vinyl app
Vinyl Application Instructions Tools required: Masking tape, scissors, squeegee, lint-free cloth, SignsUS Deep Cleaner and de-waxer, application fluid, needle or Xacto knife & ruler or tape measure.
Application temperature should be above 50° F (13° C). If extremely cold, move to an enclosed area and allow the surface temperature to warm. If extremely hot, move to a shaded area.
Step 1 Clean the surface with SignsUS Deep Cleaner to remove all wax, silicones and other surface impurities (or several drops of greasecutting liquid detergent in water – DO NOT use a petroleum or solvent based cleaner like mineral spirits or lacquer thinner ). Rinse clean with fresh water then dry with a lint-free cloth or Bounty Brand Paper Towels. As a final cleaning step, wiping the surface with rubbing alcohol will also help remove moisture and enhance the overall application process.
Step 2 Put a piece of masking tape AT THE TOP, on each end of your vinyl transfer. Carefully position the vinyl in the area where you plan to apply it and anchor each end to the surface with masking tape. Quick Tip: Mark the Center of the graphic, left to right, and simply visually align the center mark on the graphic with a center mark previously placed on the surface, just above the graphic. To put a center mark ON the surface, just put a small piece of masking tape down and put the mark on the masking tape with a pen. This helps save time centering the vinyl left to right.
Step 3 Use a tape measure or ruler to level each end of the vinyl transfer. Also, make sure the graphic is centered left to right.
Step 4 Once the vinyl graphics are in place, apply one or two strips of masking tape along the top edge of the sheet in order to create a “hinge”. . Be sure half of the masking tape is on the graphic and the other half is on the surface. This will hold the entire graphic securely in place for the next step
Step 5 Beginners can make the application process even easier by cutting between the letters. The masking tape hinge at the top keeps all the vinyl graphics pre-spaced. Handling small sections at a time can be extremely helpful during windy conditions. In fact, while laying down small sections of vinyl, you can tape the rest of the graphic down along the bottom edge so it’s not flying around while applying individual sections.
Step 6 Now you are ready to start applying your vinyl graphics. Next, on the first section, carefully start removing the backing (wax paper) from behind the vinyl. If for any reason the vinyl is not sticking to the masking, lay the wax paper back down, lay the vinyl down onto the surface and squeegee the front of the graphic again, which will force the masking to make a better bond with the vinyl. Then Repeat Step 6
Step 7 Next, with a section of the vinyl letters flipped up and wax backing removed, spray some of the Application Fluid directly onto the surface exactly where the text will fall. Be EXTRA careful NOT to get any application fluid on the graphics not being applied yet.
Step 8 Hinge down the lettering and while holding the bottom of the graphic, AWAY from the surface, Begin to systematically squeegee the letters down onto the surface. Let the force of the squeegee itself, attach the letters to the surface. Don’t let the letters touch prior to the squeegee forcing the vinyl against the surface. USE SYSTEMATIC, EVEN, FIRM PRESSURE as you squeegee. The more pressure you apply, the more moisture will be eliminated and the better the bond. The adhesive is literally “activated” by using firm pressure.
Step 9 Continue on with the rest of the sections until you are finished. Once you are finished applying the letters, WAIT AT LEAST 15-30 MINUTES before you pull up the masking, otherwise you increase your risk of the letters peeling up and weakening the adhesive bond. IF the letters do peel up, carefully lay the vinyl back down, re-squeegee and wait for it to set, perhaps even as long as an hour or two depending on temperature and humidity.
Step 10 Now that you’ve waited, spray the front of the masking with application fluid saturating it completely. This makes the masking release easier from the vinyl graphics. Then start peeling the top sheet off. As you peel, DO NOT pull directly toward yourself or this may cause the vinyl graphic to lift off from the surface. Instead, moving very slowly from one side, peel from a sharp (180 degree) angle.
Almost Finished … If after removing the application tape, any air bubbles are apparent, puncture one end of the bubble with a pin, needle or Xacto knife blade and gently squeegee out the air towards the puncture hole. Tiny and sometimes, not so tiny bubbles take care of themselves when the vinyl heats up and cools back down a few times. The air totally dissipates and the vinyl lays down smooth!
Application temperature should be above 50° F (13° C). If extremely cold, move to an enclosed area and allow the surface temperature to warm. If extremely hot, move to a shaded area.
Step 1 Clean the surface with SignsUS Deep Cleaner to remove all wax, silicones and other surface impurities (or several drops of greasecutting liquid detergent in water – DO NOT use a petroleum or solvent based cleaner like mineral spirits or lacquer thinner ). Rinse clean with fresh water then dry with a lint-free cloth or Bounty Brand Paper Towels. As a final cleaning step, wiping the surface with rubbing alcohol will also help remove moisture and enhance the overall application process.
Step 2 Put a piece of masking tape AT THE TOP, on each end of your vinyl transfer. Carefully position the vinyl in the area where you plan to apply it and anchor each end to the surface with masking tape. Quick Tip: Mark the Center of the graphic, left to right, and simply visually align the center mark on the graphic with a center mark previously placed on the surface, just above the graphic. To put a center mark ON the surface, just put a small piece of masking tape down and put the mark on the masking tape with a pen. This helps save time centering the vinyl left to right.
Step 3 Use a tape measure or ruler to level each end of the vinyl transfer. Also, make sure the graphic is centered left to right.
Step 4 Once the vinyl graphics are in place, apply one or two strips of masking tape along the top edge of the sheet in order to create a “hinge”. . Be sure half of the masking tape is on the graphic and the other half is on the surface. This will hold the entire graphic securely in place for the next step
Step 5 Beginners can make the application process even easier by cutting between the letters. The masking tape hinge at the top keeps all the vinyl graphics pre-spaced. Handling small sections at a time can be extremely helpful during windy conditions. In fact, while laying down small sections of vinyl, you can tape the rest of the graphic down along the bottom edge so it’s not flying around while applying individual sections.
Step 6 Now you are ready to start applying your vinyl graphics. Next, on the first section, carefully start removing the backing (wax paper) from behind the vinyl. If for any reason the vinyl is not sticking to the masking, lay the wax paper back down, lay the vinyl down onto the surface and squeegee the front of the graphic again, which will force the masking to make a better bond with the vinyl. Then Repeat Step 6
Step 7 Next, with a section of the vinyl letters flipped up and wax backing removed, spray some of the Application Fluid directly onto the surface exactly where the text will fall. Be EXTRA careful NOT to get any application fluid on the graphics not being applied yet.
Step 8 Hinge down the lettering and while holding the bottom of the graphic, AWAY from the surface, Begin to systematically squeegee the letters down onto the surface. Let the force of the squeegee itself, attach the letters to the surface. Don’t let the letters touch prior to the squeegee forcing the vinyl against the surface. USE SYSTEMATIC, EVEN, FIRM PRESSURE as you squeegee. The more pressure you apply, the more moisture will be eliminated and the better the bond. The adhesive is literally “activated” by using firm pressure.
Step 9 Continue on with the rest of the sections until you are finished. Once you are finished applying the letters, WAIT AT LEAST 15-30 MINUTES before you pull up the masking, otherwise you increase your risk of the letters peeling up and weakening the adhesive bond. IF the letters do peel up, carefully lay the vinyl back down, re-squeegee and wait for it to set, perhaps even as long as an hour or two depending on temperature and humidity.
Step 10 Now that you’ve waited, spray the front of the masking with application fluid saturating it completely. This makes the masking release easier from the vinyl graphics. Then start peeling the top sheet off. As you peel, DO NOT pull directly toward yourself or this may cause the vinyl graphic to lift off from the surface. Instead, moving very slowly from one side, peel from a sharp (180 degree) angle.
Almost Finished … If after removing the application tape, any air bubbles are apparent, puncture one end of the bubble with a pin, needle or Xacto knife blade and gently squeegee out the air towards the puncture hole. Tiny and sometimes, not so tiny bubbles take care of themselves when the vinyl heats up and cools back down a few times. The air totally dissipates and the vinyl lays down smooth!
