How do you edge seal diamond grade reflective?

[Dermot Howard]

You have to get a special Edge Sealer, which is a thick clear liquid that you paint the edge of the cut with.

W.Smith should have it, i get it off them.

More Info
http://www.shop3m.com/75523950014.html

[John Dorling]

Thanks Dermot

Problem is, the customer is coming in the morning! Is there an alternative that I might be able to get hold of more readily?

Thanks

John

[Peter Normington]

Hexis do a sealit pen, I think they take orders til 7.
As its small they may be able to put one in the post

I have used them, but cant say how good they are, had no complaints though yet.

I have been told you can use clear nail varnish, but would only try it as a last resort

Peter

[Dermot Howard]

Depending on how much you have to do I would go with the clear nail varnish. As i said all it is doing is stopping dirt and water getting into the prism’s that you have cut trough. The 3M stuff dries hard like the hail varnish, but i assume the 3m stuff is much better.

Although some women will say a good nail varnish will not chip!!!! I don’t know i have not started painting my toes yet!

I have one of the pens, I have never used it to be honest. But I don’t think it will fill the cavity in the prism, you need a good bead of solution to cover and seal it as Diamond Grade is a lot thicker than regular vinyl.

[Andy Gorman]

If you’re in a real hurry, you could outline it all with clear vinyl, overlapping both the reflective and onto the bodywork. This has the advantage of not leaving any varnish on the vehicle.

[John Dorling]

Thanks for the replies. I might have to try the nail varnish idea…

Have a good weekend everybody! :wave:

[RayRosher]

Hope you have a good flat bed cutter, If your going to cut the diamond grade vinyl it’s a bit of a bitch to cut,
i think! But not sure, That the best way to seal diamond Grade is using a thermal sealer,
Although Ive never used Diamond Grade, The price scares me (oogle)

sorry bit of a useless reply as it doesn’t help you out.
Ray:)

[Gill Harrison]

Hi there………you are right Diamond Grade is a pain to cut and impossible on a standard plotter. If you do need to trim any pieces then turn the diamond grade over and cut from the back. The edge sealing is done ultra sonically.
I did tests with the pens and I don’t rate them. To test we applied the DG to a piece of alli then sealed with the pens and once dry applied a dye to the edges, unfortunately the dye leaked into an unacceptable amount of the cells.
The 3M edge sealing fluid is the correct way to go but yes I’ve known of nail varnish being used and I also like the suggestion of using a strip of clear overlaminate. I find myself looking at the reflective on ambulances etc and a badly sealed product looks shocking.

Gill

[RayRosher]

quote Gill Harrison:

Hi there………you are right Diamond Grade is a pain to cut and impossible on a standard plotter. If you do need to trim any pieces then turn the diamond grade over and cut from the back. The edge sealing is done ultra sonically.
I did tests with the pens and I don’t rate them. To test we applied the DG to a piece of alli then sealed with the pens and once dry applied a dye to the edges, unfortunately the dye leaked into an unacceptable amount of the cells.
The 3M edge sealing fluid is the correct way to go but yes I’ve known of nail varnish being used and I also like the suggestion of using a strip of clear overlaminate. I find myself looking at the reflective on ambulances etc and a badly sealed product looks shocking.

Gill

Very nice Informative reply, Pretty lady,
However it doesn’t get Poor John out of Trouble.

John! I have a Revolver (:)I had to use on myself!
On another thread!
if you want to borrow it and the do the Honorable thing :hung:

[John Dorling]

Gill I agree with you I see a lot of police cars and ambulances with shocking graphics where the DG is falling apart at the edges. I don’t use it too much and when I do I buy the kits from you as I don’t have the facilities to cut it.

Anyway, just finished the job I didn’t need to cut it in the end. The customer had asked me to do chevrons for the rear window and tailgate of his pickup and then rang me last night to say ‘by the way it’s got a truck-top on the back’. Luckily though the panel I had got made for the truck window fit really well and he was chuffed.

Thanks for all the replies.

John

[Peter Dee]

I used to do a lot of vehicle coachlining with vinyl.
The ends were always prevented from lifting by applying a small amount of clear lacquer.
This is the stuff you get with a touch up paint for your car with the brush in the cap. I keep one in the toolbox just in case and still use it if a graphic comes to a fine point.

[Steve McAdie]

Handy tip Peter, coach lining seems to be coming back in fashion did two last month. I take it I would get the lacquer from a car accessories shop?

[Peter Dee]

I guess so Steve. If you buy a touch up stick from a main dealer it generally comes with a clear lacquer touch up as well – especially metallics.