I'm out of Micro Set and need to get a decal on and the rod out the door this weekend. What else can I use to get a water break surface for applying my decal. Thanks for any help.

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"

Micro Set doesn't create a water break free surface. You do that with Scotchbrite (fine grey pad) or with some very fine sandpaper - 600 grit for instance.

The product you mention does help set the decal but I'm not aware of a good substitute.


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Clean the location on the rod with grey scotch brite and apply the decal with out touching it with your fingers. Let it dry for several hours and put a light coat of finish on it and let it cure for a couple of hours, Then put a coat of high build finish on it. Do not put thick coats of finish on. The high build will level out nicely by hand turning. Then turn it very slow until the finish has cured to being tacky. Do your testing on the extra mixed finish and not on the rod,
Joe

Thanks Guys; I've always used a grey scotch brite before applying the micro set, but it never occured to me that it was the sanding and not the micro set that created the water break. Duh!

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"

I don't use Micro Sol or Micro Set for my decals, just distilled water. They aren't required at all, just a nice-ety. You just need to let the decal soak for about 10 seconds, place some distilled water on the surface of the rod where the decal will go, pull the decal out, place it over the area where you want it and start sliding. You will not have as much freedom to move the decal around once it is on the blank so try nailing it the first time.

The Micro Set is an anionic surfactant, wetting agent, that reduces the surface tension and allow the decal to be easily moved. In a pinch you can take a drop of Dawn Dishwashing Deterget and place it in a clean cup. Rinse the cup out about four times leaving only a trace of the detergent behind. When the water being run in the cup stops sudsing use it to wet your fingers and the blank and it will work.