Decal Experts

[Ron H]

Ok, straight forward enough about putting on new decals; in my case got 4x4 decals for my new truck box. Want to ask if there are nifty tips from those having done this to reduce my odds of screwing it up. I know where they should be placed measuring this out from my old box. Any application tricks though? Thanks

 

[Jeff Peterson]

I know people will just say soap water, but I swear by this stuff.
https://www.hardlineproducts.com/product/sticker-on-decal-application-fluid/

 

[gkent]

Guys who print and apply vinyl use nothing but a clean, dry surface and a squeegee. The problem with water - soapy or not - is that you cannot get 100% of it squeezed out. Subsequently it will expand when heated by the sun and bubbles will show.

You are better off to carefully lay out your decals on a clean, dry, warm surface and squeegee them on carefully so as not to trap any air. Do it on a surface that is warm - not hot, not cold. Don't worry too much about scuffs, etc., when they get into the hot sun they'll smooth out just fine.

 

[Ron H]

Greatly appreciated your tips. Install went pretty well. The decals were cheap; but my big concern was if it didn't work out so much, I'd have the hassle removing it to redo. (I did that on the replacement box prepping it for paint. The body shop had me using...a rubber wheel power tool and heat gun.) Not thrilled about maybe having to take it off the new paint job risking marring the paint. Anyway hung the decal off masking tape and called a buddy over thinking I could use two more index fingers to hold the edges away from the body while I went down the center of it with mine. Then used a foam pad working the decal out to the edges and more finger grease to press the decal. There are a couple pinhead size bubbles that I'd a thought couldn't be there with all the working it to the body to flatten it out; but all in all can't tell unless looking real close.