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  • Advice needed fitting large cut-vinyl graphic for a van.

    Posted by Dan on October 3, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    It’s Saturday and I’m having issues with fitting a large Oracal 751 graphic that takes up the whole of the rear doors on a transit custom.

    I don’t think it really matters what vinyl I uses at the moment as I’m restricted by the app tape but I am having issues with the contours of the van.

    The only way I can see my self getting this to fit is with a join line.

    The material I am using is 751 Silver 090 which is metallic, I’m thinking in the future to mount this directly to a wrap film and wrap the whole back, this way I can stretch the film and not be restricted by the app tape.

    Has anyone applied graphics to another graphic on a bench without any bubbles?

    It’s either this or invent app tape that allows me to stretch the film like like a solid piece of vinyl.

    Perhaps someone has a better way of fitting this?

    Dan replied 4 years, 4 months ago 4 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • RobertLambie

    Administrator
    October 3, 2020 at 7:41 pm

    Hi Dan

    Hard to advise when I can’t see the actual graphic or positioning etc.

    Oracal 751c is a cast and applied correctly, you won’t have any problems with it pulling out the recesses.

    The issue with the graphic. I assume this is a “cut vinyl” graphic that has application tape on it?
    This being the case, you must apply the graphic as best you can, bridge all the high and low areas of the bodywork. once it’s all in place. you must then remove the application tape “Before” attempting to apply into the recesses.

    Remove the application tape carefully when it comes to the recesses. remove the tape in the direction of the bridge. do NOT remove it against the direction of the bridge or you will stretch or tear the vinyl.

    Once the application tape has been removed, apply the vinyl into the recessed areas exactly as you would a wrap. leaving ample vinyl to allow minimum tension as you stretch it.

    hard to explain. hope this makes sense.

    best of luck!

  • Simon Worrall

    Member
    October 4, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    I would have used an air release vinyl for this job, like 3M 180MC silver. Makes life so much easier.

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by  Simon Worrall.
  • Dan

    Member
    October 4, 2020 at 9:22 pm

    Hi

    It’s not so much the recesses that I am struggling with, it’s the whole graphic.

    I agree that air release would be easier, it’s the curvature of the van from top to bottom and side to side, see attached image.

    I somehow need to fit this with the app tape attached or do I try fitting it without any app tape seeing as thats my issue, just not sure if that would be any better as the backing paper would surly act the same way keeping it rigid.

    Hopefully the image would give you a better idea.

    As mentioned, the grey is metallic so I can’t print it.

  • David Hammond

    Member
    October 5, 2020 at 8:31 am

    Air release all day long on this, just to make life easier.

    Hard to explain as Rob Says.

    I would probably start in the middle where the handle is, and work up to the recess, then down bridging the gaps, finishing off with the top panels. It’s going to be tricky, leave the tape on until it’s down, then work in the recesses.

    Have you applied the orange on top already, as you may also find you end up with trapped air in the bottom layer along the sides of the orange?

    It can be done, this van we did many years ago was done in 751c… I’ve not been in a rush do it again!

  • Dan

    Member
    October 5, 2020 at 8:48 am

    That I would do in air release all day long, it’s too large a job to do in 751 especially as I’m on my own.

    David that is exactly how I do it, start at the handle, apply a couple of inches then pull up each corner so it’s tight, I then fit the graphics to the recess, once I hit the recess I work down from the top back to the recess and this seems to work for me.

    Once you go from the handle down, you’re fighting the curve of the van on left and right side and it all starts bunching up.

    The way I have been tackling this is to fit as much as I can and then release the vinyl from the application tape and start applying it bit by bit, unfortunately you’ll get to a point where the graphic doesn’t match up so you have to trim it.

    I’ve done a few and I regret ever suggestion the metallic silver, this is the 8th one i’ve done now and although the customer is happy I’m not.

    I have to admit, I’ve done a connect, custom and now courier and the courier was the hardest one of all.

    It’s a very time consuming job and far longer than I anticipated.

    The silver and red layers and fitted separately, If I could apply the red to the silver before applying then that would save me some time and also give me a bit more stability in the vinyl, I’ll admit using air release would also work better.

    So is there a good way to apply vinyl to vinyl?

  • Simon Worrall

    Member
    October 6, 2020 at 4:53 am

    Sure you can use a bunch of layers on the bench. I applied the green here OVER the blue on the work bench, and then applied both together with app tape to the vehicle in one go. Again, both were air release, so no problem with bubbles there, and I find the 3M app tape is somewhat conformable, so getting it over the recesses was not a problem.

    • Dan

      Member
      October 6, 2020 at 8:50 am

      Any special technique?

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