Does anyone know how to apply tractor decals?

[sixdogs]

Has anyone applied tractor decals that can offer any guidance? I painted my loader and now need to apply the new decals from Kubota. They will peel and stick but I have read that if you spray something on first it makes it easier.

 

[pburchett]

I never had any luck spraying the surface that the decal was to be applied to. Seems as if the decal glue was washed away. If it were me I would apply it dry and smooth it down as it goes on. Then take a needle and release the air bubbles with a gentle poke and some rubbing.

 

[FredH]

I have done both with lettering on My semi . Spray and non-sprayed . Have used water in a windex bottle and also windex . Plain water does not work good , as it tends to linger , were as the windex , evaporates , thus you have a Window of time to get it right before full contact . Basically what you are doing is just delaying the contact time to squeeze out the air bubbles with a stiff card , be it license , credit card , or other small straight edge .
Without the delay , air bubbles are a lot more difficult to get out , other than the needle trick .

Have never had a issue with decals later peeling off . Current truck has had them on there foralmost 4 years . Previous truck had same decals for over 7 years . When it takes a heat gun and nimble fingers to get them off , Have to be doing something right .

Fred H..

 

[fidowanttobe]

I agree with the ww washer fluid or windex. We used wwwf in manufacturing. Waaay easier than dry. Spray the tractor, apply, shift around to line up good, and squeeze out the fluid. Done.

 

[arkydog]

i used to do body work for a pontiac dealer and would have to put the firebird chicken on the hoods of the trans ams and wood grain on station wagons. just saying i did a LOT.

first thing IF you want to do it, not necessary, just makes it look better and slightly better adhesion i think but really not needed, is sand the area with with 1500 or finer.

second tape off the area about 3/4 outside of installed area.

third this is important, find the cheapest dish washing liquid you can find. it usually won't contain lanolin which you don't want. mix the soap in a clean bucket so that the mixture is just barely soapy. when sliding thumb and index finger together under pressure they feel a little slick. poor mixture into a spray bottle with a heavy misting spray.

fourth spray the area where you are gonna put the sticker and the area where you are gonna peel the backing off. next start unpealing the sticker a little at a time spraying all with solution. keep peeling and spraying and unpealing until separated. spray install area again and touch decal corner to area to see if it slides a little for repositioning apply to desired area. iff not add more solutions it kind of floats to where you want. should slide

use body filler spreader or rubber squeegee and start from center and squeegee to outside removing solution overlapping strokes in a counter or clockwise, radial motion until all solution is removed and edges are dry. take heat gun or hair dryer an slightly heat from center out batting real warm but not hot to touch. then heat out side all around to evaporite unseen water a edges. let cool down and good to go. any air bubbles, which shouldn't be,overlapped squeegeed firmly, air bubbles you use a razor blade at an angle and tiny slice so when bubble comes out the decal using heat gun will lay flat again. pinprick always can bee seen because it streaches the decal unlike razor blade.

 

[sixdogs]

Great advice from everyone. Thank you

 

[Rustyiron]

arkydog's way is how I do it, except the sanding. The big advantage is the ability to position the sticker just right and the ability (95%) to get all the bubbles out.

 

[lennyzx11]

arkydog's way is how I do it, except the sanding. The big advantage is the ability to position the sticker just right and the ability (95%) to get all the bubbles out.

Me too.
BTW. This was the way I was taught to install window tinting. A long time ago.

 

[sixdogs]

One question I have is about the soapy water. I'm supposed to spray a pretty good amount of it on both the surface and the decal as I'm applying it, right? Alos, about how much detergent would you put into the water? A few drops or more?

 

[TractorGuy]

I have a vinyl cutter and have done a fair amount of installation. I just use a few drops of liquid dish soap in a 32oz spray bottle full of water. I have never sanded a surface prior to installation and never had any vinyl come off. In the past I have used windex with no side effects but the pros say not to use it. Something about the ammonium breaking down the glue.

If you didn't sand or remove the old decal completely before painting any imperfection will show in the new decal.