Vinyl installation Made Easier

Phetishboy

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I have always installed my vinyl with the cab laying down up to this point. Today, I decided to do it standing up. Started by rolling out the vinyl on a clean surface and then using a straight edge to cut a 66 x 36" swath of material. Pulled down the backing about 4 inches from the top, lined the top and back edges up with about 1 inch overhang and began to adhere the vinyl from the top down, burnishing with a soft cotton cloth from the center out and then down, peeling the backing another 4 inches and repeating, all the way to the bottom. Let it sit 30 minutes, then used a fresh clean razor blade to trim the edge. Went from this:

DSC00118.jpg


to this:

DSC00119.jpg
 
It's about time you learned this....
Pffft....and you call yourself good. :D

Well up to this point, I've been using Chris's method of laying it down, taping a hinge at the middle and working one way then the other. I was tired of doing it that way, so I decided to make it easier on myself. Now to the other side.
 
curious what kind of prep you have to do for the wood before you put this on? just sand it down or?
 
Great looking application. I will definitely give that a try. Thanks for posting that.
 
I just completed the other side. Went on just as smoothly. Me like. As to surface prep, you gotta fix all voids, blemishes, broken corners and gouges with wood or bondo, then prime the fixes, then paint or prime the whole surface with as smooth of a coat as you can muster. I used 2 rattle cans of Rustoleum satin black. Then let the paint sit a day, remove all dust and rough spots with #0000 steel wool, then wipe down with naptha, then glass cleaner. Then apply vinyl. The finish is perfect.
 
The vinyl is called "pica" and it comes from happ at a hefty $5 per foot. Vertical application works but this shit is like a magnet when you peel the back off so as you get down to the floor, you better make damn sure everything around you is clean, turn off the fan, AC, shut the garage door, hold your breath etc.

Nice job Shawn, i knew i could trust you to carry on my legacy.
 
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A work of art, as always, Phet.
 
Yeah, standing up is the way to go for vinyl. However, I don't think it's the best way to go for full side art. Fortunately, with vinyl, you always have extra and you don't have to worry about alignment too much, but with art like DOT, you need the precision that can really only be done laying on it's side. I'm going to have to do my ROTJ vinyl in the upcoming weeks and I'm not looking forward to it as the sides are in 5 weird shaped pieces that aren't going to be easy to apply. Very nice job on yours though!
 
Looks great Shawn.
I hope I never have the need to apply vinyl on a game.
I would muck rather spray a cab any day.
 
thought for a moment this was your rampage, but then saw that it's still sitting off in the background. get your vinyl for that one too?
 
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