What is a good transfer masking tape for sign vinyl?

10172 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by tragicflaw, Sep 20, 2012

bckeever

Discussion Starter · Aug 3, 2010

I am having a horrible time finding a good transfer paper for sign vinyl. I have used everything that people suggested "wonderful", but it won't stick to vinyl. I have squeegeed a lot, but it still won't stick. It makes it very difficult to try to separate. Any suggestions????

Also, is there a better way to line up layers other than registration marks? It doesn't line up for me using them.

Thanks!

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Twanabee

· #2 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

I'm not sure I understand what your tring to do. Transfer paper is not made for vinyl. It's made for fabric. Please explain what you want to do.

thutch15

· #3 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

You are referring to transfer tape, right? If you are having problem with the transfer tape removing the vinyl from the backing it might not be the transfer tape. I have notice problems if you do not cut at the correct depth and also "clear" backing seems to make a huge difference. I have never had problems getting 3M 7725 on the clear backing to pull way from the backing, but I have had problems with "paper backing".

Twanabee

· #4 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

My bad for not reading "deep" enough. Thanks troy.

thutch15

· #5 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

Twanabee said:
My bad for not reading "deep" enough. Thanks troy.

haha I am just assuming.

bckeever

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

I'm talking about the mask that you put on sign vinyl to remove it from the backing and then place on surface. I would love to use clear so that I can see where I am putting the vinyl, but heard it is awful. I have used registration marks and it still doesn't line up right. WHY?

Twanabee

· #7 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

You take this one Troy.

thutch15

· #8 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

bckeever said:
I'm talking about the mask that you put on sign vinyl to remove it from the backing and then place on surface. I would love to use clear so that I can see where I am putting the vinyl, but heard it is awful. I have used registration marks and it still doesn't line up right. WHY?

I am not referring to the transfer tape being clear....they make it, but I use the "masking" tape (looks like a large roll of masking tape). I am talking about the backing being clear on the vinyl. What vinyl and transfer tape are you using? I could send you a little piece of the 3m I use.

LB

· #9 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

OK..answer to question about TRANSFER TAPE- we use clear, medium tack on Oracal vinyl and it works fine.

I don't understand the question about the registration. Here's the way I do it. I cut the design on the plotter, weed it out, apply the tape,squeegee it down firmly. I make it a point to try and keep straight lines on the decal and the tape so I can line it up on my substrate. I normally put it down dry. After I have positioned it, I take a piece of masking tape and tape it at the center to hold it in place. I then lift up my decal and pull off the release liner back to my center. Next, I take a pair of scissors and cut off that part of the release liner. Squeegee that down, then pull off the other half of the release liner and squeegee that down, remove the tape and that's it. Be sure and pull the tape at about a 45 angle.
You can use a wet application by using Rapid Tac or similar fluid. Look for videos on Youtube.

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bckeever

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 3, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

I am not doing shirts. I am doing window/wall vinyl. I use registration marks when there are more than one layer, but the layers still do not match up. I'm trying to figure out why.

Now about the transfer tape. I had Endura Perfect Tear. I just ran out of it and wanted to get something else because it sucks. So, since I was having so much trouble with lining up the layers I was looking for clear. So, does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks again!

BRC

· #11 · Aug 4, 2010

Re: Can someone PLEASE help me find a good transfer paper for sign vinyl???????

PoliTape has a clear that I use a lot of as well as TransferRite I believe Fellers sells both of them.
As for the registration marks not working, there are several reasons this could be happening. One being your cutter is not cutting both colors accurately. Another is when you are installing the layers, you are stretching the vinyl. This happens a lot on hot days doing a window installation, the simple act of squeegeeing down the vinyl causes it to stretch.

bckeever

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 4, 2010

Thanks! That makes perfect sense. How do I fix the problem with the cutter? Is this a common problem with cutters?

chica729

· #13 · Aug 4, 2010

There are many types of masking for vinyl. You need to contact your supplier and ask what is avaiable. I have used maksing that is clear and masking that looks like masking tape (tan colour and haze). Trying to line anything up with registraction marks is a lost cause, you shift it the slightest bit and the whole thing will be out. Your best bet is to get clear masking so u can see what you are doing. If you are trying to install vinyl outside on a hot day, forget it. You need to go early morning when it is not as hot, after hours or when shade in on the window. Vinyl just heats up and streches and it looks awful when installed in the heat. Have tried it many times and it always results in ripping everything off the window and cutting it all over again.

BRC

· #14 · Aug 5, 2010

I would start with the other areas first before blaming the cutter. Such as exactly how close are you trying to register? .050 .200? Outlines or shadows? If you are having trouble taping the vinyl you could be getting a wrinkle in the tape and there goes a close registration. If you are using 2 different brands of vinyl , how long is the vinyl sitting before you tape it? (if you cut it one day and tape it the next you will see shrinkage) Some tapes will stretch more than others so that may come into play on close registrations. Since you are doing walls and windows you are not working on a flat level surface so longer runs are going to have some bow in them, how close are you taping it down? I have resorted to doing one word at a time on some jobs, because you are simply not going to be able to register an 8 foot long window and expect it to be perfectly straight. And the big question is how long have you been doing vinyl? As with almost everyting else practise practise practise. Even after 7 years of doing this I still have to recut some jobs so don't worry, you get used to it.

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BloodBoughtChad

· #15 · Aug 9, 2010

bckeever said:
I am having a horrible time finding a good transfer paper for sign vinyl. I have used everything that people suggested "wonderful", but it won't stick to vinyl. I have squeegeed a lot, but it still won't stick. It makes it very difficult to try to separate. Any suggestions????

Also, is there a better way to line up layers other than registration marks? It doesn't line up for me using them.

Thanks!

Hi Bethany. I have been doing signs & decals for 12 years, & the tape I prefer is called "R-Tape - Conform". It has a good adhesion, and doesn't stretch or get all wavy like a lot of transfer tapes.

Please note that many things can affect your vinyl staying to the tape, such as cutting depth, etc.

As far as registration lining up, are you certain your files are set up correctly? What method are you using?

If I can be of more detailed help, please contact me.

Thanks,
Chad

Reactions: 1

tragicflaw

· #16 · Sep 20, 2012

BloodBoughtChad said:
Hi Bethany. I have been doing signs & decals for 12 years, & the tape I prefer is called "R-Tape - Conform". It has a good adhesion, and doesn't stretch or get all wavy like a lot of transfer tapes.

I was looking at the R-tape conform lists, which do you use the medium tack or high tack and I would guess you are mostly using higher performance vinyl? I am interested as I am supposed to do my first job with Oracle 951, would the medium tack be needed for that or could I use the high tack.

I do know that if you are using matte colours like mac tac or Oracle 631 that you need to use a high tack like oratape or other such high tack tapes. Which is what I am guessing the person who started the thread is using for indoor wall applications.

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