Vinyl Sticker Installation

[Shmoo]

I got my busa repainted, and decided to go ahead and put on some after-market decals/vinyl. I would like to do this myself, and I started asking around @ the Suzuki shop in my area. One guy said that if he were to do it, he would wet the decals in a solution, place it on the bike as a wet (and temporarily moveable) decal until the solution dried it into place as a glue. This way, you don't get stuck with a badly laid decal, and try to peel it back off to reset it. Anybody have experience with this???
What do you use to smooth out the bubbles?

 

[fstbusa]

yep... works great... did it on my dirt bike this last summer....

A VERY VERY mild dish soap water solution in a spray bottle works the best... mist down the area you want to lay the sticker... and also the sticker. Postition the sticker where you want it to be and squegee out the water from below getting out all air bubbles. Let dry for a day or two and you're golden. Find remaining air bubbles and pop with a needle. Stickers are still on my bike... with all the wiping out and being in the dirt, the ones on the busa should be fine...

 

[Shmoo]

When you say "mild", what kind of dish soap to water ratio are we talking (not trying to sound like a geek). And, what did you use for a squeege?

 

[mctrull]

I work with vinyl for a living. Look up a local sign shop and ask them to apply them for you. They can do a dry application, accurately and may not charge you anything to do it. It will only take them like two minutes to apply them. The wet application will work, use a squeegee from a window tint kit but, if the paper on top of the vinyl gets wet it will tear at the paper when you squeegee it. You can also you a license, credit card, etcetera. I usually wrap a piece of magazine paper over it if I have to use something like that. The sign shops will have squeegees just for this. Mine looks like this. Here is a link with instructions as well: http://trueimaging.com/vinyl

 

[mctrull]

Another link: http://www.sw-graphics.com/apply.htm

 

[fstbusa]

a few drops per 8 oz spray bottle.

just enough to make the solution mildly slippery.

 

[Shmoo]

Hey Thanks guys!
I really appreciate the input on this. I could pay somebody to do this, as I don't consider myself artistically inclined. But, I think your advice has made it more technical, than artistic; so, I think I can give it a shot now.

Track this topic or something, I'll post the pictures when I'm done (in a few weeks). Lemme know what you think of it.
Have a good one..

 

[Revlis]

Question McTrull... How hard/expensive would it be to have a full color "Bomber Art" style Vinyl decal made up to replace the Kanji on either side of my Busa? I am after something sorta "Rob Zombie" like, you know a little Evil, Way Sexy, and Pretty with Lilah in some sorta script underneath, give her something to sit or lay on...

So my questions would be, about how much would you think something like that would cost? For a set of three, two on the sides and a different one on the Hump?

Would Vinyl be able to take the radiant heat of the motor?

Would the end results look good? Assuming quality workmanship, In your opinion?

Sorry for the questions... Appreciate any help you can give me...

Rev

 

[mctrull]

You can get premium printed vinyl that will be whatever design you want on it. It can even be a photo. They use big inkjet printers to print the image on the vinyl, then after you apply it, it can either be cleared over or waxed over. If it is cleared, they will have to fog it to seal in the inks and then lay a heavier coat after it dries. If you wax it, use something with UV protectors. It will keep the colors brighter longer. The heat would not be a problem, premium vinyl holds up much better than normal vinyl and has a longer warranty. It will look as good as paint jobs. There are some people and manufacturers applying vinyl graphics on vehicles instead of a costly paint job and they hold up for years with very good results. Look in your phone directory, if there is Signs By Tomorrow, they should be able to make anything you want.

 

[Shmoo]

mctrull,
Do you have some example vinyl graphics designs that are on Busa's, other than the stock Kanji? I'm interested in seeing what people are putting on, or what is interesting for ideas...

 

[Revlis]

OK Cool, Thanks a bunch. I was thinking this would be the way to go. The bonus would be if the unthinkable happens and I scar up a panel, I wont be out the $500-700 for all the custom airbrushing, and I can just go get another set made up...

Thanks again,
Rev

 

[mctrull]

No, I do not get people coming to me with bikes and not many cars. Mostly big containers and signs. We have done some cargo trucks, vans, and a few car wraps. I deal with signs mostly. That is why I suggested Signs By Tomorrow, they are a vinyl shop and deal with more vehicles than me. Also, they are a national chain.