Devon TRF Group Forum

Tim · Clubman B

White sticky vinyl for headlight number plate - wanted

Jonzy · Clubman B

I use fablon from home base seems to work ok and stay on till I remove it £7 a big roll, can have some of mine to try if you want.

Jerry atterick · Expert

Stickers need certain stuff doing to reliably stay stuck on.
The panel must be spotlessly clean and always cleaned off with brake cleaner or acetone type stuff, stuff that doesnt leave any form of residue.
I use a very dilute warm washing up liquid, as in doing the dishes!
Wet the whole plastic, then peel off the sticker backing and apply sticker to plastic.
Squeeze out water from the centre towards the outside, making absolutely certain you expel any air bubbles.
Then, pour boiling water over the surface of the sticker, again, centre to outside. Smooth as you go with your fingers.
Stating the obvious but dont do the doughnut thing and scald yourself!
If you stick to the above, your sticker WILL stick!
When you get the hang of it, the combination of the soapy water under and the boiling water over, will allow you to stick those horrible double curved side panels etc.
You can actually make a flat sticker fit a fairly extreme double curved shape.
I have done hundreds over the years - especially certain O/S TTR side panels.

TTR · Powermonger!!

Jerry atterick wrote:

I have done hundreds over the years - especially certain O/S TTR side panels.

Yup - those full size RH panel stickers are a tad awkward (aka impossible) for us amateurs disbelief

I got some really thick white vinyl sheets from ORO back along and am happy to let you have a sheet to try Tim. Let me see if I can find them and get back to you.

Tim · Clubman B

Thanks for the prompt replies and generous offers chaps smile

I fired off a pleading email to mxvinyl.com late Friday evening and Carl is going to send me some "samples" which, I'm hoping, may be big enough to do the job. I'll keep you posted.

All the best,

Tim

jt · Powermonger!!

Jerry atterick wrote:
Stickers need certain stuff doing to reliably stay stuck on.
The panel must be spotlessly clean and always cleaned off with brake cleaner or acetone type stuff, stuff that doesnt leave any form of residue.
I use a very dilute warm washing up liquid, as in doing the dishes!
Wet the whole plastic, then peel off the sticker backing and apply sticker to plastic.
Squeeze out water from the centre towards the outside, making absolutely certain you expel any air bubbles.
Then, pour boiling water over the surface of the sticker, again, centre to outside. Smooth as you go with your fingers.
Stating the obvious but dont do the doughnut thing and scald yourself!
If you stick to the above, your sticker WILL stick!
When you get the hang of it, the combination of the soapy water under and the boiling water over, will allow you to stick those horrible double curved side panels etc.
You can actually make a flat sticker fit a fairly extreme double curved shape.
I have done hundreds over the years - especially certain O/S TTR side panels.

Some great tips, thanks

Jerry atterick · Expert

Forgot to say, once stickers have been applied, leave over night. Any edges that lift a little bit will stick down permanently just by pressing back.
Best to keep them warm over night, everything stays pliable that way.
Also, if you get those nasty digs in plastic, remove the proud bits, new stanley blade is favourite and rub down with W&D as necessary to get a decent smooth finish. (Think getting ready for primer in normal bodywork situation)

Tim · Clubman B

Jerry atterick wrote:
Stickers need certain stuff doing to reliably stay stuck on.
The panel must be spotlessly clean and always cleaned off with brake cleaner or acetone type stuff, stuff that doesnt leave any form of residue.
I use a very dilute warm washing up liquid, as in doing the dishes!
Wet the whole plastic, then peel off the sticker backing and apply sticker to plastic.
Squeeze out water from the centre towards the outside, making absolutely certain you expel any air bubbles.
Then, pour boiling water over the surface of the sticker, again, centre to outside. Smooth as you go with your fingers.
Stating the obvious but dont do the doughnut thing and scald yourself!
If you stick to the above, your sticker WILL stick!
When you get the hang of it, the combination of the soapy water under and the boiling water over, will allow you to stick those horrible double curved side panels etc.
You can actually make a flat sticker fit a fairly extreme double curved shape.
I have done hundreds over the years - especially certain O/S TTR side panels.

Thanks for this detailed info. I've just replaced some tank / shroud graphics with decent results and am feeling rather warm and fuzzy, but that could be down to the hairdryer and acetone.

I'd recommend watching this realtime video before starting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsrbsFnx8mc

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Just bought some white wrap for my twin shock plastic tank. The tank has gone yellow with age hopefully this will make it better.