Decal Application

This is a pretty mundane question, but does anyone have some good tips on lining up and applying decals. I just got mine from xtreme and I'm going to put them on after class this afternoon. I don't have any real experience with them which is why I'm asking. Anyone? Anyone?

First, be sure your application area is perfectly clean. Any small particles, dust, hairs or the like will show up as a bubble under your decals.
Second, use a spray bottle with a fine mist setting filled with clean water. When you are ready to apply, spray the area where
you will apply the decal. This gives you positioning time before the glue sets. Using a +/- 2" hard squeegie (or plastic edge tool)
you slowly wipe across the top of the decal, forcing out the water and any air bubbles. Always work from the center to the closest outer edge.
Some other ideas:
- Never touch the back side of the decal - you'll have a perminent finger print.
- Peel half of the backing off and fold over - applying 1/2 at a time to ensure positioning.
- Using more water spray gives you more positioning time & adjustment.
- Masking tape works well to hold the un-peeled area in place for better alignment.

Good luck, take you time.

Thanks didit,
So just regular water spray vs. water + soap? I just cleaned the whole bike with Dawn and hot water to get all waxy residues off. I have nothing but time so I'm going to grab a 6'er and do 1 beer per decal, HAHAHA! I should probably do the bigger ones first.

The expert here at the main bike repair place uses a mixture of alcohol, water and detergent in the spray bottle. It lets him position it anywhere he wants by sliding it around, there's no bubbles trapped underneath and it's easy to squeegee.

Alcohol? It makes sense to use that because it would evaporate, but wouldn't it degrade the adhesive. I don't think I have any alcohol anyway but..... wait a minute. BEEER! goofy.gif I think I'll just go with the soapy water (good beer) and I have a small detail roller instead of a squeegee. BTW.. For anyone who is going to order some decals. I got mine from xtremedecals.com and they look very high quality, exactly what I wanted. The shipping was a tad slow but it's because they came all of the way from Malta, which is kind of in the South-Eastern Med if I remember correctly. They actually shipped them out the day after my order. I'll get some pics up when I'm done. Thanks Guys!

tbayvfr, Mar 12 2007, 10:56 AMThis is a pretty mundane question, but does anyone have some good tips on lining up and applying decals. I just got mine from xtreme and I'm going to put them on after class this afternoon. I don't have any real experience with them which is why I'm asking. Anyone? Anyone?

Beyond what has already been said about application, be very careful removing the backing sheet. My decals are from xtreme and they look great, but the are the hardest decals to apply that I've ever had. This is because the outlines are just that, outlines. When they make a decal, they don't make a cover a large decal of one color with a smaller decal of another to get the outlined effect. That thin stripe around the letters is a separate and fragile decal. Go slowly when removing the backing sheet or you'll tear the outline color.

All of this assumes your decals have different colored outlines, of course. fing02.gif

One thing that nobody seemed to mentioned that make sure you do not try to do it in cold. On warm surface and with warm stickers you can get a better result. Especially if you have to stretch the stickers over any kinda curves.

So every different color is on it's own? For the most part, they don't have any kind of different color outline, the letters are all hollow. Thanks for telling me that, I'll be gentle!

oyama, Mar 12 2007, 04:42 PMOne thing that nobody seemed to mentioned that make sure you do not try to do it in cold. On warm surface and with warm stickers you can get a better result. Especially if you have to stretch the stickers over any kinda curves.

We ARE in FL fing02.gif My garage stays pretty warm. Should I run a hairdryer over them after getting the water out?

tbayvfr, Mar 12 2007, 04:44 PMSo every different color is on it's own? For the most part, they don't have any kind of different color outline, the letters are all hollow. Thanks for telling me that, I'll be gentle!

They are on one sheet as a single decal, but each color is a different piece of material and they don't overlap as layers.

Alright guys, wish me luck. I'm going in!
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I found that having someone with some experience really helped out the first time when putting on Honda wings that went through and around the radiator vents and all the angles on the sides. It also taught me that good vinyl is not that fragile and can be stretched, etc. Poor vinyl though is a pain in the ass.

Here are the contributions I have to your project...

1. Light... you can't have enough of it.
2. Dryer... use it gently. You don't want to melt the decals into the paint.
3. Lint... be sure to have used a lint-free towel to dry the bike.
4. Oils... even though you used Dawn, wipe the decal area with a bit of rubbing alcohol to be 110% sure that no oils are present.
5. Pre-positioning... use some masking tape to position the decal (with backing that protects the adhesive still attached), step back and make 150% sure that it's where you want it.
6. Wind... it's not your friend. Do not apply decals outside, no matter how nice or calm it appears to be. Murphy's Law ensures that a wind gust will blow past at the most critical moment!
7. Like momma always said, "wash your hands"! Make sure your hands are squeaky clean before applying decals!
8. Tweezers... they aren't just for us girls! They will come in handy when handling and positioning decals. (Be sure to run some rubbing alcohol over the tips to make sure no oil/dirt is present.)

Good luck and post up some pics! fing02.gif

VFRiderGal, Mar 12 2007, 05:00 PMGood luck and post up some pics! fing02.gif

We love pics on here. fing02.gif

Well, the decal application adventure went pretty smooth. It was kind of frustrating because the decals had a tendency to want to stick to the top sheet of wax paper instead of the bodywork, but I kept my patience and I think it turned out really good. I didn't go over the body with alcohol as RiderGal suggested but that crossed my mind while in progress. Here's what I did. The bike was very clean. Hot Hot water and Dawn leaves it squeaky! After getting my general idea layed out I started with the left lower Honda decal. First I lined up where I wanted the decal to go and masked one end. Then, I heated the plastic a bit with a dryer on medium. Next I soaped the plastic up somewhat liberally, layed the unmasked side, lifted up the masking tape and other end of decal, and then finshed placing it. I ran over the decals with a cheap little paint roller with a very short knap, then smoothed out with id, then traced letters with finger. To uncover decals, I quickly developed a technique of rolling the paper back very slowly, maintaining pressure ahead of where I was uncovering the decal. Slow is not the word for the speed I was going. I had to hold the decals in place and roll the wax paper back at the same time. The vinyl is very high quality but I didn't want to risk tearing it. A couple of times the still covered decal slipped out of alignment, but I had enough soapy water layed down to play with it a little. After successfully uncovering them, I once again ran my finger over each letters outline, then left it the hell alone, sat back with a beer beer.gif , congratulated myself, and smoked a cigarette. This process was repeated all 8 times. I like the end result, pretty much what I imagined it would look like. At first, after I ordered them of course, I was having second thoughts about my choice of color, thinking chrome gold might look a bit hmmm ummm.... Ghetto! Not the case though... they compliment my EEEEWWWWLins Forks very nicely. I had no part in spraying the forks gold by the way, but I will have a part in taking that crap off. Going with the 51's. Anyways, here's the pics. My Digi-Cam sucks!
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What you guys think? Overkill? I'm leaving off the HONDA decal above the head lights and on the rear tail above the brake lights. If anyone would like these, they're yours. PM me your addy and I'll drop them in an envelope tomorrow. 2 are 3.5" x .5" and the other is curved slightly.. 4" x .75"

I like it. Looks classy. Not overkilled.

PM sent.

Looks great. Nice job fing02.gif

Looks good. fing02.gif

It looks REALLY nice! Great job! fing02.gif beer.gif

Thanks! I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes it. I saw this guy driving down the street the other day in an 80-something Oldsmobile spraypainted entirely GOLD.... sprayainted! He not only sprayed the body, lower half of windows, hubcaps, and hubcap spinners, but also the tires. YES! I'm pretty sure he was wearing some kind gold outfit too. Anyways, I didn't want to be THAT guy.

tbayvfr... are you being a pimp-hater? goofy.gif
Seriously tho, you aren't that guy. At least I don't think so. You realize that if you ever paint your rims gold there's no turning back... We'll have to get Oyama to loan you the platforms and hat! goofy.gif blink.gif

HAHAHA! Yes, I am hating. There's some things I just can't show unconditional love for. So you're saying gold wheels should be a no-go? I was actually considering getting them powdercoated. That's down the road a bit though. There's some other things I need to do before elevating my game to corner store pimp status? Hey Oyama! Think there's enough room in this state for two?
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Pimpin'... It's easier than you think!