I have been using vinyl decals on my rods for a long time. I am thinking it is time to step over to water slide decals or at least try them. On the Decal Connection it says to apply one coating of epoxy prior to putting the water slide decal on. Is in not possible to lay it on prior to putting epoxy on? I am able to get the rod done with one coat of Flex Coat heavy build.

How are there vinyl decals? I have been ordering them locally but want to check the Decal Connection out as well.

Any input would be great.

Thanks

You could do that on a rod with a gloss finish, but on a rod with a matte finish, the part showing through the decal will be matte and the rest will be glossy. putting the decal over finish also gives it depth. I would put a thin layer of finish on the blank where the decal will go and then finish with the the coat of high build

Mike

I put permagloss under it. Then tried to put permagloss over it. Don't do that, profit from my mistake! Made a royal mess! On repeat put epoxy over it without any problems. Permagloss is OK under it but not over it. Mike made a good point, you want a glossy finish under them. The xylene in permagloss disolves the decal. Thank you Jimi for suppling me with a few extras.

Ed Smith

I had a bit of luck to begin with when applying waterslides over a matte blank (non-gloss). In hindsight, learning that the waterslide decal has a very thin layer of adhesive on the back side, I believe that the LUCK I had with the first few coming out so well was simply because the decal was placed nearly perfect right off the backing paper. I think that little bit of adhesive was enough to allow the decal to appear "glossy". The more the decal is moved around, the less adhesive there is to even adhere the decal without bubbles, lifting edges, etc. Learn from my foibles and don't move the decal any more than you absolutely have to. Try to get it as close as possible right off the backing paper.

I don't trust to luck anymore. Permagloss, a bit of masking and a thin coat of Krylon fixative are the fast ways. Two part epoxy is the slower way. They all work without fail.

Putter
Williston, ND

David, i tried that little trick that Jimi showed us all at Charlotte last feb. put in in the water leave it a few seconds and leave it sit a few min.out of the water. Put that baby on, it worked great. The decal was not as fragile. Give it a try.. John

You have picked the best decal vendor there is in my book. Follow the directions they list on their site and you won't have any trouble. Any questions ask Jimmi. they have the BEST customer service you could ask for!!!!

Bill in WV

Since we are on the subject of decals. Does anyone know of a way to print these decals? I would like to find a way to be able to reproduce my logo using MS Publisher or Photoshop.

I was told that an ALPS printer does a nice job, but they're out of business

John I just had Jimi reproduce 2 pages of my logo. One in white the other in gold. They came out better than anything I've done myself. Dont' think I'll worry with trying to reproduce my own anymore.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

If you do labels on an ink jet printer, I doubt that you will be happy with the results!! Fade very quickly! DC can do a whole sheet of your logo's very inexpensively

If you are not working with Jimi and Decal Connection then you are simply making one part of rod building hard and less professional than it needs to be. Those people, especially Jimi, are teh BEST. He produces all my decal and I have had him do vinyl decals for me as well. They are unbelievable.

Couldn't agree with you more Doug.

Jeff


Doug Moore Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> John I just had Jimi reproduce 2 pages of my logo.
> One in white the other in gold. They came out
> better than anything I've done myself. Dont' think
> I'll worry with trying to reproduce my own
> anymore.
>
> Regards..........................
> TCRds

I got a sheet of them with probably 40 logos and text on them for under $35. 3/4 of the sheet was silver, the other 1/4 in gold (no extra charge for two colors!). While you might save a few dollars using your own printer and decal paper (I tried that), Decal Connection's stuff is FAR superior.

For less than $1 a rod, you can't really go wrong.

Scott Kinney
The Longest Cast Fly Rods
[www.thelongestcast.com]