can I varnish over vinyl lettering and which vinyl would be best?

[WallSpice]

Newbie here. Just posted my introduction in the welcome forum.

My question is: can I varnish over vinyl lettering and which vinyl would be best?

I have a client that wants to put a cut vinyl logo on the bottom of a few skateboards and varnish over them. He knows they'll eventually get trashed as the kids grind etc. But wants to help it last a bit longer by varnishing. Will the vinyl handle that? My fear is it will bubble or shrink, even melt?

I tried to steer him towards cutting a vinyl mask and painting the logos. He is in too big of a hurry.

 

[Big EZ Signs LLC]

My advice - don't. I used Spar Urethane on vinyl many moons ago. What it did is unmentionable. ( Ok, it looks like crap now. The vinyl is all cracked and shrunk )

 

[Gino]

On a sign.....No. For this application.... what's it matter ??

Varnish will hold up, but the vinyl will continue to shrink causing a very ugly mess in no time. Clear it with some 'FrogJuice' and make the guy happy..... and charge extra for it.

 

[chopper]

I have used automotive clear over vinyl but not varnish,....
used spars over gold leaf but that is it, maybe you need to describe your project more to get better results //chopper

 

[Si Allen]

You will be much better served by using a clear vinly instead of varnish.

 

[WallSpice]

Thank you for the advice

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like a mess.

 

[Billct2]

Use auto paint protection film.

 

[mekazilla]

it won't matter what you spray on it, as soon as the vinyl slides on concrete or a rail it's going to tear. It's definitely not worth the extra time for spraying and drying if he's in a rush.

 

[WallSpice]

Thanks for all the replies. I cut the vinyl, told him I couldn't recommend varnishing. I think he found someone to get auto film from. Moved on - figured I had better things to think about.

 

[cOrKinSA]

I love it when a "noob" ask a question, gets an answer and, in the end post his ending results.
So refreshing!

 

[Dave Drane]

I'm sure a 2 pak (clear + hardener) would work.
I have done it before and it looked OK when it left the workshop, kinda like a motorbike tank.

 

[Bill Modzel]

We reverse print on clear .008" lexan which is than laminated to a white backing sheet for trade show graphics. I'd think that this would be a very durable way to handle skateboards.

 

[Shovelhead]

clear epoxy?

 

[Flame]

Been there done that. Triple lam the print or if it's cut vinyl then auto clear. The vinyl will shrink eventually, but look good for a while.