Vinyl for Easy-Ups

[bob]

Is there some especial vinyl one can use to put lettering on the valences of Easy-Up et. al. pavilions. In other words, flexible and no doubt synthetic fabric. The couple of times I've tried this in the past the vinyl, Oracal 751 Arlon Calon, etc, was falling off even as I was applying it.

Is there some vinyl product intended for this application or am I consigned to making long narrow banners fastened to the canopy with Velcro?

[GXSignCo]

I think it's Creative Banner has some stuff. It's only available in your primary colors. I forget the name, but pretty sure they are the ones that carry it. Something like Decobrite or thereabouts.

[dclet]

paint.

I have done them with great results - Cut a mask, any vinyl - I think I used Avery A6,
reverse weed, I then sprayed the back with spray adhesive to increase the bond
applied and rolled down well, fill in with color ( i used ronan bulletin, do not thin ) let it tack and peel. It's really not hard at all. Fabric is bulky and a bit awkward but it does work.

They hold up well too.

They do make a special vinyl but I have never tried it and can't remember what it's called. Sorry

[learned the hard way]

Thermo Banner by Specialty Materials. Available from Beacon Graphics and a few other sign supply places. It is a low-melt material you cut on your plotter and install with a common household iron. Gotta put something stiff behind canvas, so you can apply plenty of pressure with iron. I had to take the canopy off and drape over a table, but I was doing big graphics on the main canopy. For valances you may be able to get away with just holding a board behind it.

[mystysue]

I saw that (thermo banner) in the products that JSI offers (they are a sponser here) and figure one day soon im gonna give that a try on my easyup ... I think it says you can use a heat gun too..

[jkkt]

Did anyone ever try the thermo banner material for this application?

[GB2]

I've never tried Thermo banner but I have tried ColorPrint Solvent CPS-2160, which is acceptable for use on nylon and other synthetic fabrics, on some nylon flags recently. The application was made by hand with an iron and the results were less than satisfactory. It took repeated attempts to get it to a point where I felt it was adhered and took great care not to burn/melt the nylon. After a short while now, all the edges of the lettering are loose and flailing in the wind. I can only imagine that any heat transfer product for canopies will have a similar result and the canopy stands a great chance of being ruined. I would only try a mask and paint/screenprint ink method, and only after a number of practice attempts on scrap material. What ever you do Bob, please give us a follow up as to the result.

[rcook99]

Beacon also offers Gorilla Grip and Thermo-flex plus which are both used on nylon or polyester. As stated above they are both cut with a plotter and then applied with a heat press and are very flexible. If you have any further questions feel free to PM me.

Bob

[tzn_motorsports]

I used Avery on our ez-up 3 years ago and it has held up great. I used it because I was a newbie and did not know any better. I throw the ez-up in the race trailer every week without the cover and have had no problems with it peeling. Maybe I am just lucky.

Brad

[hammered]

Ive only done 2 Pop Ups but both of the ones were done with Spectra. I will admit, it was a massive PITA to press, shift, press, shift. Course they were canvas style tops.

[bevets]

Hey bob been wondering the same thing for a while. I have done it with a vinyl mask and rattle can of krylon on similar material. Turned out pretty good.

steveb

[graphixtogo]

I've never tried Thermo banner but I have tried ColorPrint Solvent CPS-2160, which is acceptable for use on nylon and other synthetic fabrics, on some nylon flags recently. The application was made by hand with an iron and the results were less than satisfactory. It took repeated attempts to get it to a point where I felt it was adhered and took great care not to burn/melt the nylon. After a short while now, all the edges of the lettering are loose and flailing in the wind. I can only imagine that any heat transfer product for canopies will have a similar result and the canopy stands a great chance of being ruined. I would only try a mask and paint/screenprint ink method, and only after a number of practice attempts on scrap material. What ever you do Bob, please give us a follow up as to the result.

GB2 - The Specialty Material Colorprint Solvent material needs to be pressed at 325 degrees for 15 seconds with firm pressure. I don't think a hand iron is going to make that stuff stick. It's going to take a heat press. I have used alot of it on garments and nylon and it sticks really well even after repeated washings.

[iSign]

bob, there is a material, often called "sailcloth", or "insignia cloth" made by a company by the name of Bainbridge. It has been converted and marketed by various suppliers, under various names, such as "Dac-Tac" I presume it is a dacron material.

I have used it on nylon, and it is a self adhesive material, cut on a plotter. I've often had to go back over a few areas with an xacto after cutting where some threads are not fully cut, but this has been minimal, and still made for a worthwhile job.

I bought a 54" roll direct from bainbridge & have the number J514 in my rolodex, along with the phone number 800-422-5684 (I later tried it in my inkjet, but it is too absorbent)

I also recall buying it in 15" perf rolls, from Spandex, aka, Clarke Systems.

It's worst features IMO,are tunneling, which increases the cut irregularities to the point, I have been known to pull up a yard or more & smooth it back down before cutting. It also seems to expand, rather than contract on the release liner, and since it sports one of the most aggresive adhesives I've ever run across in this industry... that has tended to gum up the grit wheels and the outfeed section of my plotter when I've had to cut a lot.

I used this stuff on windsurf sails, (part of which are made of a non0-adhesive backed version of the exact material) and also on kite surfing kites.

It doesn't last forever in those extreme situations... but lasted enough to be worth using.

transfer tape has not worked well for me, so I overlap sections of 2" clear packing tape, which is also what I do on sandblast mask.

[learned the hard way]

The thermobanner works fine. I have done several tents with it and no problems with peeling or anything. It cuts on your plotter and applies with a regular household iron. Best results when you remove the canopy from the tent frame and drape it over a table, so you can apply good pressure with the iron.

[Gino]

Hope he wasn't waiting all this time for an answer............... :Big Laugh

[iSign]

Hope he wasn't waiting all this time for an answer............... :Big Laugh

:Oops:

[bevets]

Hope he wasn't waiting all this time for an answer............... :Big Laugh


Thread Crashin knowitall.......:) Good Eye!

Too Funny
steveb