Home Brew Application Fluid

[Marekdlux]

I’ve never attempted a home brew even though I have seen some posts about them. (Not sure if I saw them here)
I used Rapid Tac, along with the other products made by that company. I don’t see any reason to use anything different IMO.
I don’t do many wet applications though, I usually just use it to clean substrates.
-Marek

[steve geary]

thanks for the input marek…
I haven’t tried rapic tac, although i use rapid remover.

For a Gallon, splash is $10.75 – rapic tac is $26.00, Someday I might splurge and try it, but i wonder if it’s that much better. Anyone ever use both and have an opinion?

I’m doing more dry than ever, but i still have a need for wet at this point, and i’ve been burning through the fluid lately.

[Marekdlux]

Rapid Remover is good, but nasty stuff. I only use it if I absolutely have to. I use some 3M citrus based adhesive remover for deeper cleaning.
-Marek

[Bryan Cabrera]

quote Marekdlux:

I don’t do many wet applications though, I usually just use it to clean substrates.
-Marek

Marek
Is there an advantage to using Rapid Tac to clean vs. using Denatured Alcohol (meths) which I believe is half the price?

[Marekdlux]

You don’t get as high using it. 😀
I don’t think there is to tell you the truth. I am just so used to using it now that I grab it first.
Also, working for the company that I do our costs are not much of an issue on something like cleaning solution.
-Marek

[Bryan Cabrera]

quote Marekdlux:

You don’t get as high using it. 😀
-Marek

In that case I will stick to the alcohol! :lol1:

[Hugh Potter]

i did try the free samples that rapid tac send out, but i think the only one i’ll stick with for now is the rapid remover, nasty stuff as you say Marek !

i cant recall the one i use right now, its about £14 for 2.5ltrs and i feel is better than the rapid tac i used,

imho

[Iain Gordon]

if i am applying wet i just use water with a few drops of baby shampoo in it. I figure if baby shampoo is mild enough for babies then it aint gonna do any harm to vinyl.

For cleaning i use a solution that my mate gets from his work, (an industrial printers ). Its clear and smells like meths. i then add a bout 10% of normal pink meths just to add a bit of colour so i know what it is.

As yet i havn’t had to strip any vinyl, but when i do i guess i’ll be using the Tar & Glue remover that has been mentioned before.

Iain

[Marcella Ross]

Me too Iain, water with a tad of baby shampoo or even fairy liquid! Works fine, not had any problems. Not that I apply with fluid very often, it’s mainly dry. Once again, glue and tar remover or if I’m stuck a little petrol on a cloth for removing glue!

[steve geary]

thanks for the replies…. I’ll experiment ! :thumbsup:

[Andy Gorman]

I’ve heard a recipe, though I’ve never tried it. Water, couple of drops of cheap washing up liquid (cheap stuff doesn’t have as many perfumes etc in it) and a splash of isopropyl alcohol. I guess the alcohol helps it to dry out a bit quicker. I find that application fluid is better for cleaning greasy vehicles as it seems to cut through the gunge better than meths.

I used one once that smelled like jam sponge, nice. Can’t remember who made it but it was very good.

[Robert Lambie]

the ones i know of have all been mentioned, though i remember my dad years back would use meths and water.

as you know im 100% dry applicator, but someone at rapid tac sent me some rapid tac 2. i did a wee test with it. one plain water, one dry and one with rapid-tac. i was surprised just how well the rapid tac allowed the vinyl to bite onto the surface, while the water did nothing at all. just slid the vinyl off 😕

(for the record, that test was on painted aluminium and completely flat. dont use on an curved surfaces if it can be helped) 😀

steve, if you call rapid tac or go onto their site mate you can request free sample bottles

[steve geary]

Thanks for the rapid tac tip Robert, I’ll do that..
I think of you when I’m practicing my dry application… Sometimes it’s a little frustrating, but going well. I guess in time I’ll look back at learning this and view it like when i was just starting out.
I have the dry app. down on banners and coroplast very well. I started doing most of the first layeres on vehicles dry also.

Last week i did a storefront (windows) dry. One color (yellow) – in pieces of about 22″ high by 3 ft. It went well, but got bubbles here and there. They were acceptable with this customer. I know him well and explained i was experimenting and he was saving money over the time of wet application with no defects. The letters were viewed at a minum distance of 50 ft. – across a small stream, so you couldn’t see the defects at all.
Do you guys ever leave bubbles in your work?

[Robert Lambie]

quote steve geary:

I think of you when I’m practicing my dry application…

shucks steve 😳 , did you have to say that in front of everyone? :blush:

seriously though, i think that’s great, it takes time like everything else, building your confidence is a big factor.

bubbles…
i think everyone gets a bubble or bubbles on occasion. i think bubbles when starting out are a bit different to a bubble that i would get today. when starting out, you will tend to get lots of tiny bubbles which are very difficult to pop. the type i get are more like a single blister or a little series of blisters. these are normally “only” caused by me missing an overlapping swipe with my squeegee, due to trying to apply too fast.
blisters are easy to get rid of and i don’t fear having them.
on the other hand, my worst fear is a crease. not because i cant lift it and lay it back done perfect, just that a crease tends to look crap even when fixed. sorta stands out on a nice shiny application. (maybe I’m being picky though)
if you do get bubble. try bursting with a pin rather than a knife blade as the blade can sometimes cause an elongated hole.

[steve geary]

Yeah, I guess i should have kept that between You and Me 😳
You hit it right on the head… tiny bubbles that are impossible to get out. I have a good handle on the big ones, and learned my lesson a while back with the knife. I’m hooked on exacto type blades, not the weapon of your choice (stanley)… Any how, with the exacto blades, you can actually very easily break the tip off, popping a bubble. Then you’re stuck with a tiny peice of steel in the vinyl… done it more times thatn i care to admit to.
I have the wooden bubble popper…. that works well.

and i agree with the crease… It’s never the same.

So What is causing the tiny bubbles… anything specific to concentrate on?

Should I just keep doing it, till it gets better and better?

[Robert Lambie]

“i think” your applying vinyl that has already been laid/placed. what i mean is sitting on the surface… ide guess due to the weather in your location, it will play a big part in giving you bother applying dry.
sunny or humid days can be the worst.
do your best to only allow the squeegee to do the applying. what i mean is, if you have one side tacked down. make sure the opposite side is up at an accute angle and pulled back taught. a good example of this is probably the first video demo we put out via links. im applying a 2ft x 2ft square of vinyl.

if you need the links let me know.

[Martin Pearson]

Steve, keep a close eye on your squeegee, this is one thing that can cause these bubbles. As it is used it becomes curved and depending on how you hold it doesnt fully push the air out. If your squeegee has become curved you need to sharpen it again to remove the curve.

[steve geary]

Thanks Robert….
I saved the videos, and probably a good time to watch again! I understand what you’re saying with the sqeegee putting the vinyl down. Big G’s words ring in my head as I’m applying too…. “don’t let the vinyl touch until your squeegee puts it there” Good God I’m daydreaming about him as well!
And thanks for the sqeegee tip Martin… It makes perfect sense and something that i don’t think about until I ‘ve got not much to do. It takes all of a minute to sharpen, so I”ll be keeping on that and eliminating it as a cause.

It’s getting better every application, and if in a year or so, I’m still thinking of Robert and Andy, i’ll get my head checked then! Or fly over and have a few beers with you mates!

I did a banner today and – Shizzle fo’ sheezy…. I can’t believe a month ago I was doing them wet. What a waste of time!

I’m being persistant with this.. I’m dying to do a wrap, and I believe Robert in saying “don’t attempt’till you’ve masterd Dry”

[steve geary]

Shouldn’t you guys be Sleeping?

[Bryan Cabrera]

I think the humidity definitely is a big factor. I had to install a window graphic a week or two ago for a client I do web site work for and know very well -so I decided to apply dry and test out the felt squeegee. It was a 2 color job and I was shocked how easily it went down and without a single bubble. I also used the registration technique on the demo video.

I am wondering had it been humid if I would have had the same success. I remember applying a layer of vinyl on coroplast at the shop on a very humid day and I had a million tiny bubbles and had to redo it wet.

I think the right amount of pressure plays a factor. I think I am applying more pressure now then when I first started and trying to let the squeegee push the vinyl down, but I still struggle a bit with larger pieces.

[steve geary]

I agree with you on the humidity Bryan… Just not sure what to do when it’s there. Give it a go and switch to wet if it goes bad? Slow down with the application Dry? Get an extra set of hands?

I’m sure it’ll be like everything else I’ve learned.. start slow, master the technique and efficiency will come. It’s just a little hard to practice big stuff when you’re throwing away feet of vinyl. As of right now i’m doing all i can dry, and as i’ve said it’s going well, just want to get there as quickly as i can…

How big was the graphic you just did? Did you use lines for registration marks or dots.. squares? got any pics?

[Robert Lambie]

quote steve geary:

Thanks Robert….
I saved the videos, and probably a good time to watch again! I understand what you’re saying with the squeegee putting the vinyl down. Big G’s words ring in my head as I’m applying too…. “don’t let the vinyl touch until your squeegee puts it there” Good God I’m daydreaming about him as well!
And thanks for the squeegee tip Martin… It makes perfect sense and something that i don’t think about until I ‘ve got not much to do. It takes all of a minute to sharpen, so I”ll be keeping on that and eliminating it as a cause.

It’s getting better every application, and if in a year or so, I’m still thinking of Robert and Andy, i’ll get my head checked then! Or fly over and have a few beers with you mates!

I did a banner today and – Shizzle fo’ sheezy…. I can’t believe a month ago I was doing them wet. What a waste of time!

I’m being persistant with this.. I’m dying to do a wrap, and I believe Robert in saying “don’t attempt’till you’ve masterd Dry”

your welcome any day mate… im sure even andy would buy a pint 😉 :lol1:

the attitude you and bryan have just now is the way to go…
just do it when you can and build confidence. was your applying large sections dry without a thought consider some “part” wrap work… again.. just practicing till you get the technique and confidence.

[Bryan Cabrera]

The coverage was only 20″ x 20″. No big solid, just a logo and some hours.
Funny thing is that I find when there is more vinyl it seems to be a bit easier as it holds the tape flatter. When I have less vinyl the tape wants to do its own thing. I know Robert and you have suggested I concentrate on applying the vinyl and not the tape, so I will have to practice this more.

I used a registration line as in Robs Demo.

No pics, but I will snap one next time I go. I have to make a change on the hours anyway 😳 as I copied the hours from there handwritten sign they had on the door and it was incorrect, my luck the 1 number I have to change will be riddled with bubbles. 🙁

[steve geary]

Cool Beans Bryan…. Just throw the one number on with clear tape and eye it…. Piece of cake for a man of your caliber!

I do two color small stickers that way… After your first order of 100 it goes pretty easy…

Robert….
:plane: You and G… :drink4: Me…. (drink1)

[Johnny Taylor]

When we do wet apply (Sorry Rob) our home brew mix is 10% iso, half a teaspoon of baby shampoo to 2 litres of water. Works for us.

Cheers
Johnny

[steve geary]

:thumbsup:

[Jill Marie Welsh]

My home brew recipe:
Into a clean squirt bottle add:
3-4 drops liquid dish detergent (non-lotion variety for washing up)
1 capful rubbing alcohol
1 capful pure vanilla extract
fill the rest of the way with clean water (not well water, distilled is good)
The vanilla also has alcohol in it and makes it smell purty.

I do use Rapid Tac 2 in the winter, and on glass apps if I have to.
I also try to stick dry when possible.

Love….Jill