Pulling my hair out installing window graphics

[Martyn Heath]

Hi karen, this is not uncommon with frosted. I’m assuming you are laying it wet?

some suggestions are –

less soap

Leave for half an hour or longer before removing tape (some guys even return next day)

soak the outside of the application tape and rub it in with your handle (helps release the glue)

Depending on where you are and conditions, the glass temperature has a lot to do with it.

[Karen White]

thanks martyn

fitted it dry, but was very cold

[David Hammond]

Is it air release vinyl?

Did you install dry or wet?

Did you clean the glass beforehand and with what cleaner?

If you fitted dry, once laid down I’d go over it again with a hard squeegee & lots of pressure.

Wetting the application tape can help it come away, spray and let it soak for a while… but the vinyl below needs to stuck firm.

[Karen White]

thanks david

i applied it dry because it has the bubble free vinyl. i did go over and over it again firm but got this same result.

[Simon Worrall]

I always apply etch vinyl wet, and I always leave it overnight before removing the app tape.

I learned the hard way. (your way!)

[Karen White]

thanks simon

i fitted it dry. i did leave it for a bit and kept going over it. but i don’t think my customer would accept me to leave it overnight. 🙄

[RobertLambie]

Hi Karen

I will wait till you reply to the others as I have the same questions.

What I can add now, is that we only use Oracal Glass Etch and Image Perfect Glass etch and never have any problems.

[Karen White]

thanks rob

[Phill Fenton]

If applying wet on glass, I always leave the application tape on and come back the next day to remove the tape

[Karen White]

thanks phill

simon suggested this also but i have never did that before and i don’t think my customer would have been happy. maybe i should start telling them it will be 24 hours. 🙂

[Gary Austin]

Only thing I would add to the other comments, if applying dry might be a case of condensation/misting on the window. As we break into the colder months windows become more of a pain (pun intended).

[Karen White]

thanks gary

i fitted it dry and i think your answer is what the problem was. the condensation!

when i went back, i took a small blow heater with me from my office and sat it back from the window to try and take the chill off the glass and it went on much easier. some parts did lift but went back down with a little teasing and lifting and laying.

my main problem was the application not separating from the vinyl but with the heater there this was much better.

thank you so much for everyone’s suggestions.

thank you everyone ❤

[David Wilde]

Bit late to this thread by the look of it, however we often don’t weed the graphic and only tape over the plot sections. This helps preserve the integrity of the sheet whilst we squeegee out application fluid (the tape can become soggy quickly). Allow to dry a little (not too long). Spray the applications tape to loosen it and remove it slowly. Finally weed the graphic on the glass.

Doesn’t work for all graphics but we find we have fewer issues removing the app tape and laying the vinyl perfectly flat this way.

[Myriam Garrido]

As others have said, if applied wet, especially when cold best to leave overnight. When removing the application tape we always squeegie back over it again just before removing and then tear in strips as pulling it all off in one whole sheet there’s a lot of force needed and more chance of pulling the frosting off. The adhesive on the application tape is more aggressive than the the adhesive on the cold glass !

[Karen White]

thank you Myriam 🤗👍

[RobertLambie]

@david-wilde1

I never apply anything wet, but that is a clever solution to that problem, David. 👍

Now that you have me thinking on this, It would also help people apply DRY, large panels of etch window graphics with sections cut out in the middle.
Leaving the vinyl in place, as you have said, will prevent irregular surface tension and also prevent puckering of the tape which then can lead to creasing of the vinyl.

[David Wilde]

Hi Rob, We use this method on dry applications also from time to time. Usually on a large sheets and where the majority of the vinyl would be removed. Like you say, it provides a consistent surface tension and makes things a little easier to position. 👍

[Karen White]

thank you @david-wilde1
that is a good tip and worth trying in future. although i do think this was down to condensation on the cold glass. even though it was not there when i cleaned the glass and started applying the vinyl. 🙄
i will certainly be taking my little blow heater with me in future.