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Vinyl on PVC

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CanuckSigns

Active Member
We are cutting some letters for a client's indoor lobby and Im coming across an issue hopefully someone here can chime in on.

We printed the letters onto GF 201 High Tack vinyl, laminated and applied it to a sheet of 0.5" thick black PVC, the letters routed fune, however the vinyl faces can be peeled off the PVC with almost no effort, which doesn't give me warm and fuzzy feelings about long term adhesion, even inside.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get vinyl to stick better to PVC sheet? I've applied vinyl to PVC in the past without any issue.

Thanks
Scott
 
Gino

Gino

Premium Subscriber
Do you have the capability of flatbed printing them, instead ?? If you have printing/ink going out the the very edge, chances are, nothing's gonna stay on permanently. It'll all start curling.
 
Gino

Gino

Premium Subscriber
Notarealsignguy said:
would scuffing it up maybe help it bite?
Click to expand...

I would think that would make it worse. Vinyl to vinyl is about the best adhesion ya can get, but generally super smooth to super smooth. Lotsa PVCs have a texture to them and that's probably part of the problem, so I wouldn't think scuffing them up would help.
 
KMC

KMC

Graphic Artist
we had the same issue, and found heating and rolling the vinyl into it worked
 
RICHARD SIMMONS

RICHARD SIMMONS

New Member
CanuckSigns said:
We are cutting some letters for a client's indoor lobby and Im coming across an issue hopefully someone here can chime in on.

We printed the letters onto GF 201 High Tack vinyl, laminated and applied it to a sheet of 0.5" thick black PVC, the letters routed fune, however the vinyl faces can be peeled off the PVC with almost no effort, which doesn't give me warm and fuzzy feelings about long term adhesion, even inside.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get vinyl to stick better to PVC sheet? I've applied vinyl to PVC in the past without any issue.

Thanks
Scott
Click to expand...
I think the key is cleaning very well the PVC with alcohol before aplying vinyl
 
C

CanuckSigns

Active Member
So for a bit of an update, I tried cleaning the sheet with various solvents, alcohol, acetone and lacquer cleaner, with no real improvement. Then I tried switching to another vinyl.

I thought using a high tack vinyl would give me the best results, but turns out my standard Arlon 4600LX stuck way better! A quick wipe down with acetone then applying the 4600LX did the trick!
 
A

AGCharlotte

New Member
SignMeUpGraphics said:
Are you using the HTAP variant of GF201?
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I didn't know it came in a non HTAP version... maybe I'm using the wrong stuff.

Just looked at Grimco... very good chance I'm not using the HTAP. Someone once upon a time told me GF201 was HTAP. I was unaware it had multiple versions! Grrrrrr
 
White Haus

White Haus

Not a Newbie
AGCharlotte said:
I didn't know it came in a non HTAP version... maybe I'm using the wrong stuff.

Just looked at Grimco... very good chance I'm not using the HTAP. Someone once upon a time told me GF201 was HTAP. I was unaware it had multiple versions! Grrrrrr
Click to expand...

Fun fact since it's Friday, there is also a new(ish) version, 201HTAP-AE which is high tack + air release. It's become our go-to vinyl for any larger decals that are applied by our customers. (Non-vehicle decals)
 
S

SignMeUpGraphics

Super Active Member
AGCharlotte said:
I didn't know it came in a non HTAP version... maybe I'm using the wrong stuff.

Just looked at Grimco... very good chance I'm not using the HTAP. Someone once upon a time told me GF201 was HTAP. I was unaware it had multiple versions! Grrrrrr
Click to expand...

There are five flavours of 201:

- 201 - Matte white/clear adhesive
- 201HTAP - Matte white/clear high tack adhesive
- 201HTAPAE - Matte white/clear high tack adhesive/Air egress
- 201OAP - Matte white/blockout adhesive
- 201OAPAE - Matte white/blockout adhesive/Air egress

As White Haus mentioned, the newest on the block is HTAPAE. We've moved to using this also. It's a great vinyl. Super easy to lay, and sticks like superglue over 12-24 hours to many surfaces.
 
S

SignEST

New Member
Acetone is a solvent that does dissolve PVC . The weld-on glue for PVC is mostly acetone it's how I know, has the magic smell. I would not recommend cleaning any vinyls or sintra/pvc sheets with it. If you wiped it with the acetone shortly prior to applying the vinyl it might have still been off gassing and results in a poor adhesion for a while. It should be fine so long it gets pushed back on.
 
S

spectrum maine

New Member
CanuckSigns said:
We are cutting some letters for a client's indoor lobby and Im coming across an issue hopefully someone here can chime in on.

We printed the letters onto GF 201 High Tack vinyl, laminated and applied it to a sheet of 0.5" thick black PVC, the letters routed fune, however the vinyl faces can be peeled off the PVC with almost no effort, which doesn't give me warm and fuzzy feelings about long term adhesion, even inside.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get vinyl to stick better to PVC sheet? I've applied vinyl to PVC in the past without any issue.

Thanks
Scott
Click to expand...
shoot it with a paint first like krylon for plastic or matthews
 
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