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  • signing vehicles in the rain

    Posted by Rob Thorner on 2 December 2008 at 13:28

    hi friends, im fairly new to sign making, im a graphic designer by trade so im a bit ignorant when it comes to the physical things i.e. what to do when its raining.
    i dont have a shop so when i get vehicle signing jobs i have to do it outside my flat but today it started raining and the bloke had to drive home and he’s coming back tomorrow. i wondered if there is such a thing as a ‘markee’ or something especially designed to attach to the van for those of us who dont have garages, overhangs etc.
    also if its particularly cold is the vinyl likely to fall off?
    any help id really appreciate, thanks – rob
    ps ill add a photo soon

    David Rigby replied 17 years ago 13 Members · 21 Replies
  • 21 Replies
  • Jill Marie Welsh

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 13:49

    http://www.ezupdirect.com/ezup-instant- … canopy_qts
    Cheaper than a carport and more portable?
    I have lettered in warm spring rain and it turned out OK.
    But when it gets below 60° it’s not so great.
    When I get a vehicle which I cannot accommodate, I will often ask if the client has a place where I can do the job. Most usually do.
    I have even rented a space in the big commercial garage down the road for $25/day.
    Love….Jill

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 13:50

    not sure your location but when we where based in the city centre we would often take the vehicles to a multi-storey carpark just along from us. we did most of our work on location but there was the odd van that we had to do like this.

    if none near by you, you could always try a local bus firm. speak to the owner or whoever and offer them £20-£30 for the use of the shelter whilst you do a fitting. bus hangers are always empty during the day whilst they are out on their rounds so its space doing nothing.

    just a couple of options… 😀

  • Matt Goodwin

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 13:56

    Hi Rob! Fitting vinyl in the rain ‘aint good! one, its too cold for application two you’ll get cold! the come backs would’nt be good for you or your business! Once fitting outsde, your customers will expect it! Some fitters use water to help application, but I don’t, and certainly would’nt fit in the rain! I’m sure someone out there would let you fit at there premises if there was a mutual agreement!

    Matt ….

    mo-edit see board rules

  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 14:11

    http://www.galatent.co.uk/

    They do marquees big enough to get vans in, or buy a market stall I can get most of a mercedes long wheelbase sprinter in mine, not that I need to, but could if I had to.

  • Jayne Marsh

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 14:14

    Its a definite no to fitting in the rain, simply because if your backing paper gets wet it will stick to the sticky side of the letters and is very difficult to remove. I have fitted jobs in the cold and this depends on the type of vinyl you are using as to wether it sticks well or not. Do as Rob says and try and get somewhere undercover. 😀

  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 14:19
    quote Jayne Marsh:

    Its a definite no to fitting in the rain, simply because if your backing paper gets wet it will stick to the sticky side of the letters and is very difficult to remove.

    Or just use clear tape….

    But indoors and warm is best by far.

  • Jayne Marsh

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 14:23

    Its the release (backing) paper that sticks not the paper application tape, that would get wet and fall off anyway lol

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 14:24

    meant to add…
    in these temperatures it is imperative to apply some heat to the vehicle after application, if not during.
    we have a workshop for fitting vehicles with a space heater blasting. still, i tell our guys to give all the graphics a once over with a heat gun to make sure they stimulate the adhesive enough to properly bite.

    cold metal bodied vehicles hold the cold. as you apply the vinyl to the vehicle surface in severe cold it almost repels the adhesives bite. it tacks on but only just… the cold body of the vehicle will also make the vinyl brittle. so be careful when removing the application tape…

  • Steve Underhill

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 14:31

    remove it first and itll be just like fitting it wet then, (err maybe not but almost similar)
    lol

  • Chris Wool

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 14:38

    steve there is something in southwesterly rain that makes it the best application fluid ever.

    cold is the problem just as rob says need to warm it after fitting

    chris

  • John Hughes

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 15:04

    I’ve been looking for a retractable canopy / tunnel to attached to our unit – over the roller shutter doors – so we can do vans when raining/cold but the only one found so far was 5k.

    john

  • David Rogers

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 15:11

    I’ve fitted in a blizzard before, never mind rain! Soooo glad I’m indoors these days.

    Rain is just like fitting it wet – no big deal…except you get a bit damp.

    So long as it’s heated afterwards there should be no come-backs.

    Oh, yeh…extensions & heat guns in the rain…be safe out there 😕

  • Joseph Helm

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 15:13
    quote Steve Underhill:

    http://www.galatent.co.uk/

    They do marquees big enough to get vans in, or buy a market stall I can get most of a mercedes long wheelbase sprinter in mine, not that I need to, but could if I had to.

    I was talking about this to my boss today (we have a van sat out in the rain waiting for graphics)
    Unit we get a bigger place or another unit, we need somewhere away from the rain and wind.

    So we’re making one up… then I get to add the printed design to it 🙂

    Without trying to sound like a salesman… it’s like an igloo/dome and it gets really warm in them.

    You can park a sprinter in one of the smaller ones. (we have one, so we tried) 🙂

  • John Hughes

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 15:16

    Hi Joseph, where did you get this igloo from ?

    john

  • Joseph Helm

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 15:20
    quote John Hughes:

    Hi Joseph, where did you get this igloo from ?

    john

    John

    We own a company that makes them.

    Don’t think I can post the details 🙁

    Joe

  • Jill Marie Welsh

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 16:35

    Gene Kelly was pretty good at it.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN … re=related

  • Joseph Helm

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 18:34
    quote Jillbeans:

    Gene Kelly was pretty good at it.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN … re=related

    haha I love that song 🙂

  • Lee Ballard

    Member
    2 December 2008 at 20:19

    Didn’t there used to be a video on here of a certain Mr Lambie getting very wet fitting in the rain?

  • Rob Thorner

    Member
    3 December 2008 at 00:08

    well thanks friends for all your help, i just looked at the weather for 2moz but its dry touch wood, still cold though. ill use the heat gun for that,
    thanks again

  • Richard O

    Member
    6 December 2008 at 05:29
    quote rob thorner:

    i wondered if there is such a thing as a ‘markee’ or something especially designed to attach to the van for those of us who dont have garages, overhangs etc.

    Here you are mate – just the thing for an enterprising young fellow without a place to to do your fitting.

    http://www.fastshelter.com/

    Imagine just plonk the inflatable and a small geny into the boot find a dead end street or a park, inflate the garage – do the signage – deflate the garage – all done

    Rich

  • David Rigby

    Member
    11 December 2008 at 01:03
    quote Robert Lambie:

    not sure your location but when we where based in the city centre we would often take the vehicles to a multi-storey carpark just along from us. we did most of our work on location but there was the odd van that we had to do like this.

    if none near by you, you could always try a local bus firm. speak to the owner or whoever and offer them £20-£30 for the use of the shelter whilst you do a fitting. bus hangers are always empty during the day whilst they are out on their rounds so its space doing nothing.

    just a couple of options… 😀

    Cheers for that advice. I have spent ages trying to figure out a regular spot to fit and it never even crossed my mind to use a multi storey. Good advice.

    david

    mod-edit see board rules

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