how do i stop vinyl getting wrinkles?

[Mike Brown]

Hi Sally,

I think Victory Design used to offer an application tape dispenser for this very purpose – though I couldn’t see it on their site at: http://www.victory-design.co.uk

Different models varied between £120 and £200 (or so) and consisted of a platform that clamped to the end of your bench and has spindles etc. to hold the rolls whilst you pull the tape out over the weeded vinyl, anchoring it to the bench at the ‘far end’ and then rub down – working back towards the platform….sort of…I never used one but it always sounded like a good idea!

There are other devices which have come and gone – and others may have (or have used) them and advise accordingly…over to them!

best regards

mikethesign

[Robert Lambie]

I think mikes right if you have to do it alone. Investing on a tape dispenser is the way forward.
One thing to keep in mind. Don’t bye the width of your cutter. Always bye a big size as this is where you have the problems. I would say get the 1230 wide one as this way you get to tape any size of roll you maybe working with.

[Steve Broughton]

Don’t waste your money on these flashy ones from victory etc. Print off a photo of what you want & take it to your local engineering shop/blacksmith type and say "make something like this only cheaper" i did it cost me 40 quid and works just as good!

[Vic Adair]

Hello Sally,

It can be hard doing it yursel. Best to get somebody to hold it while you pull it out.:smile:

Two other ways are:-
1) Apply the tape to a stick, brush pole or anything rigid, and use this to hold the tape taut with one hand. Then just unroll the tape with the other hand and apply.
2) The other way is to apply one end, about four inches, of tape to the bench and unroll the rest of it with both hands over the vinyl, making sure it goes down smooth.
Hope this makes sense

_Vic________________

[steve]

Sally try this get pieces of MDF cut to various widths shamphur one edge at 45degrees cover the whole thing in felt or nyloop and staple to finish on one edge this makes a great dry squeege you can make various widths to suit your text width
it also is fairly heay which helps because it presses the carrier down onto the text you can do a big sweep across carrier.
We have bolted a steel pole to the wall of studio slot whole carrier roll onto bar and carrier can easily be pulled over text on bench- set the pole to the same height as bench then pull carrier 3 inches further than text and slowly let it fall onto text then use your new wide squeege in a windscreen wiper motion
this method i have used for years – or you could get more staff!!