Dry apply etched vinyl

[Steve Goddard]

I’ve just done one dry using mactac frosted etch, a real nightmare of a design but it didn’t weed too badly and went on fine.

If it’s any help I got it from the vinyl corporation

[Bob Scullion]

Thanks for the reply Steve

[David Rogers]

If it’s really, really bad – apply the whole lot and weed on the glass. Takes a bit longer, but you’ll not lose any detail.

Dave

[John Childs]

I didn’t take a lot of notice but, when in Doro this morning, I glimpsed out of the corner of my eye something about dry apply etch.

Might be worth giving them a call.

[Richard Urquhart]

APA do a bubble free version, not that I have used it.

[Gill Harrison]

Hi Bob

One tip for weeding very complex etch is to lay the cut vinyl over a dark surface i.e. over a length of uncut black vinyl as it helps you to make out where it’s cut and not. Not so great if the etch has a paper liner rather than a clear synthetic one but always worth a try.
Then once weeded and pre masked use an ink pad or better still a childs thick crayon turned on its side to give a rubbing of the image which will help when fitting………..not too sure if that makes much sense 😕 Hope so :lol1:

Gill

[Bob Scullion]

Thanks again for all the replies.

The main problem I have is the actual weeding process, have tried adjusting blade pressure etc but doesnt make much difference.

I just find the material awkward to weed intricate or small graphics and I am sure someone posted previously about a better product for weeding etc.

Thanks again

Bob

[Martin Pearson]

Bob, I think some etch films can feel a lot more brittle than a normal vinyl which doesn’t help with the weeding process. I always try to make sure it is nice and warm where I am weeding which I find helps.

[Shane Drew]

quote Gill Harrison:

Hi Bob

One tip for weeding very complex etch is to lay the cut vinyl over a dark surface i.e. over a length of uncut black vinyl as it helps you to make out where it’s cut and not. Not so great if the etch has a paper liner rather than a clear synthetic one but always worth a try.
Then once weeded and pre masked use an ink pad or better still a childs thick crayon turned on its side to give a rubbing of the image which will help when fitting………..not too sure if that makes much sense 😕 Hope so :lol1:

Gill

good advice there Gill 🙂 Thanks

[Luke s Bremner]

I have used the bubble free a few times, I really dont like it. For applying when you do it wet you need to leave it for a day before you can get the ap-tape off. If you do it dry you will mess it up for sure. It is very brittle you cant pull it up once it tacks to the glass when dry applying.

Best way to get the ap-tape off after applying is to spray with mr muscle window cleaner and rub it in. The ap=tape will just about fall off.

[Alan Drury]

I always increase pressure and slow the plotter down – seems to weed alot easier. I’ll always try to fit dry but if I chicken out I do wet, not with water though. I used APA application fluid and that seems to work fairly well.
Alan D

[Gareth Hankinson]

Apologies for late submission to this post regarding frosted / etched vinyl.

We have just completed a job in Coca Cola HQ in Hammersmith London using the bubble free Mactac frosted vinyl.

In the past we have always applied etched and frosted wet but we were promised that the bubble free stuff would go on fine no problem, we also printed onto it using ecosol max inks and a large contour cut circle was taken out of it, we used application tape medium tac and the whole job went on a dream and halved the days work load by not putting it on wet. It even gave us plenty of attempts to remove and replace unlike normal frosted / etched where it would be game over if you want to reposition it.

All in all ive turned now and will always use a bubble free etched / frosted vinyl DRY and would not hesitate in recommending or using Mactac in the future.

Ive attached a few pics (sorry if wrong forum) to show you all the finished job which took 1hr 30mins to complete (we also used translucent red hexis vinyl on the job)

Cheers

Gareth
[/url]

[Gareth Hankinson]

Photos here

https://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … 288#366288

[Derek Heron]

gareth

All in all ive turned now 🙄

bit extreme just for a bit of vinyl
happy that it went ok
job looks really good

derek

[Robert Lambie]

I think there are a few suppliers now offering the option bubble free adhesive etch films. Oracal, Mactac and i’m sure 3M to name just a few…

i never use wet apply for anything…

I am not sure the problem you are having with the oracal etch mate… i use it allot and have no problems at all with it. ide suggest a new blade in your cutter and a few cut tests before proceeding.

I did a few windows in oracal etch last tuesday morning. almost 8ft high by a metre wide, fitted them in warm offices, south facing in direct sunshine. not normally something ide advise but as the company had important visitors coming in a matter of hours i hadn’t a choice but to try. all i can say is i didnt have any problem at all… windows looked great when done. done bone dry in very warm conditions using the oracal etch. (not the bubble free type i may add)

a tip for weeding etch if you have problems seeing the cut lines.
lay the cut job on your table.
take tissue paper and tip some coloured chalk into the tissue and then fold the tissue in on itself to form a sort of little parcel/pouch.
just gently pounce/dab/wipe over the vinyl and you will see the chalk catches in all the paths traveled by the cutter blade, making the weeding very easy to see.
before weeding, give it a wipe over with a dry clean tissue to get rid of any residue of the chalk.
remember, very little chalk is needed.

.

[Luke s Bremner]

I used the Ritrama bubble free, by the sounds of it the Mac tac is totally different to the Ritrama.

[Stuart Miller]

quote Luke s Bremner:

I used the Ritrama bubble free, by the sounds of it the Mac tac is totally different to the Ritrama.

Just been told by Vinyl Corporation that they have stopped stocking Mac Tac bubble free as it didn’t adhere very well and they had problems.
This may be a problem in areas of high condensation?

Anybody come accross this.

Gareth, job looks good but have you used it on a job where there is intricate weeding and small points of vinyl which have to stick?

APS also say they have stopped stocking the Mac Tac bubble free as it was not popular, they now use an unbranded cheaper version which they say is better,
(whether that means better for them because its cheaper and sells more or a better product on the window is ???)

[Luke s Bremner]

I would ask for a sample before you use it stuart, like they said it is from a no name supplier it could be any thing, you dont know what will happen if you were to use it. I like using no name brand cheaper materials but you need to test them out first.

[Ezekiel Ikhinmiwn]

Another very insightful thread thanks all this is great stuff!!!