Rivet brush-o-rama and teflon sleeve scratching

[trakers]

Sad to say as a noobie I do not own a rivet brush yet (One coming on Tuesday)

Mr. Ivers suggests using a rivet brush as a final step for banners. Anyone do this? Doesn't the brush scratch the vinyl?

Also, I pruchased some teflon sleeves yet even with the sleeve when I do a final squeege after removing hte pre-mask the Oracal 751 shows signs of scratching. Using a new squeege with a good edge, rotating the sleeve to a new position each time, etc.

I do not beleive I am applying too much pressure, at least no more that I do when applying with the pre-mask on.

[iSign]

I've almost never squeegeed after removing the application tape. I read that somewhere, but I squeegee the hell out of it from the get-go, and that's always been enough, but little scratches shouldn't matter either.

[tmac]

I know what you mean you see the scratch marks,try the felt squeege but spray some application fluid down,but i think the best thing is to sqeeege the hell out of it before taking the transfer paper off.

[mark in tx]

You might want to try a new squeegee. Sometimes I remember that squeegee in my back pocket has been in use for 6 months.

[learned the hard way]

Use the rivet brush with the premask still on.

[MVIP]

a little heat before removing app tape and hit with a rivet brush. If your still pulling up. make sure you cleaned the banner good before starting.

Or just print it and have a :beer!

[Techman]

i have never used a rivet brush on a banner
i always squeegee like it needs it. CAlandered vinyl sil sometimes lift when peeeling the trans tape. However. an hour on the sun will set it like its never been before. I do not clean banner material with anything. And i rarely use app fluid except.

[Fred Weiss]

The only reason to squeegee after removing your application tape is if you have a marginal bond such as immediately after doing a wet application. In such cases you may find investing in a soft rubber brayer (roller) is an excellent choice. The primary reason for a rivet brush is to create contact between the adhesive and the valleys of an irregular surface.

[trakers]

I actually did buy a brayer awhile back and use it occasionally.

Since I am trying to do everything dry now the bond is usually pretty tight. Just wondering what you guys did as two of the points Ivers made was one should re-squeegee after pulling the pre-mask regardless of the surface and that he always hits banners with the rivet brush to insure a good bond.

[Ken]

Even a darned paper towel will leave scratches on vinyl.
However, I find a felt tipped squeegee to be very good. Make sure it is clean.
Cheers!
Ken

[Techman]

Rob ivers is very good, However, he is giving noobs some over kill..

[GAC05]

Save a piece of the release liner (keep it off the floor and clean), after you pull the premask off lay the scrap liner back down on top of the graphic and squeegee the heck out it. Shift the scrap until you have gone over all of the graphic.
With the liner protecting the graphic and the surface it is applied to, you don't have to worry about sratches.
Rob's advice to re-squeegee after removing the premask takes very little extra time and will make sure nothing is pulled up when the mask is removed.

wayne k
guam usa

[ChicagoGraphics]

Take a gold 3M squeegee and cover one side with the soft part of velcro.
Scraches-be-gone

[WVB]

I have made the Velcro squeegees, used the Teflon covers for squeegees and no matter it scratches the vinyl all up... Just make sure you squeegee really well before removing app tape. Also if you use paper app you can squeegee it really well then spray with rapid tac to soften the adhesive on the app tape so it doesn't pull so badly... What Wayne K stated is also a great idea...

[kendallcole]

Save a piece of the release liner (keep it off the floor and clean), after you pull the premask off lay the scrap liner back down on top of the graphic and squeegee the heck out it. Shift the scrap until you have gone over all of the graphic.
With the liner protecting the graphic and the surface it is applied to, you don't have to worry about sratches.
Rob's advice to re-squeegee after removing the premask takes very little extra time and will make sure nothing is pulled up when the mask is removed.

wayne k
guam usa

I use this technique also (when needed). I save all of our clear backing and use it, so I can see whats going on while Im squeeging over the top.

You could also get the felt sleeve wet to reduce scratching.

[MobileImpact]

We scratch the hell out of things. Usually, however, they are only light surface scratches and disappear once the sun hits it for a while. Even with velcro squeeges we get light surface scratches. Shouldn't be a big deal

Kevin