Looking for some emergency advice

[jtiii]

So I am struggling with applying vinyl on the rear quarter of a Ford 350 van. I've got a one got by six foot rectangle with letters reversed out that runs forward from the tail light and stays just below the crease. Unfortunately every time I go over the slight flare around the wheel well I run into trouble; the material creases.
I am using oracal 751 and 4075rla. I have fourteen vans to do. The first two panels I applied dry - I have since switched to a wet apply. I'm hinging along the rear edge and squeegeeing up and down from the center as I move forward. I realize this is a complete newb issue. Unfortunately I flew halfway across country to do this and I'm on a tight schedule. I'll probably be doing these all night, so any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[jtiii]

Aargh....

I can't figure out how to attach a picture from my phone

 

[Moze]

sent you a pm....

 

[Moze]

Pics attached.

 

[jtiii]

Thanks Moze! :U Rock: As long as I've got you here.... any advice?

 

[ddarlak]

what are you squeegeeing them with? a brick?

i would do them dry, but it's obvious you took on something you have zero skill in, so spray the crap out of both the decal and the van.

use you hand to smooth it in place, then the brick your using for a squeegee, then drench the top of the mask and you can pull it off, you must hold on to the graphic because it will want to come off too.


good luck

 

[Stormyj]

I have to agree with the above post. This is a pretty easy job. Why you are having a problem where those creases are is anyone's guess. Maybe you applied the application tape incorrectly? Couldn't say. it they are creasing, just apply the rest of it peal off application tape and peel up the vinyl where it is creasing and lay back down. Use a squeegee with felt on it so you don't damage the vinyl. Also, I have trimmed the vinyl and laid back down on itself so that it doesn't have that crease in it. Although it still does, but it looks intentional, which it is, but is still a mistake. Ah yea. Good luck

 

[jtiii]

what are you squeegeeing them with? a brick?

3M blue squeegee. I have to disagree with the zero skill thing though - I have enough skill to be overconfident! Honestly, I've been making signs for fifteen years, but we're a low volume shop. All the graphics I've installed on vehicles in the past few years have been lam, egress, cast, no mask and I've gotten way out of practice with masked vinyl. Thanks for wishing me luck at least!

 

[Andy D]

I would also suggest doing them dry.
I would probably put a hinge towards the middle, close to where you're having the crease issue.
Start with the shortest section 1st, then the other.
Do you have a heat gun? If you're still getting a spot that doesn't want to lay flat, work around it & don't crease it, squeegee the rest
and come back to it with a little heat & work it down with your thumb & repeat the heat/thumb until it lays down.

 

[Andy D]

3M blue squeegee. I have to disagree with the zero skill thing though - I have enough skill to be overconfident! Honestly, I've been making signs for fifteen years, but we're a low volume shop. All the graphics I've installed on vehicles in the past few years have been lam, egress, cast, no mask and I've gotten way out of practice with masked vinyl. Thanks for wishing me luck at least!

I have to agree, ever since we started laming and laying it's hard to go back to applying taped vinyl. Best of luck and sorry that you're gonna have a late night.

 

[jtiii]

I have to agree with the above post. This is a pretty easy job. Why you are having a problem where those creases are is anyone's guess. Maybe you applied the application tape incorrectly? Couldn't say. it they are creasing, just apply the rest of it peal off application tape and peel up the vinyl where it is creasing and lay back down. Use a squeegee with felt on it so you don't damage the vinyl. Also, I have trimmed the vinyl and laid back down on itself so that it doesn't have that crease in it. Although it still does, but it looks intentional, which it is, but is still a mistake. Ah yea. Good luck

I'm using a 3m sleeve for squeegeeing after removing mask. And I realized I was asking for it with this question - believe me, I'm pretty disgusted with myself!
Thanks for the advice; I have been doing the trim and overlap thing but I'm hoping to get past it...

 

[Snydo]

If it were me, and center hinge is a fail, my next try would be hinging the top, flip it up, peel and tape it up on the window, then spritz your liquid with a double dose on the problem area and lay from the top down. You are getting distortion from your app tape in my opinion. Good Luck!

 

[Andy D]

If it were me, and center hinge is a fail, my next try would be hinging the top, flip it up, peel and tape it up on the window, then spritz your liquid with a double dose on the problem area and lay from the top down. You are getting distortion from your app tape in my opinion. Good Luck!

Unless I miss read, they hinged one end and worked from one end to the other, is that correct?

 

[Snydo]

Unless I miss read, they hinged one end and worked from one end to the other, is that correct?

You are correct sir, I misread.....been a long day. A center hinge is definitely worth a shot then might need more than app tape to hold the top though.

 

[Andy D]

BTW, shouldn't it read "Homeward James"

 

[Snydo]

http://www.wisegeek.org/where-does-the-phrase-home-james-originate.htm

 

[Andy D]

http://www.wisegeek.org/where-does-the-phrase-home-james-originate.htm

Huh, I wonder where I got the "Homeward" from, good to know, thanks

 

[ddarlak]

I've been making signs for fifteen years

15 years and you can't lay a simple graphic = zero skills...


you don't need confidence to apply this, just skill, and very little at that...

 

[visual800]

you need to lay down as much vinyl on the van as possible and then deal with the fender. go on it a little bit at a time. you may also wanna split that sign into a half might make it easier

 

[jtiii]

If it were me, and center hinge is a fail, my next try would be hinging the top, flip it up, peel and tape it up on the window, then spritz your liquid with a double dose on the problem area and lay from the top down. You are getting distortion from your app tape in my opinion. Good Luck!

Thanks everyone for your advice, hinging from the top and applying wet worked great and really fairly quick. I appreciate those of you who were able to get past your gag reflex and help a zero talent cretin such as me!
:Big Laugh