Being the locost type...... as in 'how hard can it be' I decided to have a quick 5 minute go at a engine side panel...
Obviously just putting the vinyl on the panel and hoping for one bubble or two to work out isn't the way to do it.
What I am good at is trapping huge amounts of air under plastic!
I think I need a few tools/tips.... does anyone know of a good guide!?
You used washing up liquid in a plant sprayer and a squeegee?
Geoff
any photos?!
er, never tried it, but i find the easiest way to apply stickers (when i worked at Boots, we used to put A1 stickers on the windows) i found the
easierst way was to peel off only 1 edge of the backing, line up the sticker, bend the vinyl over so the backing paper hangs over the bit thats stuck
on already, and the paper peels off away from your hand as you push it on. minimal air gets trapped
franky that looks like my attempt at a carbon dash 
how hard can it be
answer= bloody hard 
are you using vehicle wrap?, or just normal vinyl ?
Ray
Have you tried popping them with a pin or scalpel?
Cheers
Rich
It did make me laugh. didn't use any tools bar ignorance to how it needs to be done!
what do I need? I intend to get try and try until I get decent results!
I was told a full plant sprayer with a single drop of fairy liquid (has to be fairy apparently). Apply liberally to vinyl and surface to be attached to. Place vinyl on surface then use a window cleaner wiper thing (like a windscreen wiper but with a handle, like a window cleaner would use) wrapped in a damp chamois leather to get water out from between the two.
use a heatgun/hair dryer to heat a strip across the whole width, then use a soft credit card or similar to pull/push the air out.
Yep. Liberal use of soapy water on the clean surface AND the sticky part of the vinyl. Lay the vinyl wet sticky side onto the wet surface and slide it into place. Then squeegee out all of the water using either a window cleaners squeegee or a credit card works, but can mark the surface of the vinyl.
Its avery 5-7 year stuff.
Think i'll try to take it off tomorrow and have a proper go!
can you put too much fluid on it? where it goes around the panel can I just fold it around?
I think you've made an excellent first effort there and just need a little more practice.
Judging by the bladed object in pic 2 - i'm not gonna tell you it looks rubbish!!!
[Edited on 17/5/10 by Paul TigerB6]
It's not for vinyl side panels, but it has good advice that is applicable...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1irE-PLVxzE&playnext_from=TL&videos=ex89Nbz1PvU
As said soapy water, a squeegy and lots of practice. At least that's how you do adhesive decals on R/C planes if you want them to look half decent, ditto self-adhesive number plates on cars.....
I have done abit of large vinal panelling and tinted windows in my time.
washingup liquid and a thin credit card will see you good.
The reason you caught bubbles is becasue once it stuck the bubbles were in.
The liquid just stops it from sticking straight away. You cant put to much on (dont obviously over so it!) as the liquid is squeezed out when you
glide the card over the top.
Good luck getting the old vinal off and if you do, give the panel a good clean.
looks a lot like my wallpapering.
btw I'm not taking the pee, Ive tried and its bloody hard.
HaHaha...thats funny...
do it like some of the others said, water with drop of soap or leave it to the EXPERTS!
quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
I have done abit of large vinal panelling and tinted windows in my time.
washingup liquid and a thin credit card will see you good.
The reason you caught bubbles is becasue once it stuck the bubbles were in.
The liquid just stops it from sticking straight away. You cant put to much on (dont obviously over so it!) as the liquid is squeezed out when you glide the card over the top.
Good luck getting the old vinal off and if you do, give the panel a good clean.
it is hard, but get both the surface and the vinyl slippery as hell with the water/soap mix.
Clean the front and back and edge of the panels properly before you start, if you dont you will end up with crap being pushed out to the outer edge,
which then wont stick to the surface and will make it peel in time.
It should be easy to slide round.
Work it out from the middle using a rubber bladed squeeji take your time, any water left in will ruin the finish.
use a hair dryer to heat and stretch any bits that are a problem.
Pin prick any bubbles and squeeze out the water.
I covered an entire pan european as a complete novice. Its a ball ache on all the curves, but should be much more straightforward on a 7.
Make sure you get a good seal on the edges.
i watched them do my car a few years ago.
i noticed they stretched the vinyl after attaching one side and then a second person used a roller and some rubber ice scrapper thing to put it on.
mine looked amazing when done then i sold the car lol
Soapy water mix should be 1 part to 100 (I use washing up liquid in a garden squirter thing to apply it). Most Vinyl suppliers will give you or sell
you a plastic blade style tool to squeegie the water and air out from under the vinyl, but as previous posts; a credit card will do.
wet both surfaces well and slide the vinyl into position. Then starting from the centre squeegie outwards being careful not to wrinkle the vinyl. It
will stick as you squeegie it so take care to get it right first time.
Vinyl can be removed using a hair dryer or (with great care) a heat gun, but is unlikely to be reusable once removed.