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stick on plates...
02GF74 - 12/4/07 at 08:03 AM

.... should have asked this yesterday ..... but is there a trick to applying the stick on number plates onto a compound curve e.g. nose cone so that it does not crease?

Got a couple of small creases that have been flattened out but wondering if there was a techhniqye shuch as using a hair dryer to soften the plastic to allow it to form to the curveer better ... .or stick it further back where the is less curving ... oh well .,.,.,.,,

Mal - 12/4/07 at 08:15 AM

Wet the adhesive and the car surface with some warm water with a bit of washing-up liquid in it to make it soapy.
Position the number plate and use a the rubber strip og a windscreen scraper to push the air bubbles to the edge of the plate.
Leave to dry out and the adhesion will return. This is a standard technique for applying vynl signs.

HTH

Mal

RazMan - 12/4/07 at 08:16 AM

The reflective number plates are not very flexible and are not really suited to compound curves.

You will need to apply it on a very warm day (or in a warm garage) and use a hairdryer to warm both vinyl and bodywork.

Apply a length of masking tape along the top edge to act like a hinge. Lift up the 'hinged' vinyl and spray a mist of slightly soapy water onto the warmed bodywork and then remove the backing paper from the vinyl.

Grab the two lower corners of the vinyl and, applying enough tension to hold it flat, place it down on the bodywork. Then, using a squeegee or even an old credit card, expel all of the air from under the vinyl, working from the centre outward.

The end result should be flat and without any air bubbles.


[Edited on 12-4-07 by RazMan]

02GF74 - 12/4/07 at 09:27 AM

soapy water? is that going to work with a self-adhevvie stikcer (not transfers).

thanks for advice but anyway, it too late

Peteff - 12/4/07 at 09:51 AM

Get the hair dryer on it and peel it back up to the crease then start again from there with something to press it into place. Phone top up cards are the credit card substitute I read somewhere

RazMan - 12/4/07 at 11:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
soapy water? is that going to work with a self-adhevvie stikcer (not transfers).


It is the way that all vinyl signs are applied (I am an ex-signmaker) - you literally need just a few drops in a litre of water. It allows the vinyl to be positioned and when its in exactly right you just squeeze the water out and the adhesive then grabs - job done.

If you have already gone past the point of no return you can try warming the area and pricking the bubble or crease with a pin and then burnish down with a smooth spatula - not always effective though.

BenB - 12/4/07 at 01:30 PM

Is the creasing definately on the bottom layer? I was rather upset when I put on my self-adhesive plate to see bubbles and creases ... then I realised there was a thick transparent top layer that I needed to remove
Took that off and it looked a lot better- got rid of the satin-effect look too!!!!
How I laughed....