tips needed for applying longish length of vinyl to vehicle

[Simon Stonuary]

centre hinge initially and if the design allows hinge between the centre and the two outer vertical edges, so you now have three hinges.simply cut vertically through the backing & application paper half way between your hinges,giving you six flaps.hope you understand its much easier if its windy or your applying by yourself.with regard to the application always try to apply dry but if your still learning practice the dry application on smaller jobs and only apply wet if your not confident in your application

[Robert Lambie]

do what is most comfortable for you… "within reason"
your more or less correct though Jon… i.e. tape into place over the length. form centre hinge and apply out from middle releasing carying paper as you move along "out from middle"
many will have variations on that but your in right direction.

i personally would say do it dry. but in this case if you are a little wary… because the weather is so muggy warm and because as you say the panels are more or less perfectly flat… you will get away with a wet application if it is going to help you.

i know many will use soapy water… and if that’s what you want to use then fine. i personally would say do it with a fresh mist of water or better still… Rapid-tac application fluid. you will get this from All Print Supplies. they may even send you out a small free sample bottle if you ask. but a worthwhile investment to buy in some if you regulalry apply vinyls.

don’t get me wrong, as many know i winge on about wet app etc not being the way to go but at the end of the day you need to make money and wasting panel after panel trying to do it dry is not the answer. so when ever possible, do it dry and strive to always apply dry or moving forward onto the likes of vehicle wraps etc will always be out of reach.

anyway, if on a flat surface you should easily be able to expel the water from behind the panel using a nylon squeegee.

Rapid-Tac is a bit like a soapy liquid but actually contains stimulants that help activate adhesion even in cold weather. so you more or less get the best of both worlds. however, never ever use in recesses areas or for vehicle wraps etc any form of wet app over this type of area is a no no…

just my opinions of course. 😀

best of luck.

[Jason Xuereb]

One tip no matter what way you do it. Place masking tape tabs along the top of the graphic. That way when your holding graphic you can line up the tabs to make sure your not bowing the graphic. This will also ensure the graphic doesn’t develop a wrinkle etc.

To create the masking tape tabs simply tape the graphic to the substrate and then cut it on the graphic so the graphic is no longer being held down.

I also place a tab on both both sides of the graphic to give me a reference point also.

[John Harding]

quote :

One tip no matter what way you do it. Place masking tape tabs along the top of the graphic. That way when your holding graphic you can line up the tabs to make sure your not bowing the graphic. This will also ensure the graphic doesn’t develop a wrinkle etc.

good tip from Jason – im sure we all do this but easy to forget when explaining to someone else here

John 😀

[JonPinder]

Thanks for all the quick replies, did the job this morning using a bit of every ones advice. Tried to use just one centre hinge but was still too much to handle and the breeze didn’t help. So added a couple more hinges central from the centre hinge and each end of the graphic and cut it into four flaps like Simon said. Also used the tape on the edges like Jason recommended and kept the application dry like Rob recommends. Anyway thanks for all the replies gave me a lot more confidence to go and get the job done. Customer was happy so it’s all good.

[Peter Normington]

not sure what you guys mean by a centre hinge, if dealing with just next, I would use a top or bottom hinge, and cut into sections, If the graphic is indivisible, then jasons method hits the nail, but you need to know how to adjust as you lay down the vinyl
Peter

[Jason Xuereb]

I missed reading it was text. I agree with your Peter if you have space in between the text tape up the top and cut into sections and apply section by section. Keeps the text nice and straight.

Although if its a fairly short line I still use a centre hinge and put a tape tab on both sides and do it like that because I find it faster.