How to get smooth decals ?
Discussion
This is a question to all of you out there that have had decals applied.
I know some of you put them on for Le Mans this year and others have "stripey" cars.
I simply want to re-freshen my front adhesive number plate, but my last attempt was a long way from perfect. Is there a knack to applying these things to curvaceous surfaces or is it that the location I'm choosing is just too complex for what is basically a rectangle !
I know some of you put them on for Le Mans this year and others have "stripey" cars.
I simply want to re-freshen my front adhesive number plate, but my last attempt was a long way from perfect. Is there a knack to applying these things to curvaceous surfaces or is it that the location I'm choosing is just too complex for what is basically a rectangle !
bitta washing up liquid / water for lube & off ya go.... get something like a window cleaning squeegie to ease the air bubble out and job done...
Have a read up here... http://www.racegraphics.net/page4.html
Good luck
Have a read up here... http://www.racegraphics.net/page4.html
Good luck
Make sure the surface you're applying it to is clean and, if you'l ever want to remove it give a quick polish.
Put some water and a couple of drops of washing up liquid in one of those garden hand sprays. Remove the backing from the sticker, spray water/w-up liquid solution on the back of the sticker and on the area of the car you want it (I find it easiest to turn the sticker upside down on the car and spray it) the water will neutralise the adhesive for a while. Put sticker on car and get in the right place. Now use a squeegie (get one of those ice scraper/squeegies from Halfords) to get the water out from behind the sticker - the trick is to hold the sticker while using the squeegie and work from the centre outwards in a union jack pattern.
Don't drive straight away!!!! Leave it to dryout properly somewhere dry ideally overnight but not if dew or rain will get on it.
Put some water and a couple of drops of washing up liquid in one of those garden hand sprays. Remove the backing from the sticker, spray water/w-up liquid solution on the back of the sticker and on the area of the car you want it (I find it easiest to turn the sticker upside down on the car and spray it) the water will neutralise the adhesive for a while. Put sticker on car and get in the right place. Now use a squeegie (get one of those ice scraper/squeegies from Halfords) to get the water out from behind the sticker - the trick is to hold the sticker while using the squeegie and work from the centre outwards in a union jack pattern.
Don't drive straight away!!!! Leave it to dryout properly somewhere dry ideally overnight but not if dew or rain will get on it.
NO WASHING UP LIQUID!!!
It has abrasives in it (even though mild) designed to take burnt on crap from a frying pan. It will ruin your paintwork!
The point is absolutely right though, instead just use a very light mixture of normal car wash shampoo and soak, absolutely soak the whole lot so when it goes on you can move it if required, then push it out so it's flat. When it drys, Bob's your uncle!
It has abrasives in it (even though mild) designed to take burnt on crap from a frying pan. It will ruin your paintwork!
The point is absolutely right though, instead just use a very light mixture of normal car wash shampoo and soak, absolutely soak the whole lot so when it goes on you can move it if required, then push it out so it's flat. When it drys, Bob's your uncle!
Thanks for all the advice.
In my head I'm sill struggling to work out the geometry of how a rectangular decal (in this case numberplate) will apply to a convex surface without creases but perhaps that's because I was trying to keep to top edge square.. when if I worked from the true centre outwards and allowed it to flow naturally I should expect the edges to be slightly "warped"
In my head I'm sill struggling to work out the geometry of how a rectangular decal (in this case numberplate) will apply to a convex surface without creases but perhaps that's because I was trying to keep to top edge square.. when if I worked from the true centre outwards and allowed it to flow naturally I should expect the edges to be slightly "warped"
Grinnders said:
Thanks for all the advice.
In my head I'm sill struggling to work out the geometry of how a rectangular decal (in this case numberplate) will apply to a convex surface without creases but perhaps that's because I was trying to keep to top edge square.. when if I worked from the true centre outwards and allowed it to flow naturally I should expect the edges to be slightly "warped"
Yep, you'll never get it to retain its shape over a curve without cutting the edges after application. Which, in my limited experience is not worth it. However, you could edge it with a striping tape to straighten the outline.In my head I'm sill struggling to work out the geometry of how a rectangular decal (in this case numberplate) will apply to a convex surface without creases but perhaps that's because I was trying to keep to top edge square.. when if I worked from the true centre outwards and allowed it to flow naturally I should expect the edges to be slightly "warped"
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