Help & Advice needed wrapping a Glass?

[Jon Marshall]

Use the correct material. Use a bigger piece of material. Use heat

[Clive.Griffiths]

Thanks for the reply Jon, whats the proper material called? Also whats the best way to align text or graphics?

[Martin Pearson]

You need a decent quality cast vinyl or a wrap vinyl for something like that. lots of different ways to align text & graphics ranging from measuring to using registration marks, all depends on the job itself.

[Ewan Chrystal]

Pretty sure I’d struggle with something like that after doing this for 18months. I’d say practice before taking on a paid job like that and maybe get yourself on a training course. Its certainly not as easy as it looks when watching experts.

[Robert Lambie]

You are trying to wrap using application tape. Application tape does not stretch.

Not that any should be used in this instance, but the application tape that you have used is the worst of the two types of app tape available. this is because its a plastic ribbed tape and will crease easier on the rib pattern and will also have a stiffer feel too it, making any sort of conforming more difficult.

You cannot wrap the exact size of vinyl onto a convex shape. it will distort and may crease when conforming.

You need a larger piece of vinyl to apply, then trim to size once in place.

You need a decent Calender or use Cast vinyl to prevent shrinkage, curl-back of the media if over stretched in any area.

clean surface using Isopropyl alcohol or meths.

Once in place, Apply heat and rub firm with a felt squeegee around the edge to prevent pull-back.
I wouldn’t Post heat to 100 degrees as are your likely to crack the glass. to be honest it wont need it if applied correct. i.e. little or zero stretch.

using a bubble free / air escape type media will "help you" too.

practice makes perfect and to be brutally honest, this should be applied in about 1 minute, trimmed and onto the next.

[Simon Worrall]

Clive.

1. Get a piece of 3M 1080 or equivalent twice the size in both directions

Don’t use app tape

2 Heat it up and pre stretch it to 20% bigger in the up – down direction. Stick one edge to a car door frame or something to accomplish this

3. With heat it will shrink itself into the curve of the glass without wrinkles if you control it right.

4. Cut it to size with a stainless steel blade which wont mark the glass

Simon.

[Robert Lambie]

Hi Simon

I will be doing a quick Blog on pre-stretching wrapping film, so wont go into it all just now. but i do not believe pre-stretching to be the best method for convex curved applications.
I have asked various people in the industry with many years wrapping experience that actually use it and i have yet to be given a credible answer to my questions. "I have no doubt reverse shrinking works", as they are simply relaxing the media when hitting it with heat. but it is fraught with danger and there is a simpler and safer way to achieve same. there are also an array of vinyl’s and instances where it could/should not be used.

as for the glass, there really shouldn’t be much if any stretch needed here, just an over sized bit of vinyl worked with the heat of your finger/thumb into shape. followed by some heat to promote adhesion.

[Simon Worrall]

Dont know why you think that Rob. I pre stretch everything. its so much easier and never lifts. He could go all the way round the back of this wine glass and it would not lift or creep back.

[Robert Lambie]

Although I have 25 years under my belt applying vinyl’s, I certainly do not have all the answers, nor am i the best wrapper by any means, but my aim in wrapping is to find the best "generic method" of application that can be applied to almost any media. this one just doesn’t tick all the boxes for me. I question people on this not to try and be a smart ar$e, but because i want to know answers to concerns i have on it. if they are right and i am wrong, then great, ill take it on board and use it time and time again.
Most use it because i think they see the big names in wrapping doing same at shows and the like so assume its the best. well its some of the big names i have asked… 😀
As i say, reverse stretching is nothing more than relaxing the media of tension. I do this too i just don’t stretch the hell out of the media prior to achieve it.

anyway mate, think we are taking this "glass" thread way off topic now. :lol1:

[Clive.Griffiths]

Thanks all.

[Simon Worrall]

Absolutely Rob the stretching can be done as you go, but I find it more controllable in many cases to put the stretch in (or some of it, anyway) before you apply.
We should certainly have a thread on this topic, as it is well worth a discussion.
😀

[Clive.Griffiths]

Thanks all for your input. Perhaps I should have explained a bit better, the vinyl is used as a stencil to allow me to grit blast the glass and not a permanent fixture. How do I prevent vinyl sticking to the backing if I don’t use app tape?