Recommended Directions for Applying Vinyl Stickers and Labels

DRY APPLICATION

CLEAN SURFACE: The surface should be clean of dust, grit or oils. Glass should be free of chemicals like Rain-X. Alcohol or a solvent cleaner may be used on non-painted surfaces, but should be tested in an out of sight area first. Oils from your hands can contaminate the surface and degrade the sticker adhesive.

FIRM PRESSURE: The adhesive is activated with pressure. Applying the label from one side to the other will help prevent air from being trapped under it.

WARM TEMPERATURES: Adhesive sticks better and cures better in warm temperatures. Very cold temperatures will cause the adhesive to have less tack and it may begin to lift. The ideal label and surface temperature is between 70-90°F (21-32 °C) . When storing labels, keeping them between 60-90°F (15-32 °C ) is recommended.

GIVE THEM TIME: The pressure of applying a label begins the curing process. The adhesive will slowly become stronger over time and will usually be fully cured in about 1-2 weeks.



WET APPLICATION

This is an optional method that works very well, but it has a slightly steeper learning curve. It is the only method used by professionals.

CLEAN SURFACE: The surface should be clean of dust, grit or oils. Glass should be free of chemicals like Rain-X. Alcohol or a solvent cleaner may be used on non-painted surfaces, but should be tested in an out of sight area first. Oils from your hands can contaminate the surface and degrade the sticker adhesive.

PREPARING THE APPLICATION FLUID: If you're tempted to grab some window cleaner, I would not unless maybe it's ammonia and alcohol free. Applying vinyl on a wet surface using proper fluid will allow you to re-position or slide the decal to the correct position. So the fluid needs to be slick. This also allows for better results by reducing air bubbles behind the vinyl. You should use clean water with a small amount of dish washing liquid so ap. The amount of soap should be ONE or TWO drops in a pint of water (16 ounces). Dish washing liquid is best, since it's there to break the surface tension of the water, which you can't count on some other soaps to do. Put this liquid in a spray bottle.

APPLYING THE VINYL: Remove the decal backing and generously spray the back of the decal (adhesive side). Now generously spray the surface (glass, paint, etc.). Place the decal on the wet surface and spray a little fluid on the front of the decal so the squeegee slides easily. This helps the squeegee works and reduces the chance of scratching the decal surface. Slid the decal it into position.

SQUEEGEE TIME:

You may use a credit card or a stiff rubber squeegee. If you think there is a chance your tool will scratch the decal, you may wrap a piece of soft, thin cloth over the edge. Something like this tool is perfect: https://www.amazon.com/ABN-High-Quality-Decal-Squeegee . The squeegee will be used for scraping, or "squeegeeing" the fluid out from under the decal. Then let it sit and dry on it's own (in the sun will speed this up). It could take a day or so for things to dry out completely. Here is a good YouTube video for those of you who want to see this method in action on glass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViAKd-YSQiU

And for a good tutorial on a WINDSHIELD BANNER or VISOR installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyyoGBdZCp4

REVERSE INSIDE WINDOW DECALS: If you are applying a reverse inside window decal to glass, this will help you understand what is done. Keep in mind that some reverse decals have a "static cling" effect. This type uses no adhesive. All of the reverse decals here have an adhesive, so they are not static cling.



CLEAN SURFACE: The surface should be clean of dust, grit or oils. Glass should be free of chemicals like Rain-X. Alcohol or a solvent cleaner may be used. Oils from your hands can contaminate the surface and degrade the sticker adhesive.

<<< PEELING THE FRONT LINER: Carefully find the edge of the clear front liner and peel it off of the front of the decal. Some shapes can be hard to begin the separation of the liner, but it's not stuck on there very much.



FIRM PRESSURE: The adhesive is activated with pressure. Applying the label from one side to the other will help prevent air from being trapped under it. After lining up the decal in the position you want, begin by placing one edge down firmly on the glass. To avoid air bubbles, it's best to slowing apply the decal from on side to the other or from the top to the bottom. You may use a squeegee device, such as a plastic credit card, to slowly and gently push the decal onto the glass as you go from one side to the other.







For Die Cut Vinyl Graphics application, go here:

https://www.prancingmoose.com/VolvoPrancingMoose2.html#diecutinstructions



Removing Old Stickers

or Stubborn Sticker Residue from Paint

In most cases a vinyl sticker can simply be peeled off. Often using some heat from a hair drier or heat gun to soften the adhesive will make it come off much cleaner. If you have a sticker that has been on there a long time or there is very stubborn adhesive residue left behind, the below video offers the best method I know.

https://youtu.be/IJLIvxmB7e4







