Snap Weeding Vinyl

[Biker Scout]

Anybody else use this trick? I saw an "Oldtymer" do this when I first started out. I thought it was cool. He like using a tilted metal top table and magnets to hold his material in place.

This is just Oracal 651, cut with a really old Graphtech. Nothing fancy. Just thought I'd share how I get though hundreds of small decals with tiny type. Then when it's all weeded, I just go through really fast and pick out the holes. I usually do this while I have a movie on in the background.

[video=youtube_share;bT08xWEOekQ]http://youtu.be/bT08xWEOekQ[/video]

 

[bangorsignage]

Started doing this myself lately. Found it very effective!

 

[Locals Find!]

I thought you didn't share tips, tricks or advice unless you were paid for it?

 

[skyhigh]

I always did it that way.
With things like that, I would always cut a few extras also. I'd rather waste a little bit of vinyl, than re-cut one little letter you may lose.

 

[rjssigns]

I call it manic weeding. Been doing it for years. 3M Electrocut makes it extremely easy.

 

[WeekendDirectionals]

Kool, thanks for sharing!

 

[Biker Scout]

I thought you didn't share tips, tricks or advice unless you were paid for it?

Maybe it's the holidays, maybe it's another marketing angle. A series of YouTube video teasers for the advanced user.... hmmm....

 

[d fleming]

Ripweeding

 

[Patentagosse]

This "snap" technic is what I do when vinyl permit it... not all brands / series work the same (3M 7725 is particularly good for small caracters).

One thing I do to speed-up and secure this "snap" technic is to make sure the cuts are separated. I mean by that making sure there's a gap between cut letters and surrounding vinyl. What I do is running the heatgun or torch to warm the vinyl and quickly put the sheet in the fridge (or outside for those like me living up north, especially this time of year). 60 sec. is enough. The quick change of temperature makes the vinyl to shrink just a li'l, in fact enough to make sure the exterior no longer touch the interior of the cut. If you hold the sheet over your head facing neons, you'll clearly see a distinctive white lines all-over your text so if you pull quickly on vinyl, the letters will stay on backing. It's a quick xtra step that saves me a lot of frustration.

 

[signcrafters london]

I discovered this method 17 years ago. In this case, having a temper when small letters didn't weed well, for the win.

 

[ProWraps]

hmm. i like this. the small stuff like that is a PITA to weed.

i will for sure give this a try. looks very effective!

 

[Pro Image]

Been doing that for years now.......Its a SNAP to weed......LOL.....

And Im do of LOT of weeding.......

 

[NeanderthalGraphics]

Wow, this might save my eyeballs some strain, thank you

 

[Techman]

very nice to see it. I been doing it like that for very long time. It works really well with calendared vinyl that sets overnight so it can shrink back just a tad.

 

[S'N'S]

It works well with normal fonts, it doesn't always work well with small serif fonts or numbers.(usually weed numbers in opposite direction to letters)

 

[s.hack]

definitely going to try this out! This would safe me SO much time.

 

[kheebl]

I'm going to have to give this a try. I always go extra slow on small fonts

 

[SignProPlus-Chip]

This is why I like cutting vinyl with split lines & easy-weed on. Just yank the end of the vinyl and VOILA!...done.



Those of you that have never tried it....play around with the split lines and easy-weed options. A bit longer to cut...but less stress later.

 

[synergy_jim]

I heard they legalized that type of weeding in Colorado last year.....


errr.... wait.... never mind....

 

[Pete Moss]

Thanks for sharing. I am going to have to try this.