posted
This has never been requested of me before, so I just want to run it by everyone.
An existing customer purchased a used van and the existing vinyl has not (or will not) be removed. He is wanting me to cover the existing lettering area with a decal large enough to cover it up. I have explained the "pillow effect", and he is fine with this.
I do not remove old vinyl and could have a body shop do it, but he is not wanting the extra expense of removing it.
Anyone have experience, good or bad, doing this?
Do you see any application or other issues here?
Thank you.
-------------------- Curt Stenz Graphics 700 Squirrel Lane Marathon, WI 54448 Posts: 590 | From: Marathon, WI 54448 | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
I do it all the time. I've got a sign that I'm covering for the THIRD time this way. Leave the bubbles (or pillows) alone and they will eventually disappear. Just like magic. Well--almost like magic. Just a did a semi the other day this way. Use an air release controltac-style vinyl and the bubbles in the vinyl will go away almost immediately.
It isn't ideal, but if the customer is okay with it, I would do it. From a few feet away, no one will notice enough to matter.
Just make sure the customer knows that he can not expect perfection from this method!!!!
-------------------- Michael Gene Adkins The Fontry 1576 S Hwy 59 Watts OK 74964 Posts: 845 | From: Watts, OK USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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Usually the customer wants this done as a matter of finances ... aka, he's too broke to care!!!
Like I said ... not ideal ... but no problems so far.
Besides ... I hate removing vinyl!!!!!!!
-------------------- Michael Gene Adkins The Fontry 1576 S Hwy 59 Watts OK 74964 Posts: 845 | From: Watts, OK USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Covering the old lettering instead of removing it, doesn't say much about the quality of the customer's work, let alone yours.... Maybe show him how to remove it and let him do it to save himself a few $$$$$....
[ June 27, 2011, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: Jim Moser ]
-------------------- Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain ! Jim Moser Design 13342 C Grass Valley Ave. Grass Valley, Ca. 95945 530-273-7615 jwmoser@att.net Posts: 488 | From: Grass Valley, Ca. | Registered: May 2006
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Would you eat at a restaurant where they couldn't afford a dishwasher & they just put your food on the last guy's dirty plate? As a consumer, if these guys are going to cut corners like this I sure as hell wouldn't be doing business with them.
-------------------- Rodger MacMunn T.R. MacMunn & Sons C.P.207, Sharbot Lake, ON 613-279-1230 trmac@frontenac.net Posts: 472 | From: Sharbot Lake, Ontario | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Sometimes it is just more practical for the customer. Easy for our trained eyes to notice and be irritated by it. The reality is most people will not notice. More important to look at each job and help the customer meet his/her goal and budget while making a profit. Be sure to educate that the best and proper way is to remove vinyl. and as Neil said no guarantee. OH Ya. 15years of making signs and i still have yet to eat a meal off of vinyl.
-------------------- Mike South ABC Glass & Signs, Inc. 1415 Main Street Miles City, MT 59301
abc@midrivers.com 406-234-1234 Posts: 167 | From: Miles City, MT | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
A cutomer brought us a pan-tech truck that they wanted relettered-OVER the top of what was there. The stuff underneath was vinyl over, and under, 2-pac urethane clear.
I scuffed it, very lightly sanded the raised edges, painted it black (enamel, with hardener), and then cut & masked & painted on what they wanted-over the black.
Two years later they brought me another truck in the same state to do the same to- both trucks still look fine as seen in traffic or as you drive past the shop.
I was very diligent in making sure the paint would stick thoroughly to what was underneath though. 'Money' was the issue in not removing the former urethane & vinyl.
These days maybe a full-wrap might be done to cover it all up, but back then, the way we did it was practical. The background was totally black in the new layout. I'm not sure how that might affect the vinyl adhesion (of a wrap) on hot days...
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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