Application

The following instructions are from the paper manufacturer and details of my techniques and should be adhered to for best results. As you work with these decals, you will develop your own style of application to the point these steps will become second nature and the application will progress without incident each time you wish to install a decal.

First, always apply a thin coat of epoxy at the location you intend to place the decal. This will prevent the potential for fogging by filling in the porosity in the surface of the blank and leave a slick and shiney surface on which to apply the decal. Ensure the epoxy has cured for at least 24 hours.

1. Cut the image with scissors and when you are ready, dip in warm, distilled, water. Not HOT! The paper will roll up and then straighten out again. Place decal in a saucer with the image face up on a few drops of water to allow the decal to continue releasing itself. The use of distilled water prevents the contamination of the decal from the impurities from regular tap water or other water supply.

2. Apply a thin coat of MicroSet (MicroSet-MSDS) to the entire circumference of the blank at the decal location. This step applies a wetting agent to the blank area in addition to enhancing the adhesive qualities of the decal. It also allows the decal to be adjusted somewhat to fine tune its placement. Without the MicroSet solution, when the wet decal contacts the blank, that is usually where it stays - Like Grim Death!! Usually, the decal cannot be moved or repositioned without being damaged.

3. As you pick up the wet decal, GENTLY test to see if the film has released from the backing paper. If it is ready, locate the decal at the blank position and proceed to slide the film from the backing paper and let it "hang-over" the edge just enough to contact the blank, and slowly with even tension, slide the backing paper from under the decal while rotating the rod - the film will slide off and wrap itself onto the blank. At this point, with wet fingers, fine tune the position of the decal to suit. With the MicroSet you have a few moments to adjust the decal. The key here is not to get in a hurry.

4. When you are satisfied with the placement of your decal, use a regular tissue, not one with lotion, to GENTLY blot and squeegie the excess moisture from the decal area. Gently is the key word here because these tissues consume the moisture fast and if you are not careful, you can grab and move the decal with your fingers and then you have to wet the whole area again to get it back in place.

All excess moisture and air must be removed from under the decal for the best adhesion and appearance. If you see small air or water pockets, just gently push them to the nearest edge of the decal. If air pockets are left under the decal, they will appear as small circle blotches through the decal film.

5. When all of the moisture has been removed from the decal area, you can let the decal dry overnight at room temperature and proceed with finishing as usual. At this time, do not try to remove all of the lint particles from the tissues because you will damage the decal and possibly move it from its intended location. You are not going to apply the finish now, so the lint is not an issue! Wait until the decal is throughly dry and then take a 1" sable artists brush to wisk the fuzzies away! OR, you can do as I do on occasion - place the rod in a rod dryer and rotate it under a goose neck lamp for at least an hour to dry the decal and then finish as usual.

NOTE: Some builders feel there is a need to use another product called MicroSol over the decals as part of the decal installation process. In my opinion, I feel this is unnecessary because the MicroSol product was intended for model makers when they apply a decal over irregular surfaces in the decaling of trains, planes and automobiles!!! The manufacturer states that it completely softens the decal, allowing it to drape down over the rough surfaces conforming perfectly and without distortion. When applying a decal on a rod blank, there are no irregular surfaces, or at least there shouldn't be! - it is a pefectly glass-like surface - excellent for decals.

Unless you are placing decals over butt wrapped areas on the blank, you otherwise have a perfectly smooth, glassy finish on which to allow the decals to adhere. Plus, the addition of MicroSol softens the decal to the point that additional handling, either by hand or brush, can damage it. For a film thickness of approximately .0005", we certainly do not need a softer decal to deal with.

If you feel you need to use MicroSol as an additional step in the decal application, please feel free to do so. It should do no harm other than adding another step and extending the drying time needed prior to the application of the epoxy finish coat.