-
Friday afternoon truck wrap.
well… we had a bit of a tight deadline today to say the least today.
44ft artic lorry and cab unit. the truck was supposed to be at the depot for 12noon but arrived around 3pm… because this was being fitted outside we couldnt knock back getting started because we have had rain all week and today the sun was splitting the trees. anyway, once it arrived it had to be "reloaded with milk before we even got started" then we had to clean it… this, at the best of times isnt good but a Friday afternoon??? 😕
anyway, we got started around 3.45 and called it a day just before 6pm, but still have one side to complete on monday.
we got the cab unit done first which was mostly cut vinyl, then moved onto the trailer.
the panels were fitted by andrew and i, while david did his bit as "go-for".. i.e. helping when needed and getting next panel in order, moving tressles, cleaning etc combined we get more done quicker.
the panels actually only take about "two minutes" to apply but aligning and taping into place, cleaning and moving as we go along is what takes all the time up.
although not in direct sun direction it was damn hot and the vinyl stuck like crazy. as you can guess the whole thing is fitted DRY. 😀the design is not ours and i dont particularly like it… but the customer is paying the bill, so we can only do so much.
the vinyl used is oracal 5-7 year digital and equivelant laminate is used.the whole fitting was filmed for a demo that will be loaded shortly after the two i am editing at the moment get loaded. first one being 20ft x 10ft flexiface signs.
anyway… here are a couple of pictures.
Attachments:
-
18 Replies
-
Very nice job Rob. You must have been sweating your nuts off to get it done that quick. That’s the kinda work I want to get into! 😉
-
Nice job Robert
we did one on Wednesday, 43ft fridge unit, not that hard once you get going, we did it off ladders, legs were aching at night, must be getting old!
well done -
Looking forward to the video Rob,
I often take on "2 minute jobs" 😉Peter
-
looks good ……………. was that the one you left to do 2 weeks ago and couldn’t get it done?
-
sweating i was Karl… it got very warm. cold coke on hand from machine in depot helped. 😀
Ian, ladders? i really wouldnt use ladders for anything these days mate, not practical for this sorta thing and too risky for H&S issues. 😕
fitting wraps like this does have a straight forward process but one that must be kept to 100% or stand to run off over the length, loosing most of a side. do you fit all wraps wet or dry mate?Marcella i think the ones you maybe thinking about were the 2 box trucks in broxburn area… they were wraps too but not as big as this one. we have another two of these to do in next week or so… thank god its coming to the end of the contract, fleet work does get very boring.
peter, i am hoping the footage we got today coupled with the stuff we do on monday will be good. it makes tutorials like this very worth while. as it really helps explain thing so much better. today we had the camera shooting from a tripod doing the complete side. monday will show more close up stuff as i will have more time on my hands. (i hope :-?)
-
Looks pretty good to me Robert, I take it the cab is just the usual company name and contact details.
-
I am sure Robbie was licking the sides of that trailer for refreshment after carring that tressle…. oh nice job mate… looks a good finish and stands out well.
-
yes martin, doors are just cut vinyl logo and legal details.
the headboard/spoiler is large version of the logo and the bonnet is digital printed and wrapped. (hardly worth calling it wrapping though) 😀Dave, i think you always get a nice finish when the prints on a truck are laminated. 9/10 sign firms will not bother advising to help keep the price low in order to get the work. the flip side is, we encourage it, educating the customer into how lamination will prolong their investment for years to come wins every time. if they grumble, its dead easy to say you will safe ex-amount by loosing the lamination, and let them decide. at least you have covered yourself if anything begins to fade down the line.
-
everything is laminated now… i have a 3 year test on our van wrap without lamination and yes it is faded around where the hands go to slam the back door of a van. So regardless of what printer it is, it is advisable to laminate.
-
quote Dave Rowland:everything is laminated now… i have a 3 year test on our van wrap without lamination and yes it is faded around where the hands go to slam the back door of a van. So regardless of what printer it is, it is advisable to laminate.Good job Rob. Bit big for a one man band like me, but I’ve done smaller removal type vans by myself.
I agree with the thought on lamination too, I actually insist on it in truth.
I don’t always win, did a quote last year and was beaten on price.
Got called back yesterday to re quote as they are not happy with the job after about 18 months.
The other guy didn’t laminate any prints, and they have faded badly. I took a photo of it, and will use it as an example of why you should laminate these things.
I’ll been asked to quote again, this time they insist it is to be laminated though 😕
-
Nice job Rob, especially in the timescale, but…….
It’s not wrapping is it. It’s wallpapering! 😀
One thought though, how do those wonderful folk at the health and safety look on trestles? I would have thought that the lack of a safety rail might give them palpitations.
-
We use ladders all the time, no problems, although it wasn’t a wrap, it was cut text full length, 900mm high text and some graphics, we find ladders a lot quicker and easier to use, keeps you fit!
-
quote John Childs:Nice job Rob, especially in the timescale, but…….
It’s not wrapping is it. It’s wallpapering! 😀
One thought though, how do those wonderful folk at the health and safety look on trestles? I would have thought that the lack of a safety rail might give them palpitations.:lol1: very true john, i guess in some ways it is mate.
I normally refer to something as a vehicle wrap when we the sign makers/vinyl applicators create and apply a new skin to all visible areas of a vehicle, in effect wrapping it. however, i know most think of it as manipulating the vinyl into all contours and recesses of a vehicle. we don’t use a heat gun when wrapping a present or sweetie, do we? :lol1: :lol1: (just pulling your leg mate, i do agree with you)
"hanging as wallpaper?" well… in all honesty i dont look it like that. yes the concept is very similar but anyone can do it wet once shown a few times. even a painter and decorator for that matter. :lol1: :lol1: now we need to watch our back as the P&D Crews move in on our patch. :lol1: :lol1: that said, maybe make a better job than some ive seen? :lol1: :lol1:as for the trestles, they are 100% fine H&S wise but as you have pointed out, a rail is advised, i think…
Ian, you cheat mate… :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: i thought you meant you where completely covering with vinyl mate. yeh text etc is easy done, tape into position slit it up and apply in bits. job done. different story applying each side with 11no. 52" wide by 109" deep digital prints, perfectly aligned in a roasting hot day dry. 😕 :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
as for ladders, i did use them in the past. but far too risky and awkward to work with mate. in all honesty, you can walk back and forward, up and down moving along as you work on trestles. very easy… i think it would be a very difficult task applying what i have off of a set of ladders. maybe not, but i honestly wouldn’t give it a go mate.shane, dave, i agree guys, its always the best way to go….
a, you know there are no come backs from the job.
b, your job has a better glossy finish.
c, you make more money from the same job.
d, the customer gets a much longer life from his investment.
makes sense i think… as has been said, if they dont want it they dont get it… 😀 -
wrapped em as well of ladders, lot safer than wobbly trestles, but will agree not much fun dry full sun, still nice job, last wrap we did the company supplied the graphics and not one lined up, in length or colour, joe bloggs would never know but if you look close what a mess, used a scaffolding tower on castor’s once which was OK but still prefer ladders. Did a football stadium roof once off a rope and harness, that was fun! drilling into panels with nothing to push against
-
quote Ian Bingham:wrapped em as well of ladders, lot safer than wobbly trestles
Ian, i mean this in no way bad or disrespectful mate… but how can you say that? A ladder is in no way practical for this sort of work.
it is also enforced by H&S that there be extesion legs whenever used to prevent slippage. if not, a second man is supposed to be at the bottom.i dont know, maybe we are getting our wires crossed mate, but i honestly cannot see how a ladder can be safer/more practical than a tressles and catwalk. 😕 as for wobbley tressles… mine arent! 😀
-
I have to agree with Rob regarding Tressles. I’d be lost without mine, & I can’t see how you’d be able to lean in enough off a ladder to fit those artic trailer panels, unless you have very long arms 😮
Finished job is very effective Rob, but don’t you just hate having to finish a job half way through?
Gwaredd.
-
Rob
maybe I’m cheating here but there is more than one of us doing it, 3 or 4 at times, like you said takes only a few mins to lay a panel, we do the jobs inside with feet supports on all ladders, and lets face it its only 10 ft or so off the ground, not exactly sky scrapers, heavy duty ladders also help, not home diy ones, had hse in to check, he sees no problem
ian -
Great work cant wait to one day do a job like this.
Log in to reply.
