3-Step Prep for Vehicle Graphics

Whether you are applying vinyl graphics to a truck or performing a vehicle wrap, use this 3-Step Surface Prep Procedure  

By Jim Hingst

Whether you are installing trailer graphics or doing a full wrap of a car or van, surface preparation involves a three-step process of detergent washing, solvent cleaning and a final wipe down with IPA.

Step 1: Detergent Washing.

Vehicles should be washed the day before vinyl application with detergent and water. This should remove much of the water-soluble dirt. Washing the day before the installation allows enough time for the unit to completely dry, even underneath the rivet heads and between the panels, where it really counts. 

Washing a vehicle by hand is very time consuming, and frankly, should not be the sign person’s responsibility.  Insist that the fleet owner have this done.  Units that are not washed should be subject to a washing charge. To cover your tracks and avoid any potential arguments with the client, put this clause in writing in the contract.

Be sure the unit is completely dry before applying the graphics.  Water trapped underneath the rivet heads can cause the vinyl to “tent” or lift at these areas.  Moisture under the panel seams also causes lifting problems.

Cleaning a vehicle for a wrap, of course, requires a little more tender loving care. In these cases, every part of the vehicle must be spotless before you start, including  underneath the wheel wells, the door jams and the edges of the hood and trunk.

Step 2: Solvent Cleaning.

After washing the surface with detergent and water, the second step is to solvent wipe the surface. Even though a washed surface looks clean, contaminants such as waxes, grease, tar and oils are most likely still present.

To remove these contaminants, use DuPont^’s 3919S Prep-Sol, Xylol or a wax and grease remover. In the sign trade, many graphics installers use eco-friendly alternative cleaners, such products as Rapid Prep or Universal Products’ TFX Professional Striping Cleaner.

SAFETY NOTE: Whenever you use any type of solvent always read the warnings on the label and in the MSDS. You should work in a well-ventilated area, wear the recommend safety equipment and follow the recommended procedures. And if you’re the boss, you make your younger employees follow the rules too.

CAUTION — Test, Don’t Guess.  The formulations of the various solvent cleaners and wax and grease removers vary greatly from one manufacturer to another.  Some formulations are very strong. To ensure you don’t damage the paint system of a car or truck, test the solvent on an inconspicuous area of the vehicle before using it.

Step 3: Final Wipe with IPA.

Since some solvent leaves an oily residue, give the surface a final wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA).  This last step should be performed with both hands. In one hand, you’ll need a rag saturated with alcohol. In your other hand, keep a clean rag or paper toweling. After you apply the solvent, wipe it dry before it evaporates. Do this final cleaning right before vinyl application to remove any airborne contaminants that may have settled on the vehicle’s surface.

Final Remarks: the Importance of Surface Prep. 

As critical as surface prep is, it is often the last thing that an installer thinks about.  Frequently, it’s overlooked all together. But it’s the first thing that will cause adhesion problems.  Consider this: if you don’t clean off the dirt and grease from the substrate, what is the vinyl going to stick to? Dirt and grease!  Improper surface preparation is a sure recipe for vinyl graphics failure. If you want your graphics to stick, take the time to properly prep the substrate prior to the graphics application.

The three-step procedure for  prepping vehicle surfaces does a great job on dirt, grease and tar for the majority of applications. It will not, however, cover you on every application. There are always those troublesome exceptions to the rule. Two exceptions are chalked paint and oxidize aluminum. These applications require special surface prep, which I will cover in upcoming articles.  

For more information about surface preparation and graphics application, I highly recommend reading The Graphic Installers Handbook. This comprehensive guide to vinyl graphics installation is a “must have” resource for the beginner or seasoned professional. Written by Rob Ivers, the certification director for the PDAA (Professional Decal Application Alliance), the handbook covers every aspect of vinyl graphics installation. Contact Rob at www.robivers.com for more information about his book. Rob also offers PDAA certification classes as well as private graphics training.


RECOMMENDED VINYL APPLICATION TOOLS

3M Power Grip Rivet Brush Applicator RBA-3

● Thicker handle provides a more comfortable grip and put less stress on the tendons around your elbow. 

● Stiffer bristles provide the more burnishing pressure to better secure vinyl films to rivet heads.

● Minimizes strain on muscles, nerves and tendons that lead to repetitive motion injury.

Teflon Hard Squeegee 4in for Car Wraps

● The slick Teflon surface of the squeegee glides smoothly over vinyl films without scratching.

● Ideal for vehicle wrap applications for pushing out stubborn wrinkles as you work the film around compound curves.

3M Hand Applicator Squeegee PA1-G Gold

● Stiff nylon squeegees provide the right amount of pressure to force air from under vinyl films and aid the adhesive’s flow out. 

● Nylon squeegees can be sharpen over and over for longer life.

● Preferred by  most professional decal applicators.

3M Hand Applicator Squeegee PA1-B Blue

● Softer, plastic squeegee is more conformable, for better vinyl application to curves, corrugations and irregular surfaces.

● Flexible yet durable plastic.

3M Hand Applicator Squeegee PA1-B Tool-Kit w/ 3x Felt Tips & Lint Free Gloves

● 2 Wrapping Gloves.

● 1 Blue 3M medium-hard professional squeegee.

● 3  Self adhesive felt edges for squeegee.

SEALITPEN

● Felt tipped marker filled with acrylic clear coat. 
● Use the SEALITPEN to edge seal a vinyl graphic. 
● A clean way to apply edge sealer - no brush required. 

3M Brand 3950 Edge Sealer

● Seals exposed edges of vinyl graphics.

● Prevents pressure-sensitive vinyl films from lifting resulting from environmental exposure or cleaning.

● Easy to apply clear edge sealer with a small artist’s paint brush or sign maker’s quill.

● Essential sealer for any professional graphics installer.

● Suitable for graphics applications in temperatures from 50°F to 100°F.

3M Tape Primer 94 1/2 Pint 8oz For Vinyl

● Promotes adhesion of all brands of pressure sensitive vinyl films and 3M™ VHB™ Tape.

● Use when vinyl graphics will be stretched into concave areas.

● Use complex vehicle contours, such as bumpers.

● For use on difficult to stick to and low energy surfaces such polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PET/PBT blends, concrete, wood, glass, metal and painted metal surfaces.

● Dries to a clear finish.

● Cleans up with isopropyl alcohol.

Steinel HG 2510 ESD Programmable IntelliTemp Heat Gun with a LDC Display 

● Temperature range: 120°F - 1200°F.
● LCD display enables temperature selection in 10°F increments
● Ideal for applications requiring precision control.

RollePro Vinyl Application Roller

● Using a RollePro eliminates the need to puncturing holes in vinyl films. No need to use a rivet brush. 

● Reduces the speed of applying vinyl graphics over rivets up to 50%. 

● Install vinyl graphics faster to make more money.

RollePro™ Textured Surface Kit

The RollePro™ Textured Surface Kit includes a standard handle, an original wheel and a high temperature wheel. The high temperature wheel can be used on a variety of surfaces such as brick and concrete.



3M Air Release Tool

● Needle point punctures bubbles under vinyl graphics to remove entrapped air.        ● Retractable point protects graphics installer from puncturing himself. 

 

Car Wrap Magnets

● Vinyl wrap magnets hold vinyl graphic in place for easier application.

● Replaces masking tape in positioning graphics.

Knifeless Finish Line Vinyl Wrap Cutting Tape 50 Meter Roll

● Knifeless tape cuts vinyl graphic film without using a knife.

● Extremely flexible. Applies smoothly around doors, windows and wheel wells.

● Creates perfectly smooth, straight lines. 

RAPID TAC Application fluid for Vinyl Wraps and Vinyl Graphics

● During hot weather applications RapidTac prevents preadhesion that results in damaged vinyl graphics.

● RapidTac allows you to reposition vinyl graphics without distortion, until you register it to the right location.

● Proven formulation.

RAPID TAC II Application fluid for Vinyl Wraps Decals

● Specially formulated for vehicle wraps.

● Allows application of vinyl graphics at lower application temperatures. 

Vinyl Application Videos

Squeegee Technique. Nothing is more basic in vinyl application than the squeegee. But some squeegees work better than others. And there are right ways and wrong ways to use this simple tool. This video clip reviews squeegee selection, squeegee care and squeegee technique. Click to Link

Wet Applications. Dry applications are typically recommended for most vinyl applications. For those exceptions to the rule, this instructional video explains the right way to perform a wet application. Click to Link

Application of Window Graphics. Installing vinyl graphics on glass can be challenging, because the adhesive aggressively grabs onto this high energy surface. Repositioning graphics on window is generally difficult, if not impossible. This instructional video explains how to dry apply window graphics right the first time. It also describes the necessary steps required for surface preparation. Click to Link

Transferring Frosted Window Graphics Films.  Because frosted window films are highly textured, transferring cut vinyl graphics can be problematic. This video provides direction in selection of the right application tape and how to apply these films quickly, easily and without problems. Click to Link

3-Step Surface Prep. This instructional video describes how to properly clean the surface of a vehicle before applying pressure sensitive vinyl graphics to a trailer or doing a full wrap of a car or van. This three step surface prep involves detergent washing, solvent cleaning and a final wipe down with IPA. Click to Link

Vinyl Application Over Rivets. Applying vinyl graphics on vehicle surfaces with rivets is challenging for most sign makers. Vinyl failures to these surfaces are all too common. This video demonstrates some tips and procedures, used by professional decal installers, which will make these demanding applications easier and more trouble-free.  Click to Link

Vinyl Application to Corrugations. Learn how to apply vinyl graphics to corrugations in a relaxed state. Forcing films into the valleys of corrugations puts too much mechanical stress on the film. Sooner or later, the vinyl will lift or tent in valleys. Click to Link

Applying Air Egress Vinyls. Vinyl films with air egress release liners have almost eliminated bubbles and wrinkles from applied graphics. Air egress release liners with their highly textured surface structure are problematic. Not much will stick to these liners other than the vinyl film. At RTape our best premask solution for air egress liners is a special Conform® tape called 4761RLA. Click to Link

About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.

Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer.  Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.

Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for  publications, such as  Signs Canada, SignCraft,  Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and  Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.  Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon. 

© 2016 Jim Hingst