The Letterville BullBoard: Problems with vinyl applied to foam lettering....

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Posted by Marty Happy (Member # 302) on :

Hi Lettervillians:

I am having problems with vinyl applied to extruded foam insulation lettering. I used 2" blue household construction foam insulation for these letters which were painted with water-based gray primer. Then I applied 2 mil cast vinyl lettering over top. Over the last 3 months a large number of bubbles up to 1/2" in diameter have showed up all over the vinyl lettering.

Of course I'm going to prick the bubbles and flatten the vinyl lettering. But I'm wondering if anyone has had similar problems and whether construction grade foam insulation is suitable for signage. Does it outgas for a long time?

In this particular case the lettering had to be as light as possible for a suspended store display.

Happy Signing....Marty

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Marty Happy
Happy Ad Sign & Design
Regina SK, Canada

306.789.9567

e-mail: "happyad@sk.sympatico.ca"

website: "www.happyad.sk.ca"

Get Happy & Get Noticed!

Posted by VICTORGEORGIOU (Member # 474) on :

the blue foam works fine with an acrylic face attached with a good adhesive or just plain face.

we have not tried vinyl, but we have noticed that some foams appear to have release liner residue, and if that is not cleaned off before application, then there is an adhesive failure. you will find out when you punch the bubbles. If the adhesive still works, then gas is the likely explanation. if the adhesive is gone, it is likely residue.

you can test for outgas by making a sample and getting it very hot for 24 hours. put it under a heat lamp in a warm area and see what happens. good luck!

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Victor Georgiou
Bob Loves Signs
Danville, CA
email blssigns@verio.com

Posted by John Smith (Member # 1308) on :

I had the same problem with lettering enamels on that type of foam....outside signs... looks like I will be replacing them.
But, I made a set of 48" tall letters that I lightly sanded and applied latex paint with no problems!!!! go figure !

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John Smith
Kings Bay Signs
Kingsland, GA
ICQ# 5165335
John@FineWoodSigns.com
>>> inovator extraordinar <<<
www.finewoodsigns.com

Posted by Steve Purcell (Member # 1140) on :

You have to give plenty of extra drying time when using water base primers & paints on styrene & HDU.
Even the slightest amount of moisture, trapped between the foam and the alkyd topcoat (or vinyl), will try to escape outward, because it cannot be absorbed into the substrate.

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SCP
spurcell99@mediaone.net
Cape Cod, MA

Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :

Even fresh(& cured) paint needs to be cleaned before applying vinyl, also what you clean with can cause bubbles.If you can smell the paint,its probably not cured enough yet. Roger

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Roger Bailey
Rapid Tac Incorporated
Merlin, OR

Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :

Did you apply the vinyl to latex primer, without a coat of gloss enamel? If so, that is your problem.... vinyl doesn't adhere to a flat finish very well! Especially a latex flat!

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Si Allen #562
La Mirada, CA. USA
(714) 521-4810
ICQ # 330407
"SignPainters do It with Longer Strokes!"

Brushasaurus on Chat

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Posted by Marty Happy (Member # 302) on :

Hey Si:

The vinyl is actually adhering very well except for bubbles as large as a 1/2" over 1/4 to a 1/3 of the vinyl surface. I'm inclined to think it's either the primer or foam outgassing and forcing up the vinyl bubbles.