affixing vinyl background to glass
- Thread starter Nina51
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firemountain
New member
I did a vinyl background on my tank. It's easy.....here are the basics.
First...before peeling the backing, precut the vinyl to the tank size. Overshoot the top and the bottom like a 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Then make up a spray bottle of mild soapy water. Give a good spray to the back of the tank. Peel the vinyl and place it on the back of the tank. You should now be able to freely move the whole piece around loosely...if not lift off, and add more solution.
Now use a decal applicator ( get one from the graphics store). If not...use like a plastic room key, casino card, or a credit card. The key is to use something that isn't stiff. As you squeegee....if you see the back start to scratch...and it bothers you....then wrap it in a paper towel to help. In terms of applied pressure.....you don't have to go really hard.
No...once you are lined up....start squeegeeing. I normally start from the middle...go to one end lightly, left to right....then do the other end .....right to left. Some just start from the far left and the to the right...whatever you are more comfortable with.
Now for the top and bottom...carefully squeegee the vinyl so it goes underneath the plastic black trim. You may need to use a stiff credit card to act as a wedge. You also may not to get it perfect in the corners, but no worries....when it fully dries, you can just razor it. I normally do the entire tank 2x...the first time very lightly...to get the majority of the water off, so the glue starts to stick, then a second time to really get the water out.
If all this sounds intimidating....get an extra piece, and first practice on a mirror. You will get the hang of it.
Now for trapped bubbles, keep an eye out as you squeegee. If you catch them early, it's easy to squeegee out.....afterward much harder and may be out out luck. If that becomes the case...then take a pin...pop it, then squeegee out the water.
First...before peeling the backing, precut the vinyl to the tank size. Overshoot the top and the bottom like a 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Then make up a spray bottle of mild soapy water. Give a good spray to the back of the tank. Peel the vinyl and place it on the back of the tank. You should now be able to freely move the whole piece around loosely...if not lift off, and add more solution.
Now use a decal applicator ( get one from the graphics store). If not...use like a plastic room key, casino card, or a credit card. The key is to use something that isn't stiff. As you squeegee....if you see the back start to scratch...and it bothers you....then wrap it in a paper towel to help. In terms of applied pressure.....you don't have to go really hard.
No...once you are lined up....start squeegeeing. I normally start from the middle...go to one end lightly, left to right....then do the other end .....right to left. Some just start from the far left and the to the right...whatever you are more comfortable with.
Now for the top and bottom...carefully squeegee the vinyl so it goes underneath the plastic black trim. You may need to use a stiff credit card to act as a wedge. You also may not to get it perfect in the corners, but no worries....when it fully dries, you can just razor it. I normally do the entire tank 2x...the first time very lightly...to get the majority of the water off, so the glue starts to stick, then a second time to really get the water out.
If all this sounds intimidating....get an extra piece, and first practice on a mirror. You will get the hang of it.
Now for trapped bubbles, keep an eye out as you squeegee. If you catch them early, it's easy to squeegee out.....afterward much harder and may be out out luck. If that becomes the case...then take a pin...pop it, then squeegee out the water.
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thanks for that detailed description but it won't work because the background color is actually printed on the side WITHOUT the adhesive. it's the only way they could do it. this is a shop that makes banners, political signs, etc.
i do understand your method though. i've used it to put decals on my van windows..."my great dane ate your stick family". hehe
i do understand your method though. i've used it to put decals on my van windows..."my great dane ate your stick family". hehe
firemountain
New member
Ok. No prob. I see that question about vinyl application often and figured I would reply. Too bad the graphic is not on the glue side....would have made it easier.
Brian Peterson
New member
Sounds like you got a digital print on vinyl. The digital print media is grey alot of the time on the adhesive side. You should have got a standard vinyl film where the color is the same on the front as on the back. The adhesive is clear. Firemountain gave a good explanation of the basics of a wet application. Except you want a couple drops of Dove dish liquid per quart or so of water. His term of "mild soapy water" might not be enough detail. But FYI I have made signs for about 16 years now. Owned my own sign company for 12 years and I never do wet applications. Dry apps are easy enough when done right and less bubble prone. Though even the best aplicator gets bubbles 
My suggestion would be to measure you tank back percisely and provide the sign campany with the measurements and they can put it on the plotter and cut it perfectly. Additionally you might have them just give you a price for them to install it. If you are close there shouldn't be a huge cost at all. Also when you order vinyl, specify you want Calendered vinyl opposed to Cast premium vinyl. You can same some money as it last the same in an interior application. Cast premium vinyls are made for exterior use and UV exposure.
If you have a sign company install it you can be assured it is perfect. If they screw it up it gets redone on their dime. If you do.. well you get to go buy another sheet of film. Good luck.
My suggestion would be to measure you tank back percisely and provide the sign campany with the measurements and they can put it on the plotter and cut it perfectly. Additionally you might have them just give you a price for them to install it. If you are close there shouldn't be a huge cost at all. Also when you order vinyl, specify you want Calendered vinyl opposed to Cast premium vinyl. You can same some money as it last the same in an interior application. Cast premium vinyls are made for exterior use and UV exposure.If you have a sign company install it you can be assured it is perfect. If they screw it up it gets redone on their dime. If you do.. well you get to go buy another sheet of film. Good luck.
guy gave me some clear tape but i'm pretty sure it will still show. brian, they did cut it pretty exact with my measurement of the glass so once i figure out how to apply it, it will be the proper size.
as for having them do the install, i kinda live in the farthest corner of the boonies. really, you can't get here from there. hehe
i'm having a dozen or more rc'ers here in september so before they all consume too many adult beverages, i will have all kinds of help!
as for having them do the install, i kinda live in the farthest corner of the boonies. really, you can't get here from there. hehe
i'm having a dozen or more rc'ers here in september so before they all consume too many adult beverages, i will have all kinds of help!
Brian Peterson
New member
Nina, sometimes I forget that Youtube has everything... I did a quick search and found videos on how you can install the back. Look up "Center hinge vinyl application" and find the dry app versions. I think that visually you can get a better understanding of this approach. In addition I believe the center hinge is the best way to do an aquarium back as you can get it perfectly lined up prior to install. Good luck!
thanks, brian, i will check these videos out!
eta: watched a few of those vids. if i had done this prior to setting up my tank, it woulda been a whole lot easier! the problem i have is that i only have a few inches between the back of the tank and the wall so i have to sorta make myself into a pretzel to get the backing back there. not so easy when you consider i'm older than dirt and i have a very bad back! LOL
i may have to just live with a few pieces of tape showing.
eta: watched a few of those vids. if i had done this prior to setting up my tank, it woulda been a whole lot easier! the problem i have is that i only have a few inches between the back of the tank and the wall so i have to sorta make myself into a pretzel to get the backing back there. not so easy when you consider i'm older than dirt and i have a very bad back! LOL
i may have to just live with a few pieces of tape showing.
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firemountain
New member
Nina. I suggested the wet application because I figured that you would want to get the vinyl under the black trim. I didn't know you had an actual design on your vinyl. With mine...I only used black vinyl and had no design. Getting the vinyl under the trim makes for a nicer look. Good luck.
well, not really a design. it just graduates from a deep blue to a light blue, from bottom to top. there is no problem with getting it lined up so the vinyl is under the trim, it's just the problem of having to work with so few inches of space. i think i'll have much better luck with another set of arms/hands.
<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Ninapearl/media/TANK/3_zpsb92ad13f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/Ninapearl/TANK/3_zpsb92ad13f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3_zpsb92ad13f.jpg"/></a>
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