Installing dimensional letters on second surface glass.

[fine point]

Hi!
We use silicon glue to install dimensional letters on glass. But a client wants it on the second surface.

Is there a way to make it look good? I suggested it won't look nice since the glue is not optically clear.

I thought of using a clear VHB tape but I think it will look even worse.

I appreciate any guidance!

FP

 

[netsol]

3m has a whole line of spray adhesives, (used them since the 1980's)
i believe at least a few are clear
worth an experiment.

 

[fine point]

We use 3M 77 a lot to secure large wall murals. Maybe we can use 90.
I didn't think about it! Thanks for the tip!

 

[Bonzai901]

There's a 3M clear double sided tape, 3M 4905 and 4910, you ccan order from ULINE

 

[unclebun]

I'm trying to conceive of why you'd want letters designed to project forward from the surface to be mounted on the backside of the surface. What is the look they are after? If the window is exterior, another problem to consider is that with double sided tape, heating from the sun can cause heavy letters to slide down the substrate. I've seen it with the house number kits the developer used on the newest section of our condo complex.

 

[fine point]

This job is for a retail inside of a shopping mall. They are not exposed to the elements.
I don't know why they want it that way. We don't have enough time in a day to question every single decisions clients make,

 

[unclebun]

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There's also UCT-50 which is used for adhering cell phone screen protectors, and several other 3M optically clear double sided adhesive.

 

[JBurton]

I'm trying to conceive of why you'd want letters designed to project forward from the surface to be mounted on the backside of the surface.

It almost sounds like they want vinyl, but don't know how to ask for it. "No, I don't want the letters to 'stick out', can you just put them on the back side of the glass?"
I'd probably stick matching vinyl to the front side of the glass to hide the fixture points, then use that as a template and secure the letters with small sections of 3m vhb tape from the back side.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

It almost sounds like they want vinyl, but don't know how to ask for it. "No, I don't want the letters to 'stick out', can you just put them on the back side of the glass?"
I'd probably stick matching vinyl to the front side of the glass to hide the fixture points, then use that as a template and secure the letters with small sections of 3m vhb tape from the back side.

i was wondering the same thing. why the f would you put dimensional letter on second surface?

 

[crashaffinity]

when we install dimensional letters on glass that is going to be viewed from the other side, we put down vinyl first in the same color as the letters, then glue / tape the letters to the vinyl. looks nice from both sides then.

 

[JBurton]

tape the letters to the vinyl

Every time I've tried to adhere dimensional letters to vinyl with vhb tape, it has slowly caused the vinyl to de laminate from the surface it was applied to. Usually I see it when it is a second surface applied to 1/2" acrylic, mounted with VHB tape.

 

[crashaffinity]

Every time I've tried to adhere dimensional letters to vinyl with vhb tape, it has slowly caused the vinyl to de laminate from the surface it was applied to. Usually I see it when it is a second surface applied to 1/2" acrylic, mounted with VHB tape.

interesting i haven't run into this yet. We use this method to install all nameplates to glass. We use tiny squares of VHB though, not long strips, could that be the difference?

 

[Evan Gillette]

Lots of good mounting adhesives for mounting prints/posters to 2nd surface, maybe try those? If you used one with a liner you could even cut/transfertape and apply the adhesive as your template, then just peel liner and stick letters. But this probably would not look good unless the mounting adhesive has air egress and can "wet out" on the letter surface.

 

[Moze]

I've done it and it looks pretty cool, from both inside and outside.

As mentioned, apply second surface vinyl that's the same color as the letters then mount the letters to the vinyl. The letters should have full-coverage tape so as not to 'pull' on an isolated portion of the vinyl. Don't use silicone, Lexel, etc. That will wrinkle the vinyl as it cures.

All of that being said, it also looks cool it the letters are on the front and back of the glass so it looks like they're extending through the glass.