Any tips on getting a good result with the decals that come with the Batson blanks? They seem thick, the adhesive shows fingerprints, and its hard to work out air bubbles......

Giuve Kerry or Bill Batson a call they well walk you threw your problerm. You can get their toll free number by cliking on to Rainshadow/Forcast.
Good Wraps Bob

I layed down a layer of epoxy first let it cure, trimmed the edges of the label so that they were rounded not square,
peeled the sticker away from the film only a little bit, put the edge of the sticker over the dried epoxy area,
and used a small artist brush handle to smooth the decal/label over the area to ber applied. So
far no problems with edges being visable, bubbles present, or finger prints.


Dan Grulke

Good advice Dan! I do not put anything down first though and have the same results. Also I like too wrap my hook keeper on the cork side of the foot then lay my decal down so that I can wrap about an 1/8 of an inch of the decal and finish off my other foot of the keeper. I also wrap about an 1/8 on the other side of the decal for my trim wrap. This keeps the corners from lifting and hides any prints that I may have on there but the key to that is as Dan said just pull the backing off just enough so you can tack it. I do this process with all decals I put on rods. I use Two coats of light over the top so just in case there is a problem with the first coat I can shave or just cover with the second coat. The first coat makes it much easier to write your inscription, I use a gell pin for that, the pin rolls awsome on the coat, figure I would throw that in as well.

Great suggestion Dan
Good Wraps Bob

Thanks for the replies.

I have been doing most of what you all suggested......I will wrap over the edge on either side of the decal next time. I have been applying decals, both peel and stick and waterslide, over a thin coat of finish that is still slightly tacky. I have found that this helps obscure decal lines. I suspect with the Batson decals I should wait until it is completely dry or apply without a coat of finish. I also suspect I should probably use an extra coat of finish over the thicker Batson decals. (I usually only use one.) Would I be OK not using finish below the decal for both the matte and glossy blank finishes? Is it OK to put a thin coat of finish beneath the hookkeeper and label area and then do wraps over it?

Also, I have found that with other blank decals, vigorous rubbing with a hard object (brush handle, plastic spatula) abrades the labels and rubs off som of the writing. Batson's labels seem more durable and they give you two, so am I OK rubbing a little harder to get the bubbles out?

Again, Karry, these are not complaints, you put out an outstanding high value product that I often reccomend to others,......just looking to get the best results possible.