I mentioned that I was going to be writing an article on how to make your decals last longer in my previous post. In this article I’m going to tell you how to do just that.
The most important thing about making your decals last longer is using a good quality vinyl cement. There are several types of vinyl cement available on the market today, but most people use cheap stuff like 3M’s vinyl cement – it’s not very good, and when you compare their product with some of the higher-end products available it’s clear why. Their product works well enough, but it has a tendency to leave behind residue and is difficult to clean up.
I used 3M’s vinyl cement for many years until I discovered there were other products out there that worked better and didn’t have the same problems with leaving behind residue or being difficult to clean up. The first time I tried one of these products was when I was working on a project in my shop and I needed to glue two pieces of plywood together.
Decals are a great way to personalize your car and make it stand out. Whether you want to add some personality to your truck, cover up scratches, or just add some logos, decals are a great way to do it. But all decals will eventually wear out, so what can you do?
The best way to extend the life of your decal is with a protective coating. A clear coat provides a barrier between your decal and the elements. If you don’t want to add a protective coat, there are still things you can do. For example, keep your vehicle clean; regularly wash it and wax it. Dirt and grime will degrade the adhesive on the backside of the decal and cause it to fall off prematurely.
If you have any other questions about prolonging the life of your decals, let us know in the comments below!
Decals have many uses, most notably for automobiles and small businesses. However, you know that if you put a decal on your car, it is going to get damaged. So I’m going to talk about a product that can help prolong the life of any decal you might have.
Vinyl cement is different from regular glue in that it makes the surface of any vinyl material much more durable and longer lasting than most other products. Of course, there are other options such as polyurethane and polycarbonates, but vinyl cement is more cost effective, easy to apply, and readily available.
The key ingredient in vinyl cement is polyvinyl acetate (PVA), which is made from polymerizing one of several vinyl acetates with an alcohol as a co-solvent. When PVA comes into contact with water (such as on your decal), it crosslinks and sets extremely quickly, forming a permanent bond between two objects.
To use this properly, you will want to clean the surface of your decal with rubbing alcohol and let it dry thoroughly before applying. Then take some cotton swabs or a small brush and apply some of the adhesive to the edges of your decal (or wherever you see gaps). After 24 hours or
There are many reasons why decals may not last a long time. Heat from the sun, water and chemicals can all have a negative effect on the durability of your decals. This is especially true for decals that are used outdoors. One way to help protect your decals is with a clear coating.
Vinyl cement, also known as adhesive primer, is an excellent product to use on vinyl because it will actually help the adhesive bond better to the vinyl. Vinyl cement can be purchased at most craft stores or online in a spray bottle or tube. The cement should be sprayed on the backside of the vinyl where it will come in contact with what you are applying it to.
Follow these simple tips when applying vinyl cement:
* Clean the surface well with rubbing alcohol prior to applying decal
* Apply a thin coat of vinyl cement on the backside of the decal
* Let dry for 2-3 minutes
* Apply decal as usual
So, you’re a modeler. You’ve got a kit in the mail, it’s finally arrived, and you’re ready to get started. You open the box, take out the instructions and cast your eyes over the paint scheme. You’ve developed an eye for it by now: where the decals are going to go.
And then it hits you: that awful sinking feeling when you see that big blank space on the tail of your F-4 Phantom II [or insert any other aircraft here]. You know what’s coming: huge decals, complex curves, and worst of all: no decal film where there should be! These huge swaths of color must be painted on.
For some, this is no issue at all. Some modelers are excellent painters and relish the opportunity to airbrush on large areas of color. But for others like myself (and I suspect many of you reading this), this is daunting task; one we’d rather not have to attempt if possible. So how do we solve the problem? How do we make these large areas less scary?
The most common way to apply clear decals is by using vinyl cement. This is a permanent glue that can be used on any surface including metal, ceramic, plastic, and even clothes. When applied properly, it will not damage the decal and will ensure that it stays in place for years to come.
Vinyl cement is also known as “clear” because when it dries and cures it becomes nearly invisible. The product has been around since the 1960s and has long been used by artists for its flexibility and durability.
The biggest advantage of using vinyl cement is that it can be applied in one application without any additional tools or equipment needed to prepare your screen printing surface prior to applying the decal. This means that no matter what type of project you are working on, whether it’s a commercial or residential application, vinyl cement will work perfectly every time – even if you don’t have access to special tools or equipment for preparing your screen printing surface beforehand.
We have had a lot of people ask us what are some of the differences between our vinyl cement and Super Glue. There are a few, but the most important one to remember is that vinyl cement works with more materials than Super Glue.
Super Glue can be used on porous materials such as wood, fabric and leather. The reason for this is because Super Glue has a slower drying time so it can soak into the material and then dry. Super Glue does not work with plastic or vinyl though.
Vinyl cement works well on all these materials and more. Vinyl cement can be used on metal, plastic, rubber, glass, wood, fabric and more. In addition to being able to work with more materials, vinyl cement dries faster than Super Glue. This means that the bond forms quicker so you do not need to hold the pieces together as long before they are set in place.
Our vinyl cement comes in two different sizes. We carry both a 4 ounce bottle and an 8 ounce bottle of our vinyl cement adhesive.