So I picked up my decals from Streetgraphics. They are vinyl, and made on Scotchal 220 Film. For those of you who have installed decals, what is the best way to do it? For instance I just waxed my truck recently. Do I need to strip the wax off (I'm putting them on the side of the bed where the stock TRD one's go)? I have instructions but I'd like to hear the way you did it in more layman's terms.

Thanks.

 

I wouldn't worry about the wax and just make the sure the surface is clean and just spray some window cleaner over the area and set the decal where you like it and push out the majority of the air bubbles (you won't get them all out but as it dires they will disappear) and let dry completely before you drive it.

 

i didnt know putting on a sticker was so involved. i usually just stick it on...

 

easy way that my dad showed me to do any kind of decals pinstriping etc...

put soapy water all over the area you want to apply the decal to...also make sure its clean..thats a give though

but this will allow for the decal to stick to the paint while you can still move it and make sure its level....a level is a great tool to use to make sure your decal looks great.

than squeegee the water out and your decal is perfectly applied!

 

When I installed my TRD stickers I used Goof-off to strip the residual wax. Worked pretty good but one is crooked!

 

I tried using windex on a sticker once & never again...all the liquid was squeegyed out & the sticker still floated around!!
I usually use soapy water (small spray bottle of water w/ a couple drops of dish soap & shake) on larger stickers, but was cleaning the windows & just being lazy thought, what the heck this stuff should work! Well it did finally setup after the sticker sat for a while & got baked buy the sun.

Instead of actually laying the level against the truck while trying to position the sticker & squeegy @ the same time, I place small pieces of tape where the sticker should go. The pcs of tape are measured out & leveled...then all you have to do it slide the sticker up to the tape edge & start sqweegyin' !

Also have a stick pin or super sharp #11 xacto blade handy to pop those pesky bubbles that won't go away.

Good luck.

 

Don't use window cleaner, it will eat the glue off the back of the sticker.

Go buy you a small spray bottle and a small bottle of johnson's baby shampoo. Put a small amount of the baby shampoo and the rest with water in your spray bottle. Spray the area where your going to put the sticker and on the back of the sticker too. Once you lay the sticker on the truck and have it positioned were you want it, just squeegee out all of the water. You might not want to drive your truck for a day to let it properly adhere to the truck.

 

I just used plain old luke warm water after cleaning the surface, lined it up with the line on the taillight and stuck her on. Wouldn't budge about 5 minutes later, even took it to the pressure wash bays to get some of the cleaning stuff off the rear bumper...maybe I was just lucky but it worked great!

Fink

 

The shampoo allows you to move the sticker to get it just right.

 

Not sure it is the right way to do it but I do use a prewax cleaner for paint prep. Probably doesn't make much differance. What I do see a lot of though is TRD stickers put on crooked. I use a pencil and ruler to make light marks that can be seen through the covering. Don't be in a huge hurry to take off the covering. Work the air bubbles out first.

 

use a level to determine a nice, straight horizontal line and then mark it blue painter's tape (best) or masking tape.

bob

 

Hmm,I've done three sets of those stickers from streetgraphics using windex and the application was easy and no bubbles and they've stayed put. Soapy water would be better tho'.

 

I did the install yesterday and it was very easy.

I used very mildly soapy water and the decal set in like 5 minutes! (and I had the transfer paper off that fast!). Yet it was still soapy enough to move it around to get the proper positioning.

http://photobucket.com/albums/y184/C...ictures007.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/y184/C...ctures0001.jpg

 

Sweet, those look good. I've gotta get mine on now I had em colour matched to my exterior colour and my interior for the shadow