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I'm very new at this, but I installed a 24" window sign dry and had some trouble handling it by myself after the transfer tape was removed. I was afraid that it would stick where I didn't want it to. I WILL be installing bigger graphics eventually, but is there a trick to handling these bigger pieces? Thanks for your help, Michelle
------------------ Michelle Ray
Posts: 20 | From: Alturas,CA USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Michelle...In addition to using Roger's Rapid Tac try using the "hinge" method.
Tack the graphic into place and level it up, using a couple of small pieces of masking tape to hold it in position. Then lay a strip of masking tape along the top edge or the bottom edge of the graphic, so that half the tape is on the graphic and half is on the surface and creating a hinge. (I prefer bottom hinge myself) remove the small pieces of tape and let the graphic fall down away from the surface and remove the becking paper. NOW you can spray RapidTac on the sticky side of the graphic if you prefer or you can start squeegying it up dry.
On even larger graphics I will pull the backing paper off about half way and let the backing paper act as a "backbine" to keep the graphic stable. Squeegy up half way and then remove the rest of the backing and apply.
Another way of hinging is used if the graphics are extra long. Position the graphic and run a strip of masking tape vertically down the middle of the graphic and onto the surface. (make sure the part of the tape on the surface is securely stuck down. Now fold one end of the graphic over top of the other end and pull off the backing paper. Use scissors to cut off that part of the backing. Squeegy down that end of the graphic. Leave the pre-mask on and remove the center hinge. fold the other end over the "applied" end and remove the rest of ther backing paper and apply that end of the graphic.
A word of warning...DO NOT get the backing paper wet with application fluid or even a few raindrops or it will shear when you try to remove it and leave parts on the adhesive. If ANY mositure gets on the backing paper, either wait till it dries naturally of use a heat gun to accelerate the drying process.
Dave Draper gave me tip that I use if it is an outdoor installation and windy. Double or triple layers of premask will make the graphic quite rigid and less likely to "flop" around in the wind.
------------------ 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
[This message has been edited by Dave Grundy (edited June 20, 2001).]
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Dave didn't tell ya that "cleaning" with Rapid Tac first is MOST important,wheather you use hinge or not,I usually don't on something under 60", and if its larger but I have a helper I still don't use hinge( too much extra time for me) just clean well, measure and mark, spray the surface and or the "stickey side of vinyl" throw it up there and posistion, squeegee firmly, wait 90 or so seconds, spray trans tape and pull off at 45 degree angle(back over itself). Yer done !!
BTW, Thanks Dave !!
Roger
------------------ Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated Waikoloa, Hawaii
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If you didn't learn a trick or two from Roger & Dave, Rob Ivers had a HOW-TO article that can be used. (Insert Roger's clean surface with Rapid-Tac comment, because no other application step will get you better results) Fold a inch or so of the backing paper back unto itself(hey this sounds a lot like what Dave was talking about) Tape the graphic securely in place with masking tape strips at intervals top & bottom. Now begin feeding the folded edge of the backing paper under the entire graphic left to right for me, if your masking tape strips were placed at a convenient interval without being to tight, you should have no problem getting a hold of the folded paper edge. The backing paper will prop up the graphic and application tape some, as it is rolled back. Squeege as you go. You will soon have the folded end fed through the opposite end of the graphic, and then, it gets real easy, but continue to take your time and squeege as you go. This works on rivets to. Some of my biggest mistakes were trying to conserve application paper and vinyl, by not letting the app paper run past the edge of the backing paper and leaving enough space around the graphic. Don't try to save some money on vinyl & application paper, just to cost yourself valuable time on the installation end.
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Wet or Dry... Roger's way or Dave's way will work for you! Have you ever tried 3'X 30' dry? Now that's a different story! I use Dave's idea of allowing it to hang down with gravity.
Pick it up by the corners and pinch it tight as well as in the centre before squeegee. Great for flat surfaces....
If you are doing corrugated surface hinge the top and allow to hang very loose down.
work the product as you go along.Top to Bottom. If you have a wrinkle or snag a quick snap back will release it! Always work from side to side on it and not top to bottom. Hope this helps...
------------------ Raven/2001 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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I do a fair share of race trailers. This spring I had a Go-kart 42" x 10'. I split it down to 21' x 10'. Hindged in the middle and put the whole thing on dry. Practice, Practice, Practice.
------------------ Rob Larkham RL Graphic D-Sign Chester, MA rldsigns@aol.com
Posts: 517 | From: Chester, MA | Registered: May 2001
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Rob said something most newbies never even think of....Practice!
Why not just take a roll of vinyl and practice with it, both wet and dry application, side ways and verticle hinge methods, over rivits over glass, over anything, and see what problems occur.
If you are determined to learn on you own, then practicing with a roll of vinyl is a very small price to pay for the education.
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA Get To A Letterhead Meet This Summer! See you there! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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After 15 years of applying vinyl I didn't think I had much to learn - until I did a 3M applicators' course. Do they have them in the USA? Our vinyl supplier organised it here and it was GREAT, I now approach the job differently and have greater confidence. Basically the methods we learned were about dry application using various hinge methods. The only down-side is that I use a lot more masking tape now BTW this is NOT an ad for 3M vinyl, I use all kinds, mostly Calon.
------------------ Gray M. Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania.
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Another thing that works sometimes in helping to steady the end that you are holding on to while you squeegie up to it (especially on laying down flat - not vertical - applications), on graphics that are a couple feet tall or more (you know, the kind that you can't hold with one hand without it wanting to fold up and stick to itself??!!)
Leave enough app tape hanging past the end of the graphic. Put it where it goes, hinge it, fold the graphic back on itself, so the backing paper is up. Peel off the backing paper to the hinge & cut. Then take a yardstick and attach it securely to the end of the app tape.
The yardstick will hold the app tape & graphic nice and flat while you squeegie up to it.
Gee... thats kinda hard to explain!! Hope I did ok.
------------------ Dana Aaron docs-gal on chat
I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently, you have to show up.
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Thanks for all the replies! I just realized that I said "transfer tape" when I meant "backing paper"! Thanks for your mercy, that OTHER message board would have chewed me up and spit me out! I've been practicing on a 50 yard roll of premium vinyl and things are going well. Also, how do I become a "resident"? "supporter", etc..?
------------------ Michelle Ray
Posts: 20 | From: Alturas,CA USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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[http]www.letterhead.com/residents/index.html [/http] is the place to go for your residency. Sometimes I put the backing paper back on but a few inches of the graphic then position it and flip it up and proceed to squeedge as it lays down while i get the backing off again. Most of the time...I use Roger method. É
------------------ Élaine Beauchemin scrip Lettrage Scripsit inc. St-Hubert, Quebec, Canada www.scripsit.net scripsit@Mlink.net
BTW this is NOT an ad for 3M vinyl, I use all kinds, mostly Calon.
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