1. How much will it cost?
2. Why won't my decal stick?
3. How can I get rid of air bubbles under my decal?
4. Can I use the wet application method with vinyl paint mask?
5. How long will it take to receive my decal order?
6. How long can I expect a decal to last outside on my vehicle?
7. Will your decals ruin the painted finish underneath the decal?
8. Are your decals easily removeable without damaging the painted finish?
9. Can I clear coat your decals?
10. What forms of payment do you accept?
11. What is a decal?
12. What is a paint mask?
Quite often we are asked how much a custom item such as a sign, banner or decal will cost. Unless it's a very basic item using simple lettering it's very difficult to give an exact cost without having a final design to quote from. If you would like a custom item it's best to send us a sketch or photo of what you need along with height and width dimensions. A very accurate written discription would also be acceptable. You should also state what colors you would like and the text, if any. With this information we will be able to give you an accurate quote.
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There are basically two things that will cause a decal to not stick or stay down. The surface not being clean enough and temperature.
1.) The most important thing to consider when applying decals, is the type of surface that it will be applied to. Vinyl decals adhere best to hard, smooth, glossy surfaces. Surfaces such as glass, painted vehicles, most metals, plastic sheets, fiberglass etc. Textured surfaces do not accept vinyl very well and decals should never be applied over latex paint. No matter which type of surface will be used, it is VERY important that the surface be clean and free of defects such as rust and blistered paint! Clean the surface thoroughly with a good quality cleaner. Especially windshields! CLEAN WINDSHIELDS SEVERAL TIMES! Make sure ALL wax, oil, grease, finger prints etc. are removed.
2.) If the temperature of the decal or the surface that it will be applied to is much below 60 degrees it's not a good idea to apply it. The cooler temperature causes the adhesive on the decal to crystalize somewhat and reduces it's adhesive ability. The ideal temperature would be room temperature, about 72 degrees. If the decal is cold the cooler temperature does not ruin the decal. Just let it warm up and it will be ready to apply.
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3. How can I get rid of air bubbles under my decal?
To elimnate any large air bubbles take a pin and poke a hole through the vinyl at the outer edge of the bubble. Use your finger or a squeegee to force the air out of the bubble through the pin hole. DO NOT use a knife to make this hole. A knife will make a small cut instead of a round hole and this can cause the vinyl to tear and lift off the surface in the future.
If there are several very small air bubbles it would be best to just leave them alone for a couple of weeks. Small bubbles will actually disappear on their own over time. Usually after about two weeks in the sun, a little longer during cooler weather. The warming(day) and cooling(night) of the decal will cause the vinyl to normalize with the surface and the bubbles will usually disappear. If any bubbles remain after a couple of weeks you can always take a pin to them.
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4. Can I use the wet application method with vinyl paint mask?
Because of the very low tack qualities of vinyl paint mask you should NOT use the wet application method. The fluid would cause the low tack adhesive to become a NO tack adhesive.
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5. How long will it take to receive my decal order?
Please view our Shipping Information page for complete shipping and order processing information.
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6. How long can I expect a decal to last outside on my vehicle?
Here at RG Graphix we use top quality, automotive grade vinyl for all of our decals and graphics. Printed graphics are also laminated for extra protection. Assuming the decal was applied properly to a well cleaned and solid surface you can expect a decal life of 3-5 years on a vehicle that is left out in the weather. On a vehicle that's kept in a garage a decal life of well over 5 years is not uncommon. Of course decal life also depends on where the decal is on the vehicle, windshield decals for example tend to take a lot of abuse and may not last as long. A little common sense and proper care will go a long way in extending the life of your decal.
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7. Will your decals ruin the painted finish underneath the decal?
As long as the surface the decal is applied to is painted with a quality paint our vinyl decals will not ruin it. The only thing you might notice once the decal is removed after several years is the paint around the decal may have faded a bit compared to the paint underneath the decal.
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8. Are your decals easily removeable without damaging the painted finish?
A decal can be removed fairly easily by applying a little heat and peeling it off. Usually the heat from a hair dryer is enough. If it's an older decal it may come off in very small pieces. The removed decal will also leave some adhesive behind that can be removed easily with a commercial adhesive remover sold at most automotive parts stores. As long as the decal is removed carefully the process shouldn't damage the painted finish.
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9. Can I clear coat your decals?
Yes, clear coating the decals is possible and will significantly extend their life span. The main thing to watch is that you don't apply the first coat of clear too heavy. A very light coat should be applied and allowed to tack over to seal the edges. Once the first coat has tacked you can apply the remaining coats slightly heavier than the first. Several light coats are best.
If the first coat is applied too heavy it's possible that the solvent in the clear can bleed under the edges of the decals. If this happens the solvent will attack the adhesive and cause the edges of the decals to curl. Once that happens there's no way to fix it other than removing the decals and starting over.
A lot of customers do clear coat their decals. They've shot several different types of clear including: model airplane dope, lacquer, enamel, polyurethane and 2K high performance automotive clear coats and have not had any problems that we are aware of.
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10. What forms of payment do you accept?
Two forms of payment are accepted; PayPal & USPS Money Orders only. Mail in orders which include any other form of payment will be returned to the sender. Personal Checks are not accepted. We are not set up to accept credit card orders directly over the telephone.
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A decal is basically anything that has a printed image, graphic, such as a company logo, or text that can be applied to another surface. Different variations of decals include: water-slide and vinyl peel-and-stick decals. Water slide decals were probably the first type of decal and are still in use today. They work well for very small decals such as the ones used in plastic model kits.
More common these days, for larger decals, are the vinyl decals which are what we produce. The vinyl decals are either cut from colored adhesive backed vinyl or printed on a white or clear background. The printed decals are usually laminated with a clear vinyl to protect the print and increase the longevity of the decal.
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A paint mask is basically a stencil that is cut from a low tack vinyl material. It is applied to a surface, paint is sprayed over the stencil, and then the mask is removed which leaves the paint behind. Paint masks work best over flat or simple curved surfaces. The material is not flexible enough to be applied around compound curves.
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