to heat in the orange ? but then if the orange was a cheaper vinyl it may be short life and easy removal so lower tac !! How long ago did you fit it ?
Lynn
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It was fitted about 3 weeks ago. It was layered up onthe van, i definitely heated it in, you can see some bits still in there, but some of it popped out. i just stretched across the gap when fitting, then went bakc over, heated and stretched it into the recess. this is correct yes?
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Did you remember to ‘stabilise’ the vinyl once it’s in the recess by warming it up again after you finished. This is a pretty important step – just heating in into the recess isn’t normally enough, you have to warm it when it’s stuck.
Dave
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Matt, didyou need to stretch it in? I find "working" it in more reliable if its do-able. Dont no hexis but eco tac sounds like cheap calendered? correct me if its not, but bottom of the range vinyls just wont stay in recesses when stretched.
Peter
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quote Peter Normington:Dont no hexis but eco tac sounds like cheap calendered? correct me if its not, but bottom of the range vinyls just wont stay in recesses when stretched.
Peter
Not that I use it, but Hexis say it’s a 3-5 yr calendared which I personally feel is not suitable for vehicles. I wouldn’t even stock 3-5year, just not worth the hassle.
The Supatac however has a 6 – 10 year so is sold as a quality product.
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we never stock "economy" vinyl either for the extra few pence just use the good stuff .
Lynn
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Yeah as I said I have changed my vinyls now and i am using all suptac range, but when i started i had some ecotac, ie the orange, and i still had it left in stock, so i thought id use it up, well i have learnt a valuable lesson, thanks for your help guys, glad it happened on a friendly customers van, and he is going to slit the recess bits and then join then using some vinyl. that should do the trick i hope. Thanks for your help guys.
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Matt,
My understanding of the manufacturing processes for calendered vinyl is that it will ALWAYS try to return to its original shape ie; flat. no amount of heating or manipulating will stop this process, it may slow it but not stop it.
Cast material, because it is produced using a different process, does not have this ‘memory’ and so will conform to a shape indefinitely.
My limited experience is that even gently pushing calendered material into a concave recess ie; no stretching, will not last for much over 6 months before the vinyl starts to detach itself.
Steve[/u]
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I always cut & join in the recess. Takes a little longer to fit, but never pops out & if done well its hard to see the join.
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quote Wardie:I always cut & join in the recess. Takes a little longer to fit, but never pops out & if done well its hard to see the join.
Not Knocking your method, but the extra cost of a good quality vinyl pays for its self without the extra work of cutting and patching?
Peter
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