Good Morning,

I am getting ready to apply a couple of decals and have a few quick questions.

1) How long must I wait to apply a decal after the first coat of epoxy? Also what is the maximum time I can wait before I can apply?

2) Would you use high build or lite epoxy as the final epoxy?

3) How long must I wait after applying decal before I can apply the final epoxy?

Again thank you for your help.

Will Whitaker

1) when it becomes hard
2) your discretion
3) you can apply immediately after applying decal

I have only done one decal, but I thoroughly read two different instruction sheets, and if using MicroSet and MicroSol, they recommend waiting 24 hrs after decal application before you put on epoxy to allow complete drying.

Scott Youschak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1) when it becomes hard
> 2) your discretion
> 3) you can apply immediately after applying decal


#3 if it is a sticky back decal immediatly if it is a water slide 24 hrs is a safe bet.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Fred made a great observation. There is a big difference between peel-n-stick decals and waterslide decals.

The peel-n-stick kind could be called peel-n-sitck-n-epoxy decals because you can do it just that fast. I'm sure to burnish the decal well upon application working from the center out. After stuck with no air bubbles be sure to burnish the edges. After that you can immediately apply epoxy.

Waterslides are much different. After application they are extremely soft. You NEVER want to burnish a waterslide. They usually come with their own set of instructions (Decal Connection has an instruction sheet on their web site) as do the Micro Sol and Micro Set if you decide to use them. After application I normally wait at least six hours and as much as 24.

Decals can usually be covered by a single application of 'lite' epoxy without the edges showing. Multiple applications or the use of high-build is up to the user.

Jay

On the area I place the decals, I like to do a thread border. Usually on the one end will be the thread wrapping the hookkeeper. I'll leave a space for the decal area and place a matching thread wrap top side border. I will then CP the threadwraps (choice) and the blank area. When that is dried, I'll put one layer of epoxy on the blank in between the wraps. Follow up with the waterslide application. A 1/2 day of drying. Then epoxy the band, decal, and hookkeeper wrap as one. Most of the time it comes out perfectly level. If not, another layer of epoxy and its complete.