Chrome vinyl bubbling on lexan

[klingsdesigns]

I have a customer that always wants chrome vinyl. I personally hate working with the stuff.
Well i am doing a back lit sign for him and applied black and chrome to some lexan.
It is bubbling like crazy.
I have read about the lexan out gassing and a bunch of other reasons. What can i do to get it to stop or is it always going to happen?

 

[Auburnpeanut]

Some people swear outgassing is real and some swear it is not. I have personally never had a problem with it. The general rule of thumb I have heard is to let the sheet sit for 24 hours after taking the protective sheet off of it. Can you show us a pic of it, it might be that it is something else causing it. Was it just the chrome or the chrome and black? As far as making it stop, I don't think there is anything you can do after the fact except pop bubbles or replace graphics.

 

[klingsdesigns]

It is only doing it with the chrome. Only time this is happened to me but only time i have applied chrome to lexan too.

 

[klingsdesigns]

the is a another sign with chrome on it. Its really hard to see in the pictures. But they started to appear a good 4 hours or later.

 

[Gino]

I don't know what your problem is, but chrome lettering or graphics on an electric sign face has got to be butt ugly, not to mention, I've never seen chrome anything on an electric sign face. For those effects, we usually painted them on so they'd last. Chrome vinyl has about a 1 year life expectancy outside.

Not saying one way or the other what you are, but a good sign person would never let someone use chrome vinyl on a sign face like that. I kinda think you're heading for a big heapa trouble down the road some time shorty.

 

[Auburnpeanut]

Yeah chrome is a b!tch. It could be the fact that the chrome is a polyester material and has slightly different adhesive. Maybe it is reacting differently. I have some extra chrome and scrap lexan. I will throw a piece on there and see if it does it for me as well. I will let you know the results. Also, just to cover all bases (not to sound snide) Did you wet apply or dry apply the chrome?

 

[klingsdesigns]

I don't know what your problem is, but chrome lettering or graphics on an electric sign face has got to be butt ugly, not to mention, I've never seen chrome anything on an electric sign face. For those effects, we usually painted them on so they'd last. Chrome vinyl has about a 1 year life expectancy outside.

Not saying one way or the other what you are, but a good sign person would never let someone use chrome vinyl on a sign face like that. I kinda think you're heading for a big heapa trouble down the road some time shorty.

I always tell him to stay away from it, but he pays for it. This chrome says 5 year, and I have been using it for a few years now and have never had a problem. Its his branding he always has black and chrome and wants to stay with it.

 

[klingsdesigns]

Yeah chrome is a b!tch. It could be the fact that the chrome is a polyester material and has slightly different adhesive. Maybe it is reacting differently. I have some extra chrome and scrap lexan. I will throw a piece on there and see if it does it for me as well. I will let you know the results. Also, just to cover all bases (not to sound snide) Did you wet apply or dry apply the chrome?

I never wet apply any vinyl.

 

[boxerbay]

I don't know what your problem is, but chrome lettering or graphics on an electric sign face has got to be butt ugly, not to mention, I've never seen chrome anything on an electric sign face. For those effects, we usually painted them on so they'd last. Chrome vinyl has about a 1 year life expectancy outside.

Not saying one way or the other what you are, but a good sign person would never let someone use chrome vinyl on a sign face like that. I kinda think you're heading for a big heapa trouble down the road some time shorty.

Maybe it is for a strip club or some other GLITZY flashy place. Who knows.

 

[Auburnpeanut]

I never wet apply any vinyl.

Just making sure.

 

[klingsdesigns]

Maybe it is for a strip club or some other GLITZY flashy place. Who knows.

Its for a electrical company.

 

[Billct2]

Well this may be outgassing, from what I understand metallized materials don't "breathe" like regular vinyl.

 

[Gino]

I always tell him to stay away from it, but he pays for it. This chrome says 5 year, and I have been using it for a few years now and have never had a problem. Its his branding he always has black and chrome and wants to stay with it.

Never had chrome last outside without lifting, changing color or just looking icky after a year or so.

Some years ago, saw a guy with some kinda shiny color on one side of his truck and an ugly pink on the other side. I asked him about it and he said it was all once chrome and it just started getting like this, as he pointed to it. Asked him how old it was. Not quite a year...... Yowsa.

 

[klingsdesigns]

Well this may be outgassing, from what I understand metallized materials don't "breathe" like regular vinyl.

How long will something outgas? It came with a protective liner on it.
If i keep it how it is will it keep bubbling and the chrome fall off?
Should i remove the chrome and then let it sit for a day and reapply?

 

[Billct2]

I've always heard the 24hr time frame.
If it was me I'd proably strip & reapply the chrome.
I've used Coburn chrome and had it last a few years looking pretty good.

 

[klingsdesigns]

anyone think they will lay flat again once in the sun?

 

[robr]

chrome

Use heat after you put it down.

 

[klingsdesigns]

Use heat after you put it down.

Not sure if you ever used a heat gun with chrome vinyl. But it doesn't work so well.

 

[Auburnpeanut]

I put a piece of chrome down this morning on a piece of lexan. Still looks fine. I put it on immediately after stripping the protective sheet off of the lexan. I will check it again in the morning.

 

[klingsdesigns]

I put a piece of chrome down this morning on a piece of lexan. Still looks fine. I put it on immediately after stripping the protective sheet off of the lexan. I will check it again in the morning.

Yeah let me know.. I would say mine took about 4 hours to start to appear. Also what brand chrome is yours?
THANKS!!!