new game

[Phill Fenton]

If you apply vinyl lettering to glass it can be difficult to get the application tape off if applied wet.

Applying wet, is easier for beginners as it allows you to reposition and squeegee out any trapped air bubble. The downside is you’ll have to wait about 24 hours for the lettering to dry before you can get the tape off again. (This only applies to glass – most other substrates allow the tape to be removed within 1/2 hour of applying even when wet).

Applying dry means the application tape can be removed almost straight away. I find it helpfull to remove the backing paper then position it back over the pre-spaced lettering with about 20mm of the sticky area showing. This allows you to position properly without everything gripping tha glass straight away. After that hinge up the application tape and whip away the backing paper (a la bucks fizz). Then work the squeegee in one direction only (e.g. downwards) expelling the air as you apply a steady downward stroke. It takes a bit of practice but once mastered is quite easy.

Another useful tip when applying dry to glass is to use a scissors to cut the positioned and hinged application paper into manageable strips. You can then remove smaller sections of backing paper one at a time and work on the lettering without worrying about the rest of the lettering which will be prevented from sticking to the glass by the remaining backing paper (I hope that make sense – it’s easier to show than to describe).

If applying a sheet of vinyl to glass (e.g to block out the window) its much easier to do this wet as you do not have any backing paper to remove. 😀

[Richard Urquhart]

thanks phill i will have a go befor hand, didnt think about getting tape off after and also about small strips of tape thanks for advice

[Tim Shaw]

If it’s a really cold day use half meths and half water with a touch of fairy liquid.

Do not mess about though it flashes off very quickly so work fast.

It does mean you can get the application tape off in 10 minutes or so.

Only try this if you know how to ‘bang em on’.

[Robert Lambie]

🙄 🙄 🙄 well i wonte even start dribbling on about my methods..
however if it is very cold and the glass is cold. & you put it on wet.. not only will you have a tough time getting the paper off, the letters will “almost” refuse to stick… in very cold weather that is…
if the glass is very cold menouvering or repositioning should not be hard…

again not trying to be funny just in my experience this is what has happend to me many moons ago… 😉 😀 😀 😀 🙄 🙄 🙄

[Lee Attewell]

Can you guys get Rapid tac over there? It’s meant to be great.

I use Vinyl 1 Lube. it’s Aussie made and works really well. wet apply, squegee, wait up to ten minutes even if it’s pouring [edited for swearing 👿 ] down, spray App tape with lube & it removes as easy as…

i even use it for cold wet days with window tinting. It’s alcohol based and can’t be used if it’s too hot.

[Richard Urquhart]

cant thank you all enough i wish when i started painting cars and bike s there were fellas like you around

[Martin Pearson]

I think Phill just about has it right, now the cold weather is setting in it is best to apply graphics dry. Have a practice before you go out and do a job. But dont practice on a piece of glass that has been sitting in a nice warm room, if you try to keep your designs fairly simple with not to many colours untill you get a bit of confidence built up you should be fine. Dont forget if you are applying vinyl to the inside of the window to be read from the outside it needs to be cut in reverse. I know its probably obvious but you would be surprised how many people get caught out.

[Richard Urquhart]

thanks phill i cut the logo which is made up out of 3 colours not my choice for a first but a company logo and is now ready to fit ,waiting for customer to say when ,its a shop so need to pick a sunday.I had a go on another window at workshop and found if i pulled fast on logo it came away ok and allowed me another go ,in the end i got it on the marks i made and all went well when i have done the shop window i will post a pic for you all to see what you think !!!!!

[Martin Pearson]

Richard, have you used registration marks on the three colours of vinyl you are using ?
If you have you can fit the first colour using a hinge method, for the other two vinyl colours just remove enough backing paper to allow you to line up the registration marks accuratly. Once the registration marks are lined up properly and you have squeegeed the top of the paper you can then remove the rest of the backing paper, either all in one or a bit at a time and apply the rest of the vinyl.

[Martin C]

I’ve always applied wet and work on the basis that if I mess up a graphic it would cost me more time and money to go back with a new one. Wet application is more forgiving but don’t forget your Hair Drier and extension lead!

[Martin C]

By the way….this is the one and only pic of me ever posted on the web so if I find pictures circulating of me caught in a compromising situation with Kylie I know who to blame!

[Martin Pearson]

Hi Martin, dont know what kind of experience you have with window graphics but at this time of year when it is starting to get cold it can be a nightmare getting graphics to stick to windows with a wet application method. As Phill has said above you might have to wait 24 hours before removing the application tape, that means a return visit and this job is 3 colour so maybe more than one return visit.
Even if you are lucky enough to get the tape off and keep the graphics on the window there is a chance they will still come off when you apply the second or third colour.
Your right that wet applications are more forgiving so therefore easier for someone with limited application experience but IMHO window graphics are a different case and can cause more problems with a wet application than they solve.

[Robert Lambie]

well i did a job last night in edinburgh.. big hairdressers… started it at 6pm
hot as hell room hairdryers etc.. freezing cold window… i fited text onto window.. then red panels 36″ by 10 feet over the back of them… lettered, stripped and away in 35 mins… all fitted dry..
if its not on first time… snap it back as fast as you can! not pull on it like your scared it will stretch.. yank it back but 6 inches at a time or a little more and it will come away no sweat.. i promise 😉

[Richard Urquhart]

well now im getting lost
i think i have gone wrong i have made the sign complete and all 3 colours are in one sign ,thinking about it i could have made it up on site may be i need to stick to painting cars !!!!!!!!!!
i hope i pick this up but time will tell
😳

[Lee Attewell]

Naah just keep on giving it a go…It’ll click for you.

[Robert Lambie]

if i have got you right you mean you have put all three colours together.. so when you fit to window its one hit rather than three seperate hits…
now thats fair enough.. it can be done like that but there is a reason to avoid it…

if applying wet! when you are squeegeeing the water out from under the vinyl on the glass.. the layers of vinyl seem to trap litttle lines of water where the peaces of vinyl join… its not a big big problem as it will eventualy come out.. but can make stripping the backing tape a bit harder and because you are look at the vinyl on the other side of the glass you can somtimes notice the water lines… try a sample on a window at work you will see what i mean…

if applying dry the exact same thing happens but only this time its little lines of air… that can cause bubble…

hence why building the colours on the window is better…. 😕

these are just silly trial and error things mate. once you find out the problems that arrise then you wont make the same mistake again…
practice makes perfect as they say… 😉

all that said you may go and do the job nothing happens or the customer doesnt say a peep… pays you and off you go…
we are basing all these replies mainly on worst case scenarios… it keeps you right and makes us sound like we know what we are talking about 😆 😆

[Martin Pearson]

Richard, dont worry about it and try not to get to confused, as Robert has said you have simply done it a different way, nothing wrong with that but as he said it would have been easier to apply on site one colour over the other. If the graphic is not to large you could always cut it again. Then use the one you already have in your studio/shop etc as an example to show other customers.If you cant afford to do that or dont have enough vinyl to do it again then dont worry it should be alright, as Robert has said we have given you worse case senarios just to harm you what might happen, you will probably find everything goes fine and you will then be wondering what all the fuss was about.