I ordered some of Decal Connections new decals and got a cloudy looking result when I applied finish to them. I used a base of finish...let it dry...applied the decal...let it dry..then applied another coat of finish.
Thanks for your help!!

"The early bird gets the worm,.. but the second mouse gets the cheese!"

Michael,

Try the search using "cloudy decal". It should turn up similar questions/answers.

- Sam

If the whole thing is cloudy, and it's done over hardened, cured finish, the water you're soaking the decal in could be bad (try using distilled) or you're moving it around so much that the THIN layer of adhesive with the waterslide is gone and doesn't adhere the waterslide to the surface. I would think that one of these two is the culprit.

The thin layer of adhesive on these waterslides is the most commonly overlooked problem with them. They can be soaked too long in too warm of water and it can get removed somewhat, too. Try to position the decal off the backing as close as possible to the spot you need the decal at and keep movement to a bare minimum after that.

Putter
Williston, ND

Michael,

Decal Collection's web site has some suggestions for decal application & I suspect you've read them.

One thing I learned was from Jimmi's demonstration in Charlotte, i.e., put them in water and take them out almost immediately, and let sit there for a while. Like Putter said, distilled water is best. Just don't do a long decal immersion or you'll lose adhesion.

Stan

Stan, about how many seconds would you leave it there and then about how long do you let it sit before applying? I've never gone about it that way but this old dawg is always eager to learn new tricks. Thanks.
Rob

Hey, Dr. Rob,
It only takes about 3 seconds of in the water and let it sit; Jimmi's old paper (only stuff I use) only needs this amount of time and the decal will slide off. The new paper has to sit, then, until it will slide off (haven't timed it, but probably 20 seconds or more). The key is, it doesn't need to sit in the water. It just needs to sit.

Putter
Williston, ND

I have the same problem and have tried every tric in the book. I use Distilled water and have let rod sit for a few says and then apply finish and they get cloudy on me also. But not all the time. Sometimes it may take a few days after I apply the finish before it gets cloudy. I actually have had better luck applying the decals on a matte blank.

Thanks Dave

I use MicroSol and MicroSet and no more cloudy decals. I just follow the instructions off of decalconnection.com.

But the decal still needs to set in some water and then applied to the surface; water can still be a culprit, even when using the setting solutions. I use them too, although I didn't have much trouble before I started using them. It's just a little piece of mind for me to use them.

Putter
Williston, ND