Using adhesive lettering or lines...

[DeeGee]

Someone asked about adhesive lettering for inflatables - something I know sod all about, but it reminded me to make this post....

I had to apply a gold line to Black Sugar - the yard had done the cavita lines £250, and made a right mess of one of them. I knew the technique for getting them off was with a hair-dryer (or heat-gun and plenty care), and that went fairly OK. Now came the bit I dreaded, putting the new delicate little line into that nasty curvy bit of moulding.

I was extremely lucky to talk to the manufacturer, and what he told me to do may well be widely known hereabouts, but I thought he was pulling my plonker.

The technique is to use plenty of WATER, with some washing up liquid preferably. The surface to which you are sticking the line/letters should be made really wet (hence the wetting agent, detergent) then the line/letters are put onto the water film. In the case of letters, they may be slid around, lifted and replaced... until they are in the right place. Then the water underneath should be squeezed out, using a roller or something. For the line I was doing, I just nipped the very edge of the line onto the cavita recess edge, so the gold line was just sticking on that one edge. Then I made my thumb very wet and ran it along the line, squeezing out the water. The whole 10m was done progressing along nipping and thumbing about 0.75m lengths. By the time I was finished, it was completely perfect, both in placement and no damage to the gold film covering of the tape (very fragile).

I am posting this in the hope that someone else will be saved the horrors of trying to do it without water, as I did with my boat name sticker a long time ago!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all

 

[snowleopard]

not easy to do these lines. once saw a very flash boat with triple lines just above the waterline. owner was cross that they wen't exactly straight. if you sighted along the hull you could see a slight kink.

he had them removed and relaced professionally, a job taking 2 days. at the end they were a bit worse than before.

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[DeeGee]

The yard who did mine (badly) did not know about the water! They did it by applying the line directly, and the 'grab' on the adhesive to a dry surface is such that it is like using evo-stik, ie contact adhesive.
Probably the yard you refer to did the same, as I would have done I might add, so no wonder they make a hash of it.

Once you use the water, it changes an ABOMINABLE job into an DEAD EASY job - really, it becomes totally controllable, just careful patience. I did my line in about 30mins, which includes moving the trestles and scaffold boards twice. Getting the old line off took about 2 hours.

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all

 

[Evadne]

When I bought an adhesive name from a sign company, it helpfully came with full instructions about the washing up liquid and the chap who made it described the procedure in full. I didn't know it applied to the lines as well though.

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[tynesman]

Replaced my water lines above my antifoul line this year dreading the job.
But the advise you have been given is good advise.
To do the waterline I removed existing lines with Heat gun no problem and cleaned hull with thinners to remove bits of old glue.
I then used some masking tape to form a space for the new lines to go above the masking tape to get it straight.
Yes the clever technical bit is to use bucket of soapy water(washing up liquid) the new lines I purchased was in 10' lengths and slid into position easily.
Then with a cloth or sponge go from one end to the other and squeeze the water out so the tape is perfactly flat,at this point you will not get it off again.
On hull shapes do not try and do it all with one piece,you will not see the joint when the boats sitting in the water!
One point do not buy old tape as there is some about.

Good luck it's not as bad as you think,I was dreading putting the new tape on but its no big deal and a lot cheaper doing it yourself.

Tynesman



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[Viking]

Re: Use a spray bottle!...

If you use a small 'spray' bottle ie ex. window cleaner or what you would use to spray your indoor plants, helps to keep the lettering/lines damp on these hot days

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[DeeGee]

Re: Use a spray bottle!...

Do you mean AFTER they have been fixed? Or do you mean whilst fixing them? That is how I applied the water+detergent when I was doing the line.

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all

 

[Viking]

Re: Use a spray bottle!...

While your appling them. If you've got a, say 10metre line(s) you can keep it moist. So you can play with it till you happy. (The yinyl lines or letters that is)

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[surekandoo]

I talked to my local signwriter (who produced new lettering for me) and he not only demonstrated the technique using spray bottle but gave me a squeegee of the type he uses to smooth the vinyl and get a air bubbles out. The other trick to use if you've still got air bubbles in after the water/washing up liquid mix has evaporated is to puncture them with a needle and then press the vinyl down.

Most local signwriters are a fount of knowledge and are willing to help in any way if you buy the lettering/stripes etc. from them. They have a wide range of typestyles & vinyl colours.

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