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I couldn't find the prior post(debate) on this subject. Someone had a ratio for Johnsons Baby Shampoo & water, but I didn't write it down. Could someone let me know.
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Hi Wayne...I don't know what the ratio is because I don't use soapy water for wet application. Just thought I'd mention that I buy RapidTac by the gallon and a gallon lasts me about a year. It costs $35 Canadian and that works out to about 70 cents a week. I sure would recommend that you reconsider trying to save a few cents/week and use something that won't cause you possible problems. All you have to do is have a problem with one job that's worth $100 and you could have bought a 3 year supply of the proper application fluid. A lot of folks DO use homemade recipes but I just can't bring myself to scrimp on something that is so inexepensive to start with.
It's kinda like a guy I know who used to do backyard body jobs. He asked me what kind of paint I used and I told him. I also told him that it required hardener to make it cure properly. He bought a gallon of the paint and decided that HE didn't need to pay the added expense of buying hardener. A week later after the paint had FINALLY "set up" he took the vehicle to the gas station and filled it up. unfortunately he overfilled it and some gas ran down the side of the vehicle. AND so did a bunch of the paint!!!!!! So much for cutting corners and "saving" money!!!!!!
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
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V. Wayne, The mixture is 1 tablespoon to a quart of water and it's not for saving money I use it for. I use it for applying large vinyl panels especially ones I have to do by myself and in hot weather, it allows you to move the vinyl with ease and doesn't dry before you can place the vinyl, here in Georgia we have 100 plus degree days, many of them. I am a big lover of Rapid Tac especially Rapid tac 2 , I LOVE IT! I've used this method of Johnson's Baby Shampoo for over 12 years never had one problem, no adhesive failures. Think of it this way if it's gentle enough for your baby's eyes, it's gentle enough for your vinyl's adhesive,guarnteed not to make you cry.
find a distributor in your area for BASIC H. It is a BIODEGRADEABLE SAFE product for app solution. A QUART of this concentrate will last you FOREVER!!!! (I Mean it) It costs less than ten bucks for the QT
2 drops(yes you heard right) in a quart of water will make the best app solution around. I have been using it for about 4 years and it is the best thing I have ever used. I just got through doing a big application of multiple big pieces of material, and several small detailed pieces...the coolest thing of all is that you can, after squeegeeing it down well, remove the app tape IMMEDIATELY. NO WAITING. It is the coolest thing I ever saw...it is really amazing how well this stuff works!!
Try it, at less than a PENNY PER GALLON and equal or better performance to the commercial prods out there, I guarrantee you will never go back!!!
Barry
------------------ Master's Touch Signs & Screenprinting Clinton AR 5017456246 ICQ 17430008 "Imagine the Possibilities..."
Posts: 2500 | From: Clinton, AR USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Roger, I like the Rapid Remover, The Rapid Clear, and the Rapid Prep but my vinyl supplier (American Traffic Safety Materials) tells me that soapy water is OK but any brand of app. fluid will void the vinyl warranty. So for wet app. I use about 3 drops Joy to a quart and we use only HP cast vinyl.
Why is this?
------------------ Wayne Webb Webb Sign Studio creators of "woodesigns" "autograph your work with excellence" webbsignstudio@digitalexp.com
[This message has been edited by Wayne Webb (edited February 14, 2001).]
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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“The sweetness of low price is long forgotten after the bitterness of poor quality”. I have used soapy water, Windex, simple green etc. But nothing works and smells as good as Rapid Tac. Now that Roger is in Hawaii I hear they are going to produce a coconut tropical scented version. You will be able to purchase it as a holiday gift package! Oh ya, did you hear that Windex and Simple green are now sponsors of the Letterheads. Go Roger Go!
------------------ Ken Morse Jamn Graphics Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 213 | From: Santa Cruz, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Nobody has mentioned even TRYING BASIC H. It is, I assure you far more than soap. It has proven itself to me over 4 years, and frankly that is enough for me.
I am not nearly so much interested in which product is a "sponsor of this site" as I am about: 1. Increasing MY bottom line at the end of the year. 2. Learning to do what I do better, faster, cheaper, and with ever increasing style and flair! 3. Help everybody else here to do the same thing....if and when I can.
That is what letterheads is about. I have nothing personal against roger..or his product..I just know a great deal when I see one, and my intent is only to share that.
Sorry if that steps on anybody's toes.
B
------------------ Master's Touch Signs & Screenprinting Clinton AR 5017456246 ICQ 17430008 "Imagine the Possibilities..."
Posts: 2500 | From: Clinton, AR USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Barry..I haven't tried any of the other "application fluid" recipes because the stuff I use works for me and at $35/year it isn't going to make a whole lot of difference to the "bottom line" at the end of the year.
BUT (Off Topic) I am open to other ideas when there is something slightly risky about using a method that I currently use. I am refering to the use of EasyOff oven cleaner for removing OneShot. I was measuring up some sailboats the other day and the workers were using something that I had never seen before to remove painted lettering. It appeared to work better than EasyOff. I am going back to the marina next week and I will obtain a pint of the stuff they were using and see how it works. Apparently it is formulated for the job. I'll try it and see how it works and if it does I'll be posting a message as to it's effectiveness or it's pitfalls. (Before anyone says anything..yes I know about the differences between gel coat, Imron, AwlGrip, lacquer, and catalized acrylic enamel finishes, and even uncatalyzed paints! )
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
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Yes Barry,I agree with you people do want it cheaper and faster. But quality work is neither cheaper or faster! And the bottom line is using the correct methods and tools for the correct price which gives you the opportunity to serve your client in a more professional manner without some problems that arise when not using correct anything. And Barry before I forget, this site would not exist if the suppliers pulled up stakes on all these letterheads. And BTW does Clinton have anything to do with your town?
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Hey Barry, That Basic H is good stuff. My sis in law used to sell it and you can even mix it with water to make your plants healthier/greener. Never thought about using it for app. fluid though.
------------------ Wayne Webb Webb Sign Studio creators of "woodesigns" "autograph your work with excellence" webbsignstudio@digitalexp.com
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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and HECK NO JOEY!!!!!! THankfully, to my knowledge the slickmeister has never even been here.
I am a cousin to a former governor here though, and according to his wife your first impression of Bill is usually your best...in a real life situation......
B
------------------ Master's Touch Signs & Screenprinting Clinton AR 5017456246 ICQ 17430008 "Imagine the Possibilities..."
Posts: 2500 | From: Clinton, AR USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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My reply to Wayne, V.Wayne, Tasmus, Heres the deal boys; 1- if you think using some "household cleaner" is better than even giving Rapid Tac a try,great cause you are not the type of people I am lookin for and I would be afraid that you would not be able to figure out following instructions anyway !!
2- you aparently are the kind of people that place "price" over "quality"
Thanks anyway, Roger
------------------ Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated Waikoloa, Hawaii
I feel you've spoken too soon, for me anyway. I'm new to stickin' vinyl, so I feel I'm justified in trying different products in order to become educated. Let me at least prove to myself that, yes, maybe your product is superior. Maybe you should not be so hasty next time, cause with comments like that, I'd likely not ever buy from you even if I did like the product. I'm still looking forward to tring it though.
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Everyone is picking on Roger Again! use what every you think is in the best interest of the job.. Myself I use beer as an application fluid. 1 shot on the vinyl and a slug for me.. another shot on the vinyl and a slug for me! At the end of the job I'm happy, the Sign is happy, and the customer is happy!
Now lets be all happy together!
Raven/2001 (I really haven't tried beer but it sounded good)
------------------ Raven/2000 Airbrushed by Raven Lower sackville N.S. deveausdiscovery@sprint.ca
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
OK, I use Rapid Tac. Why? Even if you only pay a "penny per gallon" for your stuff, you still need to take the time to purchase the soap, mix it, store it in a container you provide, and at my shop rate, if this whole process only took 20 minutes, it would still cost me more than Rapid Tac! It takes me about 1 minute to notice I'm low and tell my supplier to drop off a gallon. You know, I bet I could make my own MDO, though.... HMMMMM......
------------------ Tim Whitcher Quality Signs & Design 107 E Adrian St Blissfield, MI 49228 qualitysigns@cass.net
Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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heay i've used rapid tac for years and i swear by it. before rapid tac i used to use 50% water 50% iso and on drop of "ivory" soap in one of those spray bottles. because it's clear and never leaves a haze when applying second surface onto glass. I've never tried the johnson soap but i'll give it a shot on my large graphics. sounds like a great idea.
Oh well, talk to you later
------------------ wayne Zawacki
Posts: 15 | From: Victoria B.C. Canada | Registered: Oct 2000
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quote:I like the Rapid Remover, The Rapid Clear, and the Rapid Prep but my vinyl supplier (American Traffic Safety Materials) tells me that soapy water is OK but any brand of app. fluid will void the vinyl warranty. So for wet app. I use about 3 drops Joy to a quart and we use only HP cast vinyl. Why is this?
Roger, Undoubtly you are the one that can't follow simple English, So, I'll try to convey it(TELL YOU) in second graders lingo:
SEE SPOT? SEE STICKY SPOT? SPOT CAN RUN SPRAY SPOT SPRAY SPOT WITH RAPID REMOVER SEE SPOT RUN? SPOT CAN RUN RUN RUN SPOT IS GONE SPOT IS GONE GONE GONE NO MORE SPOT
#1.I tried the products. #2 I liked the products. #3 I use them. #4 I wanted to use the application fluid.
BUT, my vinyl supplier says they will not stand behind the vinyl (and by the way, we use only HP vinyl as well as other top quality materials) if I use any kind of application fluid. I am very satisfied with my vinyl. So, If you think you can, find out why I can't use it with this supplier's vinyl.
I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I have just barely enough sense left to not appreciate my intelligence being insulted or my workmanship and attention to quality put in question. So, instead of hurling personal insults at someone who has wasted no opportunity to show his appreciation and praise for your products, don't you think it would be better if you could do a little homework and find out why this supplier (shown above) doesn't approve of any application fluid? Thanks in advance for being conscientious. I try to be. Suppose I used the application fluid and had a durability problem with some vinyl on one of my jobs. Even if it wasn't the fault of the fluid, would you rather me lie and tell the supplier that I was using soapy water? Check it out for us, Roger. ATSM 888.722.2876
BTW: I always read and follow the directions.
------------------ Wayne Webb Webb Sign Studio creators of "woodesigns" "autograph your work with excellence" webbsignstudio@digitalexp.com
[This message has been edited by Wayne Webb (edited February 15, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Wayne Webb (edited February 15, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Wayne Webb (edited February 15, 2001).]
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Actually, If you coat the whole surface with Pelucid first, and then while it's still wet, apply the vinyl film. Now you can add noodles, stars, sequins, lttle multi-colored candy thingies, and lots of decorative items!
They'll LOVE you in Tiajuana!
------------------ St.Marie Graphics & Makin' Tracks Sound Studio Kalispell, Montana stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com 800 735-8026 We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)
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Roger, I love all your Rapid Tac products but for really large vinyl panels it's not slippery enough on 100 degree days,but why don't you invent a more slippery version like Rapid Tac Slip EZ for us that are in very hot climates.You make it we'll buy it !
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