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![]() Vehicle Vinyl Expert Reveals Tricks of Trade
Rob Ivers has taught employees from major corporations how to apply vinyl. Read on for a sneak peak of what they learned.
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Do you have the skills to tackle advanced and more lucrative vinyl applications? If you are not, you are missing out on significant revenue opportunities that could take your business to new heights. Rob Ivers has been doing vinyl application for 20 years. He started out doing pin striping on cars and today specializes in vehicle graphics. SignIndustry.com magazine talked with Ivers about the latest trends and techniques in vinyl application.
How have vinyl applications changed over the years? What have been some of the key advances?
What role does technology play in vinyl application? We are however going backwards in some ways. Many new digital printing devices like the Vutek, the Salsa, the Fresca, and the Arizona utilize solvent inks. In many cases the solvent inks make the adhesive more aggressive than with electrostatic toners, which tend to sit on the face of the vinyl and have little affect on adhesive properties. It's kind of making it tough for installers because we get vinyl products that make it easier to install and they print on them with solvent inks making them more difficult to install.
Which vinyls are the best?
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What are the key challenges in vinyl applications? On the fleet side of things, rivets and/or corrugations can be challenging for inexperienced signmakers. For me it's applying vinyl to compound curves on vehicle wrap jobs. A lot of sign shops are still putting vinyl on wet. Professional fleet vinyl installers never use application fluids. If you use the wet method of application, you are going to have problems no matter what.
What are the common mistakes newcomers make? They try to work with products that are, in some cases, not suited to the application, like using calendared vinyl on vehicles. That's a no-no. They don't give themselves a fair shake if they are using the cheapest products and then they wonder why they are having trouble. If you work with better products you'll find that they cut easier and install easier.
How about some practical tips for vinyl application? How can signmakers overcome the challenges? Vinyl application is a skill or craft. You can't take an important part of the business and reduce it to something insignificant ("Oh, you just squirt some fluid on it.") The time it takes to master these skills pays off in the long run because you'll make fewer mistakes and be able to do every job quicker and easier.
Every single job is different. It's not only important what kind of vinyl was used but when it was installed, how it was installed, and what was the condition of the pre-installed surface. Was it a beat up old truck or a brand new truck? Was it two years ago or 10 years ago? There are so many variables. There are some companies beginning to specialize in removal and they use mostly chemicals and high pressure washes and rinses. They are trying to reduce the manual labor. The key ingredients for most removals are heating it up and pulling it off. If it leaves any adhesive then you have to remove the adhesive. The biggest mistake most people make is using a heat source that is too small for the job. For example, they might try using a hair dryer instead of a heat gun, or a heat gun instead of a propane torch. If I have to take off a 4' X 8' decal I don't want to go after it with a heat gun. I need a much bigger flame so I can heat it up quickly and evenly one time. The vinyl you use can make a huge difference. If you use high-quality products they will go on how they are supposed to go on, stay on for five years, and then you can take them off with heat with no adhesive residue. Removing the adhesive is what normally takes the most time. With high-quality products the removal could take as little as 15 minutes. The same job with low-grade vinyl could take up to four hours.
What are the latest trends in vinyl application, beside vehicle wrapping, which we discussed?
What does the future hold for vinyl application?
How can signmakers gain more skills in vehicle graphics? Visit Rob Ivers' web site at www.robivers.com.
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