Bubbles in 5600 reflective

[SellersSign&Design]

So today I went to do an install on an airport fire truck. It should have been a simple install... two color logo on the front doors using Oracal metallic silver with black Oracal 5600 on top, and then a two part logo on the sides of the tank using more black 5600 and printed/laminated 5600 in the middle. Everything went smoothly on the front doors, but when I put the first side logo on the tank things went downhill. I prepped everything with RapidTac prep spray and then put the black reflective down using the hinge method, the same way I've done it a million times before. I used moderate to heavy squeegee pressure working about half the width of the squeegee per pass. When I pulled the transfer paper back there were air bubbles everywhere... not huge ones, but big enough to be noticeable. So on the other side I tried to be more careful and really make sure I squeegeed it down perfectly, and I still got bubbles. Not as many, but they were still there. Has anyone had issues like this with 5600? Or maybe it wasn't the material, I'm wondering if the truck had been sprayed with something that the RapidTac didn't remove and the vinyl didn't like. I'm just trying to make sure this never happens again, because my nerves couldn't take another incident like this!!!

 

[SellersSign&Design]

Pictures of the job:







I just thought of this, but the sides of this truck may be plastic- if it is what is called a "wet side" tank the poly tank is a one piece full width design that isn't sheeted with aluminum. Either way it is still painted just like the rest of the truck, so I wouldn't think that would be the issue.

 

[S'N'S]

I can see ghosting from where old vinyl was removed so it's obvious that its nothing to do with the plastic tank or paint. Were the bubbles in curved/straight lines, you may not have overlapped squeegee swipes properly or your squeegee has nicks in the blade. Try resharpening or use a new one.

 

[SellersSign&Design]

I can see ghosting from where old vinyl was removed so it's obvious that its nothing to do with the plastic tank or paint. Were the bubbles in curved/straight lines, you may not have overlapped squeegee swipes properly or your squeegee has nicks in the blade. Try resharpening or use a new one.

No they weren't in any kind of lines, they were random. On the second side after I noticed the problem I used a brand new squeegee.

 

[reQ]

Using 5600 & 5650 RA constantly in my shop, actually have another fire truck sitting here to get decals installed tomorrow. If i will have problems, i will let you know.... but so far i am in love with oracal reflective films... 0 issues.