The majority of your applications: Wet or Dry?

[darkdan]

Do you apply most of your vinyl wet or dry?

This includes things like coroplast signs, vehicle lettering, banners, window apps, etc etc etc.

Are you a full sign shop or a DIYer?

[Replicator]

D.r.y.!

[darkdan]

That was a crazy fast reply man. Your post showed up as my browser refreshed from making a new post. At first I thought something was wrong. LOL.

[Replicator]

Like I said DRY . . . Like LIGHTNING !

[Flame]

Full time sign shop, I like to do stuff dry.

[Digitall]

We always do dry, except for 1 27 foot backlit this month that was hard to hinge. Window perfs should never be done wet,in my opinion, moisture stays trapped. If you do wet and using soap and water type, try adding alittle winshield washer fluid to mix and it will dry much faster.

[signage]

Dry

[kraigsnowden]

I'll do them dry w/ the big squeegee. A couple times, I've had to do large graphics, and I couldn't get the squeegee in there because the frame was smaller than the squeegee, so those I did wet, and rolled out, but other than those instances (which aren't often) dry. Keeps the shop nicer too...

[cgsigns_jamie]

Most everything Dry. The only time we install wet is if it's a huge graphic or if we are doing color inlays.

[THATgirl]

Dry! ('cept if I am layering)

[SignTech]

Dry

[Techman]

dry,, but could be wet,,

[sarge]

dry unless layering

[Custom Signs]

Dry

[ChicagoGraphics]

Dry......unless my gf is around

[Craig Sjoquist]

I like wet mainly because of options.. but it's really about 50/50
since I don't have a plotter to cut .. very few jobs are in vinyl anyway, getting vinyl cut takes to long from design to ready to install ..

[jasonx]

Only time we do it wet is when its raining outside :)

[Gino]

I know..... this is a trick question........ :omg:


We rub it three times before adding shaving cream to the formula. When removing the second step from the process we then layer for breathing room by throwing a little pachouli on the underside. After the lingering odors fade, we then run over to the mailbox and see if any yellow lunch buckets are in the taxi before returning in our snuggies. When all is clear, we set the fuse and start doing somethin'.... that's the frickin' step I keep forgetting. :frustrated:




What do I win.... huh, huh ??






.

[ProWraps™]

a quick trip to the rubber room.

[Digitall]

a quick trip to the rubber room.
Great answer. got me laughin at 2:30. Needed it after reading undercut.com all night. $3 foot makes me realize i am being raped by 3m.

[S'N'S]

DRY.

Er, why would you need to do layering wet? it's no different to doing the first layer.

Also whats classed as a DYIer?

[darkdan]

I guess I should have defined the terms, but it seems most understood.

Either a full sign shop (in business), or someone that just owns a plotter and dabbles with it on the side (may or may not be a business depending on involvement).

[S'N'S]

Ok that's what I thought,, only we call them a backyarder.

[Ken]

I'm getting over it..there is no shame to a wet app...it just takes time...
Ken

[S'N'S]

I'm getting over it..there is no shame to a wet app...it just takes time...
Ken

Ken there's no shame, but I find it takes longer and always ended up with bubbles, so I've done everything dry for years.
Hmmm, no I don't, I don't do window etch vinyl dry, god I hate that stuff..

[Custom Signs]

I am like S'N'S, why do ya'll do the layers wet? It is a lot quicker and easier to do them dry.
TB

[wrapman jamz]

What's the point? I looks like the majority goes dry. The only wet for me was model decals in 1968. Do you need pointers on technique? (dry) I'm sure someone has a reference to a great video and you'll never get your stuff wet again!

[BRUSHMARKS]

FT shop here do them dry as much as possible. being in MN only have about 6-8 months of hot enough weather that we dont have to worry about moisture staying behind and freezeing nad cracking the vinyl

[TorturdChaos]

Full Time Shop. If we print it on vinyl & its not cut, it usually gets applied wet. If its printed & cut or cut out of pre-colored vinyl its usually dry.

There are a few excepts depending on the project.

[BlueRidgeFabrication]

We apply everything dry, but we don't do a whole lot of vinyl projects.

Jessica

[SignsOfMaine]

I voted dry but by no means are we against wet. There's just no reason to waste that sweet, sweet rapidtac on every little site sign and door decal. Certain situations call for wet (like the 20 foot lightbox graphics) and when those situations come up, we work that spray bottle.

[smott]

Bought a gallon of application fluid in 1996 when I went vinyl. Still have a gallon left.

[TonyHoles]

No shame in wet but there will come a point where you get good enough to always do things dry. Just my opinion. I am sure there are times where wet is necessary but I can't think of one at the moment.

[Fineline Graphics]

Dry all the way, only time I do wet is working with glass.

[SignManiac]

In most cases dry would be acceptable but wet definitely feels better. I no longer use rapid tac or Ivory but have found that Astroglide works really good.

[GregT]

Everything I do is dry.

[gnatt66]

im learning dry...do everything that doesnt scare me dry. race car numbers i do wet, ugh @ rivets, dents, blah blah. i usually layer them(a door number) untaped and semi-soaked in rapid tac II, works best for me so far. it's almost as fast as dry and no PIA wet transfer tape to wrestle with.

can't wait to learn applying large printed graphics when my printer shows up :rock-n-roll:

[SignosaurusRex]

Always Dry as a rule regardless of size, layers etc........however there are special circumstances that absolutely require a wet install from time to time but those are very rare.

Hell, I'll bet ol' Roger even goes....ah,..err..I mean...installs... dry as long as no one is looking.:rolleyes:

[sarge]

ok i do just about 95% dry .. 14 years ago or so i bought some rapidtac kinda stuff .. still have 1/2 of a case .. if i recall there was 24 bottles of 24 oz .. my son who does window tinting (treatments) got me using dawn and water .. that stuff is the best imo