Decal help: DRY METHOD for installing vinyl decals
https://www.acme-signs.com/decalhelp.html
Our decals are made from 7-year, self-adhesive, all-weather vinyl. The vinyl comes on its own backing. The lettering or graphic image is die-cut into the vinyl, and then all the vinyl that doesn't belong is removed by hand. Next, the vinyl is sandwiched between the non-sticky wax paper backing and a layer of application tape. The application tape is the important part as it holds all of the separate pieces of vinyl in their proper place while you are installing it onto the desired surface.
There are two basic ways to install vinyl decals - WET & DRY: Below is the dry method of decal installation instructions.
*** The wet method only works with vinyl that uses solvent-based adhesive. It does not work properly with aqueous-based glue, so make sure you know what you're sticking when you stick! 85% of vinyl is solvent-based, so usually it's okay. Wrap vinyl (Vinyl used to wrap entire sections of vehicles) can never be applied wet, but you wouldn't need to with that specialized removeable vinyl.
Clean your destination surface.
Place your decal (wax backing-side down, application-tape-side up) and align as you like it. It should be adhesive side down, looking like it will look after applied.
Once you have it lined up, place a strip of masking-tape (vertically) down the center of the image to hold in place, over-lapping the edge onto the destination surface. Make sure it won't move. Once fixed...
Pull one side of the image back flat against itself, folding over the masking-tape centre-line that you placed to hold it down. Don't crease it, just fold it.
Using a sharp angle, start in a corner and peel away the image's backing until you get to the masking-tape-centre-line you laid to hold it in place. Keeping the vinyl (on the application-tape) pinned back with your finger, cut away the removed backing along the centre-placement-tape line. Careful not to scratch surface or cut your vinyl.
Using any squeegee like item (a credit card works well), begin to lay your graphic down onto your prepared surface from the masking-take centre line outward. DO NOT LAY DOWN ALL AT ONCE! Hold the image at an angle above the destination-surface, and slowly, starting at the centre-placement-tape-line, press down the image from the centre out using the squeegee. Squeegee from the centre-tape-line outward as you lay it down, pushing out bubbles as you go.
Once one side is laid down, remove the centre-tape-line, then remove the other half of the vinyl backing the same way as before, and repeat the process for the other side.
Squeegee the entire image a few times, from the centre outward, each time with greater pressure, making sure that you get all the air bubbles out.
Begin peeling the shipping tape off using a sharp angle. If the image comes off the surface (sticking to the shipping tape), simply lay back down and squeegee hard a few times, then try again to peel back the tape - remember, a sharp angle works best when separating vinyl from either the backing or the tape.
