Material for Surfboard Stickers

I am not familiar with your particular film product but it sounds like you might be dealing with a water soluble adhesive. After a few minutes in the salt water the adhesive is basically turning to mush and falling apart. Also, I do not know exactly what type of decals you are creating or where they are placed on the board BUT if they are anywhere near feet / hands / body parts then they are probably receiving a significant amount of abrasion that is making the problem worse.

Would be useful if you posted some pics (before & after).

Tim Evans

The Sign Expert .com
"Practical Help for Sign Professionals"

Pro Sign and Graphics
"A Pro Sign made Easy"

 

just use either high performance for long term graphics form oracal or arlon etc. and for the sponsor decals i would use just a regular vinyl if they are gong to change them up i did entire board graphics like 4 years ago and they are still on just some places are messed up from it getting bumped around. i got a ding in the side of my board and did a quick patch with vinyl and it held up fine.

 

i still say stickers dont stick to sex wax

woolly

 

yeah i put graphics on the top of the board and then applied my wax i post pics later

 

We use Oracal 3951 for boat lettering and wraps down here in Florida. It holds up really well in the water.

?? you used a pickle to remove the wax??? there is probably part of your problem LOL

Good Luck.

 

well, the "right" way to put graphics on boards is to silkscreen on rice paper & glass it right into the board, but I've been using 3M or Arlon high performance & removing the wax with a scraper, then with rapid prep.

In addition to tens of thousands of stickers i've sold to surf, sail, and kite board manufacturers, I've done some flames down both sides of my grandsons board & there are still looking great after 3 years.

My boards have rice paper graphics glassed in from when I traded http://Jimmy Lewis some graphics for my 9-6 long board.

 

I think your first reply set your mind on the wrong course.

The comment about a waterbased adhesive was a speculation possibly based on not knowing the liklihood of your clients trying to get anything to stick to waxy residue.

there are no water based adhesives that I know of in sign industry products. This is an industry that assumes an exterior durability requirement.

If some posts above makes you think oracal is best, that is also incorrect.

Any high performance vinyl will work, including oracal, but Oracal is definitely NOT "the best bet" 3M is "the best" if that's what you want to offer,

...otherwise Oracal 751 or better. 3951 should be fine, but only if users are willing to spend 5 minutes clearing a little wax off. Otherwise it's a lost cause.

 

3M Calandered vinyls work as well. Graphics vinyls work so well I started using it for ding tape and now I find myself too lazy to fix the dings.:Oops:

 

Welcome from OK