Hi guys, I have done a few and love the technique. My question is do you guys CP the whole decal everytime?

Thanks!!

Scott

"My biggest fear in life is that when I die, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it."

Yeah, every time. Or, I use Krylon fixative. Every time I didn't, I had issues with wavy finish around the label edges where some glue seeped out. When I coat them, I don't have this issue so I plan it for every build now.

Terry

Excellent just what i needed Terry. Any particular CP you like better for them? Thanks again.

I spray the decal with Krylon crystal clear - 3 coats. I then apply CP to the edges only. Works for me.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Hmmm, might have to try that David. I used reg CP, not the clear (which I also have) and it kind of faded a little. Not too bad....

Thanks!

When I have the decal printed I spray with Papilio or Krylon clear gloss UV inhibited fixative. Then I cut it out. That leaves the edge without fixative. After applying to the rod blank I go around the edges (only the edges) with Flex Coat CP to seal the edge so that it doesn't curl when epoxy is applied. This has worked for me. Like David said.

Just noted your comment on clear CP- I have used some clear CP, and it took forever to cure. I would stay with the conventional CP like Flex Coat. It has never looked anything but clear, and it cures reliably.

Thanks!

I use Cason's crystal clear water based CP. It dries fast, no problems at all with it. I found that coating the decal with Krylon before you apply it works really well and seals in the ink also. I messed up a while back and tried the Papillo first, then sprayed Krylon over it. It made a cloudy mess. I would say use one or the other, krylon or Papillo, not both. I decided to stick with the krylon because it is easy to get locally and dries super fast. Then cp around the edges and you're ready for finish.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

Thanks David, so you put the Krylon, and then the CP as well?

Three coats of Krylon before you apply decal, then apply and CP around edges.

David Dosser
Coshocton, OH

2 coats krylon fixative, 1 ample coat Flex Coat CP. I've also been inserting a krylon clear UV protectant between fixative and CP lately

Regards,
-Justin

I am a firm believer in the dry wall principal. There comes a time in sanding dry wall where more sanding will just make it worse. While it is difficult to find that point in dry wall, it's easy on decals. I suggest just one coat of fixative (get it too thick and it gets stiff and with more coats you have more chance of getting a run) and CP just around the edges (to minimize any problems CP might cause. CP is needed for the edge sealing, CP is redundant on the rest of the decal), Then on with the epoxy. As many coats as you like, I usually end up with two on decals on the blank and three on decals on the foam ramps that I often use.