Hi Folks, I've just has a job dropped into my lap from a builder who does not want to do it. One window 1115 x 2100 (or roughly a bit under 4 ft x 7 ft) amd a door same height but 900 or 3 ft wide need covering internally with window frost vinyl.
I've done a couple of jobs with old logos cut in vinyl and applied-I've done it dry, and didn;t like the bubbles, though I thought I was a fair installer, but that was a few years ago when I did it.
I was wondering what the general idea was- do it wet, regardless? Cut to size exactly first, or do it oversize and trim later?
I've applied a few digital prints that size onto windows using a big homemade squeegee, full-width, and started at the bottom and just squeegeed upwards, removing the backing as you bulldoze it up and on.
Is that technique likely to be OK, or am I likely to get awry somehow?
Thanks!
Posted by Chuck Churchill (Member # 68) on :
Hi Ian,
We do a lot of frosted windows, just finished 75 in 2 buildings. We do them all wet application as we find the etch vinyl not as forgiving as the digital material. If its straight material we don't tape it, if it has reverse outs of text or logos we do.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Thanks, Chuck. It'll be two pieces basically 7 ft long by 3 ft & 4 ft wide. No plotted parts or printing.
Would you still squeegee it while removing the backing, or would you pull all the backing off first & then wet the vinyl adhesive side, plus the glass, then try and plonk it safely on & then squeegee the water/fluid out?
Please excuse my ignorance! Any tips will be greatly appreciated!
Posted by Graham Parsons (Member # 1129) on :
Hi Stewey,
We've done a ton of these in banks and the like. We find it's easiest with two people - one to hold the vinyl, the other to spray with Rapid Tac. Pull off the backing as you spray, then plonk it on the glass and squeegee from the centre out. Have plenty of rags on hand to mop up the liquid. We always use solid felt or felt-edged squeegees.
For a solid coverage, we usually pre-cut the vinyl to allow a small gap all round - it's barely noticable, and makes it easier to place.
Posted by Gregg Parkes (Member # 7710) on :
G'day Ian. Here is the easiest one man install... considering there are no plotted logos etc.
Cut frosting, leaving about 20mm oversize.
Use a mix of water with a few drops of handsoap, and about 1/2 cup metho.
Dampen fingers so they do not "tack" to the vinyl. Start the vinyl / backing separation process to about 50mm from the top left corner, @ 45 degrees and bend over so you can easily grab it again.
Spray glass and then lay non glue backed side on glass. The front side per se'. It will "lay down" and be sucked onto glass. Wet fingers and commence to remove backing paper downwards. The film will stay there, tack side facing you.
Spray with fluid, flip over, squeegee from centre upwards, outwards, downwards, in a clock fashion... ie 12 oclock, 1 oclock, 11 oclock, 2 oclock, 10 oclock and so forth.
Do this a few times, placeing more pressure each time.
Trim to suit with blade and do a final squeegee.
Done.
Cheers - Gregg
[ September 14, 2011, 02:40 AM: Message edited by: Gregg Parkes ]
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Done thousands of feet of frosting over the years and not all brands are the same. I used just about all of them. The best for ease of applying is Avery, believe it or not. It goes down like a good air release vehicle wrap, never had a problem with bubbles or anything and we do it dry, just leave a little gap, maybe centimeter around the edge.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Thanks, Folks. I'll have to have a practise then with a bit of spare stuff- to see if my big squeegee technique straight up in one go, is OK dry, or do it wet a bit like Gregg says...
Posted by whitey2 (Member # 1265) on :
Ian just use etch with air release technology, works great going on dry and if needed can print logos or whatever on it.
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
Ian, we just finished several conference room windows with solid etch vinyl. I found it easiest to lay the film face down on a table (I use a smooth closet door on sawhorses) peel the backing, soak it really well with slightly soapy water and a little RapidTac mix, then I held the corners about an inch from the top and carried over to the glass. My helper guided the bottom and we just laid it in place and squeegeed with felt squeegees. We trimmed the top and bottom after it was in place. It was actually easier than I thought it would be......
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Whitey, I ordered in 6 metres of the Etchmark stuff, 1220 wide, which is I think the printable vinyl. (From Graphic Art Mart-not sure if it is the air release stuff though...it'd be nice if it was. It was around $35 a metre in the old price list I had, from memory).
Thanks, Sonny. We can't get the RT products downunder (yet!), but I'll have to try both ways on a bit of 2 ft wide scrap (I have a part roll of itI got from an auction recently, with the new plotter)-we have some people saying wet & some saying dry application...I'll see what the vinyl (air release or not) looks like when it arrives-it should have been here today...
I appreciate the feedback-thanks again!
Posted by Joy Kjer (Member # 3026) on :
I inevitably get a few bubbles when I use this product and find that I poke them but it takes a few days for those bubbles to completely disappear (which they do). I tell the customers this is normal. Is it? Or is is just me and my lame application skills?
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Many people think bubbles in vinyl are normal and that they will go away in a few days. Well actually they do not always go away and getting them in the application process does noT have to be normal.
Roger
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
After buying 6.5 lineal metres of the etchmark vinyl, (I needed 4.2 metres, and decided to get 2 extra 'just in case'), we arrived to find it already done by the glazier when they fitted the windows...
Anyhow we had other window stuff (digital prints) to do & did a wet-install, but a few 3 x 2 ft pieces are a piece of cake, compared with a couple of 7 ft x 4 ft bits...
