By Jim Hingst
Sign makers should assume that many of their customers will do some pretty stupid things when cleaning vinyl graphics. For this reason they must provide the end user with instruction covering proper cleaning and care of any graphics. When I sold vehicle graphics, many years ago, I would give my customers an instruction sheet which included the do's and don'ts listed below:
1. Take extra care
when cleaning vehicle graphics with a pressure sprayer. If you have
ever user this equipment, you know that you can literally blow
a baked on factory finish off of the metal. I've done it myself!
Just think what excessive pressure does to a graphic.
When using a high pressure
sprayer, you need to keep the nozzle at least 12" from the vehicle
surface. Also, keep your pressures low to moderate. And if you are using
the type of sprayer that heats the fluid, use moderate temperatures.
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| Harsh cleaning chemicals, hard bristle brushes and high pressure sprayers can cause vinyl graphics to fail. |
2. Always use a
non-abrasive detergent to clean the graphics, such as vehicle wraps.
3. Always mix cleaning
chemicals according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Before using the
cleaning chemicals, read the MSDS sheet.
Some cleaners used for vehicle cleaning contain mild concentrations of
acids (for example, some of the cleaners used by the railroads contained 1% to
3% hydrochloric or some other heavy-duty acid.)
4. When using a brush to
clean vehicle graphics, use a soft bristle brush rather than a hard bristle
brush. The person doing the cleaning with the brush also needs to use a
little tender loving care and some common sense.
5. Vehicle graphics that are
cleaned regularly in car wash systems utilizing nylon bristle brushes,
must be overlaminated and, of course, edge sealed. Municipal buses
are usually washed in these systems daily. Without an overlaminate,
the brushes can abrade through a clear coat and ink system, right down to the
vinyl. The first big graphics program that I ever sold was for a
city bus line. Within three months, much of the printing on the graphics was
abraded off of the vinyl graphics. Not long after that, the case went to court,
whereupon my employer was found to be negligent in the manufacturing of the
graphics. The company was responsible for the removal, re-manufacture and
reapplication of the vinyl graphics.
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Wash systems utilizing nylon bristle brushes can damage
graphics. Printed graphics must be protected with an overlaminate.
|
It was my
"rookie" mistake not to ask the right questions. Sign makers
are responsible for asking their customer how they are cleaning the vehicle graphics;
how often the graphics are cleaned and what chemicals and cleaning methods are
used. You will note that I said it is the "sign maker's
responsibility" not the "vinyl manufacturer's
responsibility". Sign makers also have the responsibility to provide
adequate customer instruction. I am sure that this is not what the sign makers
of the world want to hear. Like it or not, that's the way it is.
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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 450 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.
© 2013
Jim Hingst
Give a responsibility to yourself by cleaning your car that not could damage it.
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