Fitting decals

[Matthew Willoughby]

I should get my freshly resprayed car back next week and I have a set of Caterham Motorsport number background decals to fit. When I put them on my last car I ended up with loads of air bubbles between the sticker and the car. So, what is the best technique for putting them on to avoid air bubbles?

[Grim Reaper]

My general method for sticker application is warm water in a spray bottle with a drop of washing up or shampoo in it, spray both the surface the sticker is going onto and the sticky side of the decal with the water (fine mist, plenty of it) then use a cloth to rub the decal onto the surface (the cloth stops sticky rubbing effect) squeeze out the water towards the edges and any air bubbles with it.

[Roger Ford]

Sounds about right but you want to get hold of a proper squeegee rather than a cloth.

 

Here you go: £1.65 delivered. Run it out from the centre to the edges and it'll push the water out.

[AndyBram]

Matt, I did exactly what the Reaper said when I put the nose stripes on mine, it works a treat.

 

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^{Becoming a part-time x-flow convert 8-O}

^Piccies

[Wrightpayne]

I use a credit card - seems to work better with a Platinum Card 😬

 

Ian

[Roger Ford]

Probably do the job, but vinyl squeegees are rather softer, so less likely to scratch the decal, and better on curved surfaces. Also less prone to abuse by spending next months salary on shiny toys.

[Matthew Willoughby]

Thanks everyone

 

eBay squeegee thingy ordered

[andy couchman]

...don't forget to let the car dry really thoroughly after application.

 

Otherwise they either move or bits of them fly off.

 

Don't ask how I know... 😳

 

Andy

[Z3MCJez]

Do the nosecone last. It's far harder than the ones that go on the more or less flat side panels. The nosecone sticker has two directions to "bend" into.

 

Jez

The one with the wonky nosecone number square!

 

Build Photos