Peel & Stick Application

The following instructions are for PEEL & STICK DECALS SUPPLIED BY Golden Touch Decals and are from the media 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 where these steps will become second nature and the application will progress without incident each time you wish to install a decal. . . . .PLEASE read these instructions carefully!!

SPECIAL NOTE: Permagloss is not suitable for use over my Peel & Stick decals. It will totally destroy them due to the content of Xylene in the Permagloss.

1. CLEAN THE BLANK AREA: First and foremost, clean the area for the decal with isopropyl alcohol to remove any fingerprints or other contaminants. With Peel & Stick decals, it is not necessary to apply a thin coat of epoxy on the blank at the location you intend to place the decal. However, on blanks that have a matte finish, this initial coat of epoxy will be necessary as the decal will prevent the epoxy from reaching the matte finished area underneath the decal and not allow it to become glossy as the areas outside the decal area. Therefore, a “hazy” shadow under the decal will be visible. Also, any dark colored blank will magnify any specks, scratches and fingerprints or any other foreign material that has found its way under the decal. Blanks that are light colored or have a metallic finish are perfect as the small issues under the decal will not be as noticeable as on the darker blanks.

So be careful on how you handle these decals. If you have allowed some “extra” film at the edges of the decal, this extra edge can be used to "handle" the decal during application and then can be removed with a razor blade before the decal is rolled onto the blank for final application.

2. CUT DECAL TO SHAPE: Cut the image with sharp scissors or a single edge razor blade to a shape with round corners. Round corners, as opposed to square corners, are less likely to lift off of the rod blank. I usually allow about a 1/8" extra on the edge that will be facing the tip so when I use the tweezers to hold the decal for application, and it leaves a mark, I then can cut it off after the decal has been lightly applied. I use the single edge razor to cut the edge and then pick it off with the tweezers. I do this BEFORE I use the roller to firmly adhere the decal to the blank.

3. APPLY THE DECAL: Use the edge of the razor blade to separate the film from the backing paper. Be careful not to touch the underside of the decal as the fingerprints will definitely adhere. Use SHARP POINTED TWEEZERS to grasp the end of the decal as you remove the balance of the backing paper.

If you are working under a desk lamp or any overhead light, the "STRAIGHT LINE REFLECTION" that forms along the blank can be used as a guide to position the decal on the blank. Just make sure the guide line is where you need it.

NOTE: If you desire to place a Peel & Stick decal over a thread worked area, you should apply a finish coat of epoxy sufficient to form a solid foundation for the P/S decal to adhere to.

Let the end of the decal opposite the tweezers touch a spot the blank at the chosen location and then move the tweezers end to align the decal along the "reflection line" to position the decal where desired. Lightly touch the decal at the tweezers end and check alignment. If all looks OK use a clean finger to lightly rub the decal onto the blank. Start along the reflection line and work outward to ensure no air bubbles are trapped under the decal. If you do get an air bubble, use a needle to puncture the bubble and then squeeze out the air. It's better to prevent them than to deal with them!

The next step in application is to use a brayer, or hard roller, to apply more pressure to properly adhere the decal to the blank. The perfect tool is a wallpaper seam roller from a paint store or the internet, or a brayer from an art supply store. They are very inexpensive relative to the job they are asked to do. The roller allows more localized pressure to be applied to the decal to cause the adhesive layer to virtually disappear. The adhesive layer of a peel & stick decal has by design, small hairline marks that become visible when applied to a dark blank. This roller makes these marks all but disappear.

Extreme pressure should NOT be applied by SLIDING a hard abject across the face of the decal as this will mar the pigment layer of the decal. However, hard pressure can be applied by ROLLING across the decal. But, if you must apply pressure to the decal area and don't have a roller, protect the surface of the decal with two layers of typing paper over the decal and then apply the pressure. A roller is definitely recommended!

5. APPLY THE FIRST COAT OF FINISH: The initial coat of epoxy can be applied immediately after the epoxy is mixed or later, after some of the guides have been coated, to allow for a thicker layer of coverage. I only use the HIGH-BUILD viscosities of epoxy and have been able to properly cover these peel & stick decals with two coats when allowed to thicken up. Three coats will definitely ensure a glassy finish. Small amounts of heat can be applied to aid in leveling of the finish but NO FLAMES – Too HOT!!

The decal after applied should have nothing other than the epoxy applied over it - NO KRYLON FIXATIVE, NO COLOR PRESERVER, NOTHING, etc., as this only adds layers of potentially non-compatible products that may have a negative effect on the finishing of the decal. If the decal is not lying flat as it should be, then it probably was not installed properly and these additional steps will not correct an inferior installation.

6. LET THE ROD TURN AND THE EPOXY CURE: Allow the rod to rotate in a dryer to prevent sagging of the epoxy. If after curing for some time you see a slight waviness in the area of the decal, DO NOTHING but let it cure-it's not the end of the world if you have followed the application instructions as listed. When the finish has cured to the point it can be touched without leaving marks, (don't test on the rod but on the foil you had the epoxy spread out on), inspect the decal area for finish fuzzies and remove them and pay no attention to the wrinkling! The additional coats of epoxy will cover this properly as one coat of epoxy over a decal area is not enough anyway.

 

It can't get any easier than that !!!!