Cutting & Weeding Tips for Heat Transfer Vinyl Films

Not all  polyurethane heat transfer films are the same. That’s because some of these flex films aren’t 100% polyurethane, which are very flexible, and other heat transfer vinyl films are blends of polyurethane and vinyl. These blends are much stiffer that a pure polyurethane film. Read more »

Solvents and Fire Safety

  Fire is undiscriminating. It can flare up at any time. And can happen to anyone. After finishing a vinyl graphics application job, a former colleague and mentor had loaded the back seat of his car with rags which had been soaked in solvent for cleaning, before heading down the road. As John drove, he […] Read more »

Preventing Wall Graphics Failures

Getting good adhesion to painted wall surfaces has been a problem for sign makers and the manufacturers of vinyl films. Flat finish paints are especially a problem. To help your customer avoid the pitfalls that result in vinyl graphics falling off the wall, here are some guidelines to follow before beginning a wall graphics installation. Read more »

Painting Powder Coated Metal Surfaces

Painting over a powder coated metal surface can be frustrating because it is difficult for new paint to stick to the old coating. Most paint will not stick to slick surfaces. Special preparation and compatible primers are required for success. Read more »

Physical Properties of Paints and Pigments.

Paints are comprised of two basic components: a binder (or resin) and a colorant (either a dye or pigment). Paint can also include a solvent, which alters its viscosity. The combination of the binder or resin with a solvent is sometimes referred to as the vehicle.  In addition, paints can also include a variety of […] Read more »

How to Prevent Edge Peeling

Edge peeling usually makes every sign maker’s list of top vinyl problems. Failure to properly clean the substrate and failure to resqueegee the graphic after removing the application tape causes many edge lifting problems. While graphics installers often get blamed if a problem occurs, application mistakes aren’t the only reasons. Read more »