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Tuesday, May 10, 2016

What Causes Edge Lifting of Metalized Vinyl Films?

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By Jim Hingst 
@hingst_jim


Just as you have heard that most accidents are preventable, so are most failures of vinyl graphics.  Edge lifting of vinyl films, including metalized films, is one of those common preventable problems.  There isn’t just one reason for edge lifting. Below is a list of the most common causes and the remedies.

1. You’ve heard that cleanliness is next to godliness.  This golden rule especially applies to vinyl applications. The number one reason for graphics failures including edge lifting is failure to properly prep the surface.  Many professional vehicle wrap specialists use the following vehicle cleaning procedure.  

 a. Wash the surface with detergent and water the day prior to the installation. This will remove water-soluble dirt.  If you take the vehicle to a car wash, request “no wax, please”.  Washing with a high pressure sprayer will suffice. Washing with detergent and water alone will not remove all of the contaminants. If you wipe the surface with a rag saturated with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), you’ll most likely be surprised at the dirt and grime that you have wiped.


 b. Next wipe the surface down again with a solvent cleaner, such as 3919S Prep Sol or a wax and grease remover. To remove grease, tar and waxes in problem areas, such as around wheel wells, use a solvent such as xylene. See the photo below.  Caution: To ensure you don’t damage the paint system of a car or truck, test any solvent on an inconspicuous area of the vehicle before using it.


c. Finally, wipe the surface with 70% IPA to remove the oily residue from the Prepsol or other solvents.  Doing the final cleaning right before vinyl application removes airborne contaminants that may have settled on the vehicle’s surface.

Safety Recommendation: Whenever you wipe a surface down with solvent cleaners, always wear latex or nitrile gloves.

2. Many metalized films, such as RTape’s VinylEfx® films, are rigid vinyls that are intended for flat applications only. Does that mean that there’s no way that you can apply these films to contours and other irregular shapes? Not at all.  But you have to know what you are doing.  If you do the application wrong, and stretch the film into an indentation or around a compound curve, the vinyl will likely stretch back. Always apply vinyl films, especially metalized films, in a relaxed state.
Always install vinyl graphics in a relaxed state.

RTape  VinylEfx metalized films are rigid vinyls and intended for flat application only. However, if you apply the film in a relaxed state, using professional application techniques, metalized vinyl can be applied to irregular surfaces.  

3.  If you must form the film to an irregular shape, use heat to thermoform the film. The rule of thumb when using heat  in vinyl application is to first heat to stretch or conform the material and then post heat the graphics.  To ensure that the film stays down, apply 3M Brand Primer 94 adhesion promoter the to the application surface prior to installing the graphics. 

 4.  After installing the graphics, edge seal the film. Using Artie Schilling’s SEALITPEN is a fast, easy, non-messy way to seal the edges of your VinylEfx® films. Or you can use 3M 3950 Edge  Sealer or Butch Anton’s Frog Juice.




5.  After removing the application tape, ALWAYS RESQUEEGEE THE ENTIRE GRAPHIC, especially the edges.


6. Complete the graphics installation by post heating the graphic. Post heating heats up the adhesive of the film ensuring that the graphics are in place.  Post heating also eliminates many of the scratches on the overlaminate that occur during the application process.   Some professional vehicle wrap specialists prefer using a heat gun to a torch during the post heating process for  a number of reasons:

a. With a heat gun, you have better control of the temperature. Use with an IR temperature gun.

b. The heat gun better disperses the heat over a wider area compared to a propane torch which is a more concentrated heat source.

 7. If the VinylEfx graphic is printed using solvent or eco-solvent inkjet inks, always provide for at least a  ¼” (6mm) border around the printed images to help prevent edge curl. Cutting into the printed graphic can also result in edge lifting. 



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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. 

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