Putting on decals

[LC_BOTT]

Well I've just put some fairing decals on today, and what a ##### job that is, is there an easy way to apply them, as I've still got the belly pan to do, used soapy water etc but it was the size that was the problem, couldn't see the line I needed to follow under the screen.

Eventually split the decal and applied it in three stages, no wonder they were never the same from the factory, you respray guys must have a knack, also had a heatgun out as well, but one side creased and bubbled, and now looks ####e.

[LC_BOTT]

So nobody ever fitted decals successfully then

[mellow]

i "assisted" my m8 when he did my F2 ;D Best left to a pro...much easier

[twostroker]

Feb 14, 2011 20:11:50 GMT 1 LC_BOTT said:

So nobody ever fitted decals successfully then

ive done a few bikes and a bit of signe writing decals on vans when i was a panel beater/painter and yes there is a "nack" but its not hard to do if you take your time.

i wouldnt use a hot air gun as if you heat the decals up too much they may distort and not fit at all,saying that you do want them warm so room temp .

with the panels spotlesly clean use a spray bottle with soapy water to keep it all nice and wet so you can slide all the decals about so you cant go to far wrong.

if you are having a clear laquer aplied over the decals idealy the pannels should be prepped prior to decals being applied but its not essestial.

[butchy]

Get a felt face sqeegee off ebay and a plant watering bottle with a few drops of washing up liquid mixed in with the water.Do as twostroker says then working from the middle use the sqeegee to push the water from under the decal towards the outside edges until the edges refuse to stick down then go back in the house and drink tea and smoke fags while the water dries out (took mine about 45 mins ) then go back and finish off the edges off.

[LC_BOTT]

Thanks all, it was probably the double curve of the fairing that made it worse, and it was cold too, flat graphics assume are quite easy, glad to know nothings wrong with my technique, (Oooohhh matron)

How do you spot a bad decal, is it best to stick to Simon5 or Yamaha only?

[twostroker]

Feb 16, 2011 20:51:33 GMT 1 LC_BOTT said:

Thanks all, it was probably the double curve of the fairing that made it worse, and it was cold too, flat graphics assume are quite easy, glad to know nothings wrong with my technique, (Oooohhh matron)

How do you spot a bad decal, is it best to stick to Simon5 or Yamaha only?

decals with the colour printed on top of the vinyl are often trouble for a few reasons as are these cheap decals that crop up on ebay.

personly i would just use a trusted seller like norbo as cheap decals can potentialy ruin the whole paint job especialy if you decide to laquer over them and the print on the vinly all bleeds or they shrivel up.

[scoobysal]

Hairdryer works for me.

[2942matt]

i find they apply better on a laquered surface