Why Install Graphics in a Relaxed State

Stretching vinyl into indentations on a vehicle surface can result in the vinyl lifting and eventually cracking. 

By Jim Hingst

Years ago professional decal installers were taught to install vinyl graphics in a relaxed state without stretching the film. While vinyl films today are much more robust and can withstand the stresses encountered when wrapping a vehicle, you are much less likely to experience film failure, if you adhere to some of the old rules. Here’s why.

When graphics are stretched or forced into indentations on the substrate, films are often stretched beyond their limit. Vinyl films typically have memory. In the same way that a rubber band behaves, films that are forced into concave shapes tend to stretch back to their original shape.

To aid in stretching a film and breaking its memory, installers will heat it with an industrial heat gun or propane torch. Heating the film is, or at least should be, a two-part process. Step one is to heat the film to make it more pliable before you stretch it. Step two requires you to post heat the applied graphic to secure it in place. 

Vinyl films, however, can only take so much. When you stretch a film too far, problems result.  Just consider what happens to a film that is stretched 200%. A two mil vinyl is not longer two mils anymore. Now it’s one mil.  What's more, the one mil of adhesive is no longer one mil. Now it’s only a half of a mil. Films can break apart and the adhesive doesn't have the strength to hold the film in place.  The photograph below illustrates my point.

Photo Courtesy of Chuck Bules of Arlon.

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. 

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.

© 2015 Jim Hingst