For years I have applied vinyl graphics with a plain ol' 3M gold squeegee. I always noticed that it would leave faint "scratch" marks on the vinyl when squeegeeing out bubbles during wet applications...some colors were more evident than others.
I recently purchased the 3M squeegee sleeve protectors, and found that they leave more faint scratches in the vinyl than without using them at all.
What has your experience been with these sleeve protectors? Waste of money?
What would you suggest I do during wet applications to eliminate or reduce scratches incurred while re-squeegeeing the applied graphic?
There is probably some easy trick you know of...but I can't seem to see the forest for the trees on this one. Thanks for your advice and have a great day!
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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After I had been working with vinyl for several years I read that we were supposed to re-squeegee the vinyl after removing the transfer tape. I never did it before, so I never started making it a habit. I will do it upon occassion, but usually if I feel that is necessary, I will use a rubber roller. I have a heavy duty one that was sold at the local counter-top laminates store. I also have a felt squeegee that I bought for installing some large format graphics that had no transfer tape on them.
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I'm assuming there's no transfer tape involved when the scratches happen? We usually spray the top of the vinyl with rapid tac and then squegee. It makes the squegee glide over the vinyl and usually doesn't leave scratches.
-------------------- Bruce Evans Crown Graphics Chino, CA graphics@westcoach.net Posts: 912 | From: Chino, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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This seems to be a wet-method application problem. I don't get it when going dry, because there is no need to get liquid/bubbles out.
I don't want to open up a can of worms here....but do use Rapid Tac as opposed to "home brew"? Just wondering if that could be part of my problem.....although, when I used to use Rapid Tac some years ago...I always resqueegeed to get the excess liquid/bubbles out also...hmmmmm....maybe I should just give it a harder squeegeeing with the paper on....let it sit awhile longer to "dry" out, and then remove the application tape. I might be trying to remove it too soon, thus causing "bubble trouble".
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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i take the backing paper and lay it over the vinyl and squeegee it again no scratches
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Yeah, I do the same thing....but I use "home brew" as opposed to Rapid Tac. Maybe Rapid Tac is more "slippery"? I used the stuff years ago and remember having to resqueegee with it as well.....hmmmmmm...maybe I'll buy me a jug of the stuff and see if there is any difference as far as the wet method goes...it could be my problem.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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I would agree to squeegee the hell out of it with the paper on, then wait a little on some jobs as needed. I usually install dry at lot more then I used to, but for home brew I use straight tap water. I also have Rapid Tac. In either case a light mist is enough, and spreading it around with my hand seems to help the minimal approach manage to be enough. The rapid tac is handy for installs on glass due to it's properties in use on top of the transfer tape to assist in it's removal with a minimum of adhesion tugging on the vinyl.
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Thanks a lot guys....sounds like I'm not too different from the norm here. Someone suggested a while ago that I contact Roger for some samples to test....I think I'll do that.
I appreciate all the advice!
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Todd, use your application fluid, whether it's home brew or rapid tac, to lube the top of the vinyl before you squeegee again. It makes squeegeeing it SO much easier and you dont risk ripping the vinyl.
I've also been using a blue squeegee that I received from GBC Sign Warehouse that came just "tossed in" with an order of vinyl. It's a harder rubber, not plastic like other squeegees, and works great for applying transfer tape and applying vinyl to substrates and vehicles. I really like how this squeegee conforms to curves on vehicles. It has the Neschen logo and "filmolux" molded into it.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Transfer tape whenever possible. I use a 2" rubber roller made by 3M when pre-masking isn't an option. Using transfer tape and a roller will help keep the vinyl from stretching also.
Application fluid (Rapid-Tac) -- That's a given!
-------------------- Dave Johnson Saltsburg, PA
724-459-7240 Posts: 228 | From: Saltsburg, PA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Or you can wrap a chamois around the squeegee whenever its required. David
-------------------- David Fisher D.A. & P.M. Fisher Services Brisbane Australia da_pmf@yahoo.com Trying out a new tag: "Parents are the bones on which children cut their teeth Peter Ustinov Posts: 1450 | From: Brisbane Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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