The Letterville BullBoard: corrugated camper

This is topic corrugated camper in forum Letterhead/Pinstriper Talk at The Letterville BullBoard.

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Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :

I've got a "charity" job to do for a guy just starting in business. He wants me to letter the camper shell on his pickup.

It's one of those older shells that is made of corrugated aluminum, like trailer siding. It's not just the up-down stuff, like on changeable copy signs, but each big ripple has several smaller ones adjoining it.

What's the best way to put vinyl on this stuff? I almost hate to do it at all, but I'm trying to help the guy out.

Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :

No good deed goes unpunished

Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :

Grab a big hammer and pound those ripples flat!

If it is what I think you have described, nothing will look good on it!

Posted by Patrick Whatley (Member # 2008) on :

Stick the vinyl on a piece of aluminum and pop rivet it onto the camper.

Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :

Pat has the right idea.

Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :

We do these on semi trailers. I mean the older kind, no? Even with rows of rivets! [Eek!]

Position it for being straight, then seat the top edge of the decal with an applicator's brush. You'll need a second person (or even two if its a long one) and they hold the decal up and away from the surface while you go back and forth over the raised surfaces and down into the recesses wtih your applicators brush, but always horizontal strokes.
The brush must be one that just fits into the low areas. Otherwise it won't seat right and you'll get all kinds of air trapped along the seams. If you get air trapped just use a heat gun and your finger to run the air out. Do NOT do this wet!!
Sounds hard but its not. [Razz]

Posted by Stefanie Fox (Member # 6523) on :

Like Pat and Bruce said...

Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :

Like Pat and Bruce and Stephanie said.

Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :

I figured it would be a royal pain. And, I had given some thought to putting (or trying to put it)on wet. Maybe if I let it sit out in the lot long enough, he'll just come and get it, and take it away.

Thanks, guys.

Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :

do you pat said or dont do this job....dont think naymore about this job

Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :

I've done a few, and they are a pain. But I just charge accordingly. Doing it as a favor...forget it!

Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :

Why do you guys think this is so hard?? [Confused]

That looks very clean, Dave. [Smile]

Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :

Thanks Rosemary,

Applying vinyl to corrugated surfaces is daunting the first time round. I made the mistake of trying it wet the first time I had to do it. WRONG!

I use a combination of squeegie, fingers, thumbs, rivit brush and anything else I can use to do the job on corrugated surfaces..but never use application fluid.

Actually, I find corrugations to be easier to work on than rivited surfaces (also something that I never do wet, after the first failed attempt) Corrugated surfaces are two dimensional, perfect for vinyl. rivits are three dimensional..not so easy. [Big Grin]

I can "do" rivits quite easily as long as they are in the middle of a panel..what I have problems with is the rivits at the edges of panels...Sometimes I can do em without wrinkles and sometimes I can't.

I mean, if the entire graphic encompasses several substrate panels, I can do the rivits just fine and then slice the vinyl at the joints after the application is finished. What I have a problem with is, if a letter or graphic happens to end right next to a rivit. There just isn't enough material to lay down and get a grip, so I can then "work" around the rivit.

And Roger..Wet is NOT going to help!!! [Wink]

[ May 28, 2006, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]

Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :

Well, it's done. Thanks Rosemary and Dave for the tips. The copy was about 8" tall, fairly bold, and some smaller. I hinged it at the top, and cut each letter apart up to the tape line.

It was quite easy to work each letter into the grooves, going from top down. Took me a little over an hour and a half. I doubt I'll put it in my portfolio, but the guy should be happy with it and I'm glad to get rid of it, and learn something new in the process.

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