We are making routing some letters out of 3/4" white PVC. We want the face of the letters to be black and the return to be white. Our plan was to apply black vinyl to the top and go over the return with a white paint (hopefully to reduce it looking yellow in the future). We are slightly worried about the long term adhesion of the vinyl to the PVC. These letters would be outside. Is there a way to prep the surface for vinyl application? Any tips or tricks we should know. Thanks in advance!!
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Question Applying Vinyl to PVC letters
- Thread starter RiSun
- Start date
MikePro
New Member
you definitely want to paint the letters for exterior use. black expanded foam pvc turns chalky/grey, white discolors as well.
I've still slung them up unpainted and its "good enough from down here", but the unpainted faces have ALWAYS received complaints. Even had one set that was supposed to be temporary, discussed the known issue with the client, but they were only expecting to be in the tenant slot for under a year so it was "fancy-temporary", but cheap.... well, apparently there's also an odd interaction where the buildings across the street would block some of the sunlight most of the day, but cast a beam of light at the center of his building at the end of the day, leaving most of the letters unphased EXCEPT three letters in the center of a set of 30 degraded from UV exposure within a few months!
so if your intent is to have black face/white returns, then paint the whole letter white, face-up, and apply the black to a painted surface and you'll have no issue with longterm adhesion.
I've still slung them up unpainted and its "good enough from down here", but the unpainted faces have ALWAYS received complaints. Even had one set that was supposed to be temporary, discussed the known issue with the client, but they were only expecting to be in the tenant slot for under a year so it was "fancy-temporary", but cheap.... well, apparently there's also an odd interaction where the buildings across the street would block some of the sunlight most of the day, but cast a beam of light at the center of his building at the end of the day, leaving most of the letters unphased EXCEPT three letters in the center of a set of 30 degraded from UV exposure within a few months!
so if your intent is to have black face/white returns, then paint the whole letter white, face-up, and apply the black to a painted surface and you'll have no issue with longterm adhesion.
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Any suggestions on what paint you have used and liked? We tried using a One Shot paint and it peeled right off.
These are for outside use.
MikePro
New Member
in my limited experiences with paints, anything is possible with the right base.... you may have had issues with one shot bonding with the surface, in which case there would have been a primer/adhesion promoter to be sprayed beforehand.
in a jiffy, Krylon paints for plastics is an easy go-to.
in-house, we use matthews acrylic polyurethane paint system, and i believe that also requires an adhesion promoter for PVC.
in a jiffy, Krylon paints for plastics is an easy go-to.
in-house, we use matthews acrylic polyurethane paint system, and i believe that also requires an adhesion promoter for PVC.
John_Smith
Enjoying retirement in Central Florida
I have found that sanding PVC sheet with a palm sander will greatly increase
the primer and paint adhering to the PVC. (320 grit sandpaper).
there are primers formulated for plastic - strongly suggest a good primer and any
30 year acrylic or latex house paint from a reputable "paint store" (not a big box store).
the primer and paint adhering to the PVC. (320 grit sandpaper).
there are primers formulated for plastic - strongly suggest a good primer and any
30 year acrylic or latex house paint from a reputable "paint store" (not a big box store).
visual800
Active Member
First offf take the one shot paint and trash it since thats all its good for.
clean pvc with alcohol and prime with 2 part epoxy primer and then spray a latex paint as topcoat, we use BEHR for no other reason than we like it. Give it about 3 coats and then then route a coupe days later. No need to paint the returns on the letters
clean pvc with alcohol and prime with 2 part epoxy primer and then spray a latex paint as topcoat, we use BEHR for no other reason than we like it. Give it about 3 coats and then then route a coupe days later. No need to paint the returns on the letters