-
Fitting vinyl above van windscreen advice needed.
Got two jobs in that require fitting graphics above the cabs of two vans.
Not got the faintest idea how to approach this.
Also one of the jobs is a two colour vinyl job, red/grey which needs layering up. Am I best layering up on my bench, or fit wet on the vehicle? The text and stripes are aprox 3m long?
-
6 Replies
-
There are a couple of ways to do this mate. the following being the less anal way… i say that because the other way is to create a curved panel in the shape of the windscreen. easy enough done but takes longer, and uses a bit more vinyl. or you could create an actual kit, which is longer and wastes more vinyl again. ide only recomend that for fleet installs.
anyway… the easy way.
come down approx 7- 8 inches from either end of the windscreen.
this will mean the middle section is about 5 inches down.
[best checking how deep they want it and charge accordingly and cover your off-cut waste]leave an over lap both sides and also at the top.
once applied, trim round top and sides next to rubber seal.apply the text "after" the panel has been applied. using the base line of the panel as your level guide.
Of course i will push you to do it dry. but do it the way you will get the job done. if aided application is an important factor for you ide look at air-release vinyl systems before i would suggest wet application.
at the end of the day, use the method above you wish, just remember these are quick budget type jobs, so make sure you do whats easiest and quickest for you.
Attachments:
-
quote Robert Lambie:There are a couple of ways to do this mate. the following being the less anal way… i say that because the other way is to create a curved panel in the shape of the windscreen. easy enough done but takes longer, and uses a bit more vinyl. or you could create an actual kit, which is longer and wastes more vinyl again. ide only recomend that for fleet installs.anyway… the easy way.
come down approx 7- 8 inches from either end of the windscreen.
this will mean the middle section is about 5 inches down.
[best checking how deep they want it and charge accordingly and cover your off-cut waste]leave an over lap both sides and also at the top.
once applied, trim round top and sides next to rubber seal.apply the text “after” the panel has been applied. using the base line of the panel as your level guide.
Of course i will push you to do it dry. but do it the way you will get the job done. if aided application is an important factor for you ide look at air-release vinyl systems before i would suggest wet application.
at the end of the day, use the method above you wish, just remember these are quick budget type jobs, so make sure you do whats easiest and quickest for you.
I measure the width of the panel. Run tape from the top left to the top right of the rubber seal. Measure the distance from the tape to the top of the rubber in the middle of the panel. Then arc my graphic in illustrator accordinly. The time you spend measuring you save on having to cut the graphic on the window.
-
David, are you talking about the bulkhead above the windscreen? If so use 2 a frames as a trestle.
If you can layer up on bench it would be best as long as the vinyl is not overlapped.
You might also want to read the other threads about vinyl coming off in the cold weather which is possibly due to screen wash attacking the vinyl -
Sorry I probably didn’t explain myself properly but still some very good advice.
Yes the vinyl is going on the panel/bulkhead above the windscreen not on the windscreen.
I will post a pic tomorrow of the layered vinyl. Its a very fine script font, red over grey, to appear like a drop shadow.
It’s going to be a 2man job install cos we only have a few hours to do it in before the vans out again!
-
quote Robert Lambie:the other way is to create a curved panel in the shape of the windscreen. easy enough done but takes longer, and uses a bit more vinyl. or you could create an actual kit, which is longer and wastes more vinyl again. ide only recommend that for fleet installs.
i am guessing this is along the lines of what you are explaining Jason. I may be picking you up wrong, but the thing is mate, even arc’ing the panel will not fit 100% because of the rubber isnt a true arc due to its rubber seal, so unless there is a gap left, trimming may still be required along the top.
even if that works perfect, the ends at each corner are on a radius, so again will need trimming to suit.
that’s why i mention creating a template which is doable if a small compensation gap is left, but time-wise its labouring and only really worth doing if you have multiples of same and will cut back fitting time over a number of vehicles.
sorry if i have misinterpreted what you are saying, Jason…Chris, that’s what i do to fit them too mate. trestle’sand catwalk spanning the windscreen.
-
This is the text that need’s layering up.
Not sure whether I am best to layer it up on the bench and install as one piece or to fit it as two pieces on the van.
Attachments:
Log in to reply.