Applying Graphics

[Adrian LeeMember]

whats the best and easiest way to apply graphics ?

what do i use to prepare the plastics ?

[Dwayne OMember]

I think 3M adhesive remover & Cleaner is a good start if they plastics are old & had others on before.
Then Dow Corning OS-2 Silicone Cleaner & Surface Prep before applying the new ones, it removes all residues and gives a good clean surface. I actually use these products to apply Decals to Trains for Railcorp that we build, thats sticking them to Bead Blasted Stainless Steel and it works a treat Also use the same prep in side the trains on fibreglass panels etc

Slightly soapy water sprayed on the new decals to allow them to be positioned, then rubber squeegee to remove the water & let them stick where you want them to stick A warm blow with a heat gun helps to form them over difficult curves etc & also assists the glue to adhere

Good Luck mate,, it can be an artform in itself :whistle:

[Paul FaheyMember]

Being an octypus would help!!

I am relatively inexperienced at applying them, but happened to be fortunate to have tim ex TNC call around and apply three sticker kits for me.

A heat gun was certainly in the ready as was flexible plastic scraper. Tim picked a straight even centre line across the surface of the plastic, he then applied the graphic along that line, using scraper to keep the bubbles out. He then worked the graphic using the scraper from the centre line out towards the edges of the plastic, heating the graphic to shape over the curves etc. Just not to much heat or the graphic will get out of shape real quick (the wife’s hair dyer worked fine).

Apply the graphic slowly and evenly from the centre line out to the edges and dont be affraid to pull the graphic back up if it is not going to plan. It will stick again, the glue is very good.

Once completed work from the centre line on the other side.

I do get my kids to help, i hold the graphic where it has to go, one presses down on the graphic along the centre line to stick it down and another kid holds up the outside edges so that the graphic doesnt stick to the plastic when the centreline is stuck down. Works for me, ha ha, but i am a novice.

Unit

[SteveMember]

It makes me laugh at some of the antics people do to stick down there graphics, I’ve seen some clasics over the years :laugh:
first off, I’m a signwriter and this is how I do it all the time.

HOW TO REMOVE OLD GRAPHICS

1) To remove old graphics get a hair dryer (NOT A HEAT GUN, WAY TO HOT) and some turps and some rags
2) Use the heat gun to soften the stickers and peel them off.
3) Use a rag well soaked with turps and wipe it over the remaining adhesive (just keep rubbing at it and keep it wet with turps, it will all eventually come off)
4) Keep doing this until the adhesive softens and comes off, when the rag gets all slimy with adhesive chuck it out and get a clean one.
5) After you have all the adhesive off get a new clean rag and wipe the whole area down 1 final time with turps.
6) Then get some normal washing up liquid (MAKE SURE IT’S NOT LEMON, LEMON DAMAGES THE NEW ADHESIVES) and wash the whole area down with a fairly
strong solution of Washing up liquid, and then rinse clean.
7) rub your hand over the surface to check you got alll the glue off
give it a wipe down with metho if you really want but I don’t usually bother but doesen’t hurt either

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HOW TO APPLY NEW GRAPHICS

You will need the following tools:
A 500ml plastic spray bottle, the type you remove the trigger from.
A squeegee of some kind, you can get stiff rubber ones from a hardware store
Washing Up Liquid (NON LEMON TYPE)
Clean Rags
Hair Dryer

1) Rinse out the spray bottle to remove any crap that may be in there
2) Fill it nearly to the top and put about 1/2 a teaspoon of washing up liquid (AGAIN MAKE SURE IT’S NOT LEMON, LEMON DAMAGES THE NEW ADHESIVES)into the bottle and shake it to mix it up
3) Spray down the plastics you are going to stick the graphics to
4) Peel the graphics off the backing paper and spray the sticky side with the washing up solution
5) spray enough on to make them slippery and then move the graphics into position
6) Now spray the front of the graphics as well, it makes it easier to squeegee out the air bubbles
7) Take your squeegee and squeegee out the water starting in the middle and then work out from there
I usually squeegee a vertical line from the middle up and the middle down and then work horizontally to the outside edges

Now here’s the tricky bit, Stickers will stick to a single curved surface no problem (an arc like a mud guard)
but don’t like to stick to compound curves (that is like a ball, curves in 2 directions at once)

So squeegee out as far as it will go and then just wait for it to dry leaving the unstuck edges up then get your hair dryer and start to heat the graphics
and stretch them gently and squeegee then down at the same time, this is where you may need some help, it’s tricky to heat, stretch and squeegee at the same time, takes a bit of practice

The heating and stretching allows the graphics to wrap around compound curves, if you have cleaned the plastics well you should have no problems

MOST IMPORTANT, KEEP YOUR FINGERS CLEAN AND WHEN YOU ARE HANDLING THE GRAPHICS KEEP THEM WET WITH THE SOAP SOLUTION, EXCEPT FOR THE LAST BIT WHERE YOU ARE HEATING AND STRETCHING

Hope this helps, any questions ?

[DeanMember]

Nice explanation there steve I think it may be a bit of a black art I have a set of Graphics in the garage waiting to go on the RMX and the Gasgas. I could use a a few extra fingers too :blush:

Ollie

[alanMember]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: good one fingers

[peteMember]

a tip i was told was to get the wifes clear nail polish and paint the edges of your stickers and this seals the edges stopping it from pealing up.

PTW

[SteveMember]

The clear nail polish might work, but I’m not sure if it sticks to plastics very well, another good way is to get some 10mm pinstrip tape and stick that half on the graphics and half on the plastics, pinstrip tape will bend around just about any corner

Steve

[Adrian LeeMember]

Thanks for the advice guys,graphics have arrived and I’ll have a go at putting them on during the week.
I’ll post up photos if I’m succesfull

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