I'm new to the forum. I have been making monogrammed acrylic trays and putting the lettering mirrored to the underneath side, so that you can place food on the tray if wanted. My question is, does anyone know how to make it easier to get a clean look. There are usually air bubbles noted. They will usually disappear after really working with the vinyl. Looking for something a little easier for quicker turnaround. Any suggestions.
Float the decal onto the acrylic with an application fluid. You'll probably still get a few bubbles, but there will be less and they'll be smaller and easier to work out. I recently worked up a costume prop for a convention using Oracal 651 and a $4 Staples clipboard. The end result looked amazing and held up great to being carried around (also tossed, dropped and actually used) over the long weekend.
get a big squeegee, cheaper version which is like 20 buxs works awesome, zero bubbles
or.. make your own, take a piece of acylic, 24" wide by 5 inches high, go to hardward store buy felt part of velcroe by the foot, attach to one side on acrylic long side.
Use it to roll on masking tape, which is critical because if you do not put on masking tape firmly and even you shall get bubbles.
After, peel off masking tape and gently float it around dry to were you want it, push down firm in center to keep in position and than go over it with you new toy, by hold with both hands and your good to go.
Small bubbles will go away by themsleve within a day or 2, sometime leave outside to speed up process
get a big squeegee, cheaper version which is like 20 buxs works awesome, zero bubbles
or.. make your own, take a piece of acylic, 24" wide by 5 inches high, go to hardward store buy felt part of velcroe by the foot, attach to one side on acrylic long side.
Use it to roll on masking tape, which is critical because if you do not put on masking tape firmly and even you shall get bubbles.
After, peel off masking tape and gently float it around dry to were you want it, push down firm in center to keep in position and than go over it with you new toy, by hold with both hands and your good to go.
Small bubbles will go away by themsleve within a day or 2, sometime leave outside to speed up process
Do you mean application tape instead of "masking tape"?
Lol. yea. all look same to me. I like using medium tack of everything, and personally hate wet application, I tend to get more bubble that way, also important to use right kinda vinyl, 651 works great for everything, cheap crap like shine rite is junk, and if you def. wanna have zero bubbles, get air release vinyl from 3m, cost more but you get what you pay for, remember, at end of the day, time=money
vinyl on acrylic 
