First time ordering/installing 3m IJ180C from signs 365

[dynaminator]

I'm looking at doing this trailer job and considering doing it differently than I normally would. The picture is the customers mock up on chat GPT. The trailer does have rivets. In house I have the gerber edge FX and envision plotter so I am working with 15" cut and printed vinyl. For this logo I would need to panel it vertically every 12 inches. Instead of doing that I am considering getting it printed on 3m IJ180C from signs 365. I have never worked with this vinyl before and have a few concerns. Firstly how difficult would this be for one person (me) to install at this size? I have years of experience installing my normal 12" vinyl x any length always with transfer tape but I am intimidated with this. What would be the technique? My plan right now would be 1.tape it in place. 2. hinge it in the middle horizontally. 3. peel backing and remove first half then squeegee down from center out. 4. remove tape, peel backing on second half and squeegee down. This half would be easier since I could peel backing a little at a time as I squeegee. I am also concerned about dealing with the rivets. What would be the proper way to lay this down? What am I missing, where am I going wrong? Should I be able to handle this myself? Thanks!

 

[unclebun]

You're not going to be able to get it in one piece at the size in the picture. Signs365 prints on 54" vinyl, so the maximum width will be about 52". Design it so you don't exceed that. Installing it by yourself at that size is not impossible, but would be tricky and fraught with peril if you are doing it outside with sun and wind. Get a helper to hold the vinyl as you squeegee and it will be a piece of cake.

If you want to try using a back slitter you can do your hinge method without need to remove the whole first half of the backing paper. But back slitters are a whole other problem because they are tricky to use.

Trailers like this generally do not have rivets but screws, which can be removed with a #2 square bit. Then you can apply the vinyl normally and then go back and put the screws back in (careful not to twist the vinyl by overtightening). If you want to apply over the screws you can but you need to change your vinyl application technique to be more like applying a wrap. Then squeegee between the rows leaving a channel to finish with a RollePro. Or squeegee around each screw, then heat and use a rivet pad or brush.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

It's going to be a whole other animal installing this if you're used to 12" with transfer tape. It's not close to being the same thing.

 

[dynaminator]

You're not going to be able to get it in one piece at the size in the picture. Signs365 prints on 54" vinyl, so the maximum width will be about 52". Design it so you don't exceed that. Installing it by yourself at that size is not impossible, but would be tricky and fraught with peril if you are doing it outside with sun and wind. Get a helper to hold the vinyl as you squeegee and it will be a piece of cake.

If you want to try using a back slitter you can do your hinge method without need to remove the whole first half of the backing paper. But back slitters are a whole other problem because they are tricky to use.

Trailers like this generally do not have rivets but screws, which can be removed with a #2 square bit. Then you can apply the vinyl normally and then go back and put the screws back in (careful not to twist the vinyl by overtightening). If you want to apply over the screws you can but you need to change your vinyl application technique to be more like applying a wrap. Then squeegee between the rows leaving a channel to finish with a RollePro. Or squeegee around each screw, then heat and use a rivet pad or brush.

Thank You, I figured I may have to size down to get in one piece. I will be inside and should be able to get a helper. Never used a back slitter so won't start now

 

[ringocat22]

We just did a 28' trailer with giant graphics from Signs365. I have a helper, and we used a back slitter to start in the center of the main logo graphic, working our way outwards. For the cheese, I had 365 print that in 48" sections that were just a bit larger than the side panels, and seamed the vinyl at the panel seams. We used a square bit to remove the rivets before laying down the vinyl, it looks so much nicer than going over them. With good photos and careful planning, you can panel the graphic to fit the trailer panels and hide the seams, you'll just be applying vertically rather than horizontally.

Even though the trailers are aluminum, the studs are usually steel. So I use heavy duty magnets to help with placement - they should stick in line with the rivets. If there are no steel studs, I use painters tape or 3m masking tape to tack it in place. The back slitter is easy to use, but if you're not sure just try it on a small piece first to get the hang of it. It's an indispensable tool in our shop.

 

[dynaminator]

We just did a 28' trailer with giant graphics from Signs365. I have a helper, and we used a back slitter to start in the center of the main logo graphic, working our way outwards. For the cheese, I had 365 print that in 48" sections that were just a bit larger than the side panels, and seamed the vinyl at the panel seams. We used a square bit to remove the rivets before laying down the vinyl, it looks so much nicer than going over them. With good photos and careful planning, you can panel the graphic to fit the trailer panels and hide the seams, you'll just be applying vertically rather than horizontally.

Even though the trailers are aluminum, the studs are usually steel. So I use heavy duty magnets to help with placement - they should stick in line with the rivets. If there are no steel studs, I use painters tape or 3m masking tape to tack it in place. The back slitter is easy to use, but if you're not sure just try it on a small piece first to get the hang of it. It's an indispensable tool

Thank You this is very helpful. I have a few questions: 1. Are you suggesting that in my case I panel the graphic at the vertical panel seams of the trailer which you did not do for the Toasted graphic but did do for the cheese? 2. Since this comes from 365 as the vinyl and backing paper with no transfer tape was the bottom section with the script lettering tricky to apply? 3. Do you recommend any certain back slitter - I found a few on Amazon, nothing at Grimco.

 

[unclebun]

You don't need to panel the graphic as you are doing just a logo on the side of a red trailer. They paneled because they wrapped the entire trailer (like applying wallpaper). If you were covering a white trailer with the red background with the logo printed on it then paneling would be the technique to use.

If you want one this is the backslitter: https://www.grimco.com/catalog/products/imageoneimpactlinerknife

If you are putting panels of a wrap on there's no need for a backslitter really. We apply top down and just fold back or cut off a section of the backing paper to start.

 

[Boudica]

Do you recommend any certain back slitter

We use these. They are awesome

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