1) When applying a vinyl decal to wood work slowly and methodically to get the best final result.  Some wood finishes will not accept a vinyl decal while other wood finishes will allow vinyl decals to stick well. But there are ways to make it work and things to avoid.Â. With the application tape still intact, squeegee the decal to the surface by applying pressure with smooth even strokes. To avoid this, never apply vinyl … The top edge is the edge at the top of your decal. There is a common misconception that vinyl needs to breath and that therefore you shouldn’t apply any sealant. This is often a precursor for eventual adhesive failure. Take a look at this super quick how-to video before you apply your vinyl decals to a wood surface. Some adhesives take more time to bond. If that doesn’t work, you may be dealing with a substrate that’s just not compatible with vinyl graphics. This example of the DATATIST decal was used to show that even complicated decals can be applied successfully to finished wooden surfaces. • If the wood is rough or porous, sand it so that the surface feels smooth to the touch. Leave the paper backing on your vinyl lettering and plan out the spacing and design of your project. Here’s how to use vinyl on painted wood. The surface is very important to getting vinyl to adhere well. Demonstrated on a signboard but the technique is the same if you are applying decals to a cornhole set. The next step is to treat your wood. This is my first time building a set of boards, I have stained the wood and coated with polyurethane. It is still on there several months later with no issues at all. You can read the full story in our Adhesives 101 article, but the short summary is this. Solvent based adhesives are a little more effective on porous or less than ideal surfaces like wood and stainless steel. Otherwise, you may not be able to apply the decal evenly. Then make sure there’s no sawdust or residue on the wood before applying the vinyl. You can go ahead and paint it or spray paint it but just be sure to give it a really long time to dry before applying the vinyl. Reflective vinyl should be applied on a dry surface. While this is traditionally a papercrafting tool, Glossy Accents is perfect for sealing those small vinyl (or other) designs. If it has a rough surface, make sure to sand it down—the smoother the wood, the better your vinyl will stick. You need to add some sort of coating or primer that the vinyl can grip to. Also, what would be the best varnish to use. But, of course, shoe clips put up with a lot of wear and tear, so the vinyl didn't last long. When vinyl doesn’t stick to wood, the problem is usually with the wood. There are 25232 decals for wood for sale on Etsy, and they cost $5.82 on average. If it’ still not working, and if you’re using paper transfer tape (not clear), you can  moisten the back of the tape with application fluid to soften the tape’s adhesive and weaken the bond between the tape and the vinyl. Gently place one end down on the surface and smooth it out with your fingers. Weed your vinyl. Line the decal up with the marks you made and apply the tape to the top edge of the decal. Apply Big Decals Without Wrinkles or Bubbles: Here's how the pros put decals on.Ever turn a nice decal into a wad of crap and wreck your paint job in the process?Learn the true secrets … Any thoughts on how successful this would be. Take a look below to find out. Step 2. I am considering putting a coat of varnish on first to seal the wood then apply 2 or 3 coats after the decal has been applied. If you apply a vinyl graphic to a substrate that’s still curing, those solvents will be trapped, causing bubbles under the vinyl. The vinyl may stick initially, but sooner or later (probably sooner), it’s going to come off. One thing many people struggle with is how to apply vinyl to various surfaces. Another question we hear often is about what kind of painted substrates are suitable. How to Clear-Coat Decals Wipe down the area where you are applying the decal with a clean, dry cloth. Applying vinyl decals to wrapping paper is a great idea on a few different levels. But can you actually stick vinyl to wood? What you'll need: Step 1. For more tips about suitable substrates, visit ORACAL.com and read the FAQ. This is not necessarily a sign of failure. The smoother, harder and shinier the surface, the better vinyl will adhere. If you absolutely must use unsealed wood for your vinyl graphic, keepsake, or bit of rustic restaurant decor, sand it first to get it as smooth as possible. Even when you have everything right, sometimes the challenges of the porous substrate make it hard for the vinyl’s adhesive to bond or ‘wet out’ quickly. by Jerry | Design and Layout, Vinyl Cutting, One of the most frequently asked questions we receive deals with substrates. Vinyl on rough surfaces such as wood or stainless steel; Moreover, besides making your vinyl last longer, some sealants can also give a nice finishing touch as well. Has anyone skipped this step? Peel away a corner of the backing, and see if the vinyl sticks to the wood. Yes, our wall decals will stick to your plain wood or painted paneling. I used to have the same issue until I figured out a trick that might save you time AND frustration! Last July, we made a project using shoe clips with a cute vinyl design. Remember, the vinyl’s adhesive is activated through pressure, so give it a good rub to get it to stick well. How To Apply Vinyl Decals Each decal will arrive as three layers of material. Then use your application or scraper tool to burnish the decal onto your surface. From plain to summer ready in almost no time at all! Protect a decorative sticker or decal on wood with a decoupage technique, a very old practice used to seal or adhere types of paper to wood, plastic or metal surfaces. The challenging thing with paneling is the grooves; should you form the wall decal into the groove, or not? Actually unsealed wood, plywood and even painted plywood are not good substrates for vinyl. Once you have followed the steps and done a great job to apply your stencil you can carefully promote adhesion by further "finger squeegee" pressure slowly and carefully to one piece or one letter at  a time. Line up your vinyl on your wood sign and use a scraper tool to apply the vinyl to the wood. A Basic Guide to T-shirt Vinyl & Heat Transfer Film, A Basic Guide to Transfer Tape or Application Tape, A Basic Guide To Installation Temperatures for Vinyl Graphics, Troubleshooting Faded Dye Sublimation Transfers, Tape for laser engraving wood without burn marks, MAC software solutions for vinyl signmaking, Don’t Use Teflon Sheets with Dye Sublimation, Heat Transfer Tape for Printed T-shirt Graphics, A Basic Guide to Pricing Signs, Banners, and Wraps. Consider using a test vinyl piece to test adhesion rather than a sacrificial decal to check if you chosen spot will work. Part 2: Make Vinyl Stencil and Apply to Wood Sign Backing 1. MDO plywood composite is also a commonly used sign substrate. Can i apply any kind of transparent paint or varnish on top so i can make sure it does not peel of ?! thank you for reading about how to put vinyl decals onto finished wood. If I dont coat them, how long can I … While this is traditionally a papercrafting tool, Glossy Accents is perfect for sealing those small vinyl (or other) designs. My best advice is to start with the smoothest piece of wood you can find. Then give it one more try. It’s only right people want to stick vinyl to it. Also, what would be the best varnish to use. Add one light coat of clear automotive urethane to the decal. Fresh paint emits VOCs* that may react chemically with the vinyl’s adhesive and degrade it. YES! Warning: When applying decals, try to do so in a clean area away from any wind. It would have to be clear since I will also be wood burning a few clipart pictures also TIA Lago. • If the wood is rough or porous, sand it so that the surface feels smooth to the touch. Place the left side of the decal down on the surface, taking care to line up the lines you drew in the previous step. Before applying any decals, make sure to wash and clean the surface where you plan on placing the decal. Ornaments, That Smell Like Christmas and Will Warm Your Heart. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Don’t remove the top lining or the backing on the decal yet. My final step is applying two large vinyl decals. To begin to remove the plastic sheeting start from the right side and lift at an angle to the surface.  If you maintain a constant 45 degree angle to the stencil (see image) and pull back (165 degrees plus to initial surface) instead of up and away (~90 degrees to surface) you will get better final results. Textured Walls: Some vinyl types don’t adhere to walls with any sort of texturing. Try applying the center of the sticker first, then press the outer edges of the vinyl sticker into place. Use good firm squeegee pressure to press the film onto the wood and, if it’s not sticking, give it up to 20 minutes to set before you try to remove the tape. You guessed it: black. You can purchase vinyl lettering at craft stores or online, or you can cut your own at home. The same tips apply for sticking to a raw wood surface as the painted and stained above. The vinyl has a tendency to want to lift up if you don’t have a surface that’s perfectly smooth. Be sure to sand well and you might even seal the wood for additional success. For long term outdoor graphics, the smooth substrates mentioned above are the best choice. Make sure if you’re putting vinyl on any painted surface that the paint is completely cured. Personally, as much as I try to write neatly on every single gift tag, my hand … In addition to being an unsightly nuisance, the trapped solvents can interact chemically with the vinyl’s adhesive causing it to fail. We have also included some of our tips to achieving the best results when applying vinyl to wood. For larger graphics, heavier substrates are required. How to Apply Vinyl to Wood | Craftables. The best paints to use are those developed for sign making, like 1 Shot brand. Vinyl is an adhesive backed film that is expected to last for years outdoors in all kinds of weather. Wipe the decal off with a dry, clean cloth. This is very simple and saved me so much wasted vinyl/product! You can absolutely used heat transfer vinyl on wood. Unfinished Walls: Wall decals stick poorly to unfinished or unpainted walls (including brick walls). Consider leaving the decal in place without sliding anything over it for at least 5-15 minutes. There are two things to watch out for; porous paints that won’t make a good seal with the adhesive, and uncured paint. Most everything I have read recommends to apply another coat of polyurethane over the vinyl decals. There are different trade names for these, but if you look for Alumacore, Alumalite, or DIBOND®, you’ll be able to find a reliable substrate for long term outdoor signage. Do you have a hard time getting your adhesive vinyl stencils to stick to your stained wood? Here is the final Datatist decal applied on finished wood. In this instructable I've shared several tips and methods learned through trial and error on how to best apply a stencil to finished wood. Last July, we made a project using shoe clips with a cute vinyl design. As craft and hobby vinyl enthusiasts discover the appeal of rustic substrates, we receive more questions about putting vinyl on wood blanks. The most compatible options will be aluminum composite materials. In this video I show you how to stain wood and apply polyurethane, finish it properly and apply vinyl. After a minor error make sure that the decal will remain in place before pulling the plastic sheeting fully away from the decal. If your sign is originally raw wood, you’ll want to paint it. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I am considering putting a coat of varnish on first to seal the wood then apply 2 or 3 coats after the decal has been applied. After applying the decal remove the application tape. The most popular color? From plain to summer ready in almost no time at all! After peeling off the backing paper, place the sticker on a dry or wet surface, depending on your personal preference. • If you have a choice of paint, use 1shot or an enamel paint. • If the vinyl letters are coming up with the transfer tape, give it some time, and/or moisten the tape. Then make sure there’s no... • If it’s been painted or sealed, allow a few weeks for the paint or sealant to cure before applying vinyl. Supplies Used when Ironing Vinyl onto Wood Also, make sure the surface area is completely dry before applying the decal. Then paint with at least … Any thoughts on how successful this would be. Because we are using the vinyl to create a stencil, we want to weed (remove) the positive space or the lettering/design that we are transferring to our wood sign backing. Tape the top edge of your decal to the surface with masking tape. As you may know, wood is a bit of a tricky surface when it comes to putting vinyl on it anyway. How to Iron Vinyl onto a Wood Surface. Process-wise, applying heat transfer vinyl to wood is very similar to that of applying heat transfer vinyl to a t-shirt or other fabric project. To give it a summer twist, I added this adorable bicycle decal and some beautiful bright flowers. When applying any HTV to a wood surface you will use a temperature of 300°F and hold for 40 seconds. If you have ever tried making a DIY wood sign by applying an adhesive vinyl decal to a piece of wood, you may have experienced some frustration. Either way, applying the lettering to wood needs to be done on a clean, even surface. Remove the white backing from the vinyl decal and place decal onto the wood carefully considering alignment to the final surface. This can cause adhesive failure after application. The project above I just made sure the surface was smooth and stuck the vinyl right to the raw wood. To achieve that longevity, the adhesive must have a firm bond with the substrate. This requires the use of very smooth substrates like glass, corrugated plastic, foam core, and painted aluminum. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about decals for wood? Prepare the clear coating. So if you’ve been making t-shirts for any length of time, this HTV project will be a piece of cake. The surface is very important to getting vinyl to adhere well. Regardless of your vinyl sticker or decal, there are a couple of general rules to follow: You should always clean the application surface with a isopropanol cleaner before applying the decal—remove all dirt, dust, grease, etc. … The most common decals for wood material is wood. The smoother, harder and shinier the surface, the better vinyl will adhere. This is more common with acrylic adhesives. How to get vinyl to stick to wood using heat. Pay careful attention to the squeegee step to promote adhesion to difficult surfaces like finished wood. When applying a vinyl decal to finished wood consider using the finger squeegee method for best adhesion especially if the vinyl decal lifts away from the wood during application (see step 4 for recovery from a minor error). • Try a vinyl with a solvent adhesive. Sometimes the wood’s texture can make it really difficult to get the vinyl to actually stick to the wood. Share it with us! • If it’s been painted or sealed, allow a few weeks for the paint or sealant to cure before applying vinyl. Copyright © 2015-2020 by SignWarehouse, Inc, All Rights Reserved. Summary: Tips for Applying Vinyl on Wood. Applying Vinyl to Wood. When applying the decal it is smart to treat it like something that you just glued in place. There are differences in the performance of acrylic and solvent-based adhesives that can affect adhesion to non-standard substrates. Pinch the vertical edges of the vinyl sticker as you place it down. Aim to do this in a fluid motion to prevent any air bubbles from forming. Often times you will have to peel the backing off at just the right angle, and then coax the rest of the vinyl … Continue holding the sticker securely as you place it on a wet or dry surface. Does vinyl need to breath? I made it at Techshop http://techshop.ws Submitted by SFlettering for the Instructables Sponsorship Program. And I thought applying vinyl decals to wrapping paper sounded like a fun way to use up some scrap vinyl. This should keep the decal free of dirt and debris, making it easier to apply. Sometimes when you remove the transfer tape, the letter come up with it. Yes, our wall decals will stick to painted plaster walls. But, of course, shoe clips put up with a lot of wear and tear, so the vinyl didn't last long. Weed your vinyl decal using a vinyl weeding tool or something with a pin end. Modern decoupage uses a simple white glue to adhere paper to the surface and protect it at the same time. With this Revamped Wooden Planter project that we made, we will show you How To Apply Cricut Vinyl To Wood. One thing many people struggle with is how to apply vinyl to various surfaces. Many people call asking why their vinyl won’t stick to the wood and assume there’s a defect with the vinyl.  As the old Porgy and Bess song says, “It ain’t necessarily so”. Trapped VOCs can also cause bubbles to appear under the vinyl. Well you're in luck, because here they come. When cutting the decals if you did not leave a straight edge or a 90 degree corner consider using a sharpie to draw a line across the bottom of the letters of the decal for best alignment with the finished wood application location. Wood is widely used in DIY and construction projects. Scrape it down really well to adhere it well and form a good seal. If you like this technique, be sure… Paint Your Sign. Rough surfaces like unfinished wood will not provide a sufficient bond with the adhesives used on vinyl films. Here I made a slight error and the left leg of the letter "A" started to pull away.  When this occurs simply put the plastic sheeting and the vinyl decal back into place, apply finger squeegee technique (and/or rigid squeegee) to re-adhere decal to surface.  When an error occurs make a special effort to slow down and repair the problem rather than giving up and wasting a decal or creating an imperfect application.  In a pinch you can use a knife or a rigid squeegee to "pull" the vinyl away from the plastic sheeting and to stick it in place. Vinyl lettering can add life to an old chair or wood sign. Give the vinyl a fighting chance. Before applying any decals, you need to make sure that your cornhole board is sanded smoothly and that you don’t have any dust or wood pieces on the board. Do not apply to cracked, crumbling or peeling plaster or paint. HERE IS THE EASY PART! About: Based in San Francisco I strive to incorporate custom lettering in the art that I design, print, and make. To give it a summer twist, I added this adorable bicycle decal … If you’re having trouble, try a different kind of vinyl, or purchase one with a solvent-based adhesive to give yourself the best chance of success. If your walls are unfinished or unpainted, take care of that before applying your decal. If you can’t find One Shot, try an enamel paint. Can I Apply Wall Decals to Paneling? Vinyl will stick to most woods depending on the surface of the wood. Step 5: Apply the Vinyl Stencil to Your Wood Sign. With this Revamped Wooden Planter project that we made, we will show you How To Apply Cricut Vinyl To Wood. It might be just as pretty. Your surface must be clean and dry for the product to stick well. Finished. So, can you use HTV on wood? These products are comprised of a sheet of aluminum laminated to a thick, flex resistant core made of a corrugated composite or plastic product. Then, carefully position your decal over your surface. (this step can vary with the ambient temp and it is more important when very warm to let the glue settle in place for best final adhesion.) Step 2: Squeegee in Place. Old, peeling paint can also keep your decal from sticking. Once you have decoupaged a sticker to wood, go the extra step and seal it with clear polyurethane. Did you make this project? Simple up-cycled paper Christmas tree🌲. Vinyl stickers, otherwise known as decals, are fun ways to decorate your window, car, laptop, and other sturdy surfaces.First, wipe down the surface of your choice to get rid of any dirt and dust. For best adhesion make sure each letter is applied perfectly before moving on to the next.  Most errors that occur with vinyl decals applied to wood can be reduced by making a stencil which is better suited to difficult surfaces through smart design and fewer small pieces. When removing the transfer tape be careful not to lift any of the interior parts of the letters. Vinyl Decals on Finished Wood - a Careful Application Process Step-by-step Step 1: Place Decal on Wood Without Backing : DATATIST Decal. Spray it on, spread it around and give it five minutes to soak into the tape. I used the Iron-On Protective Sheet with each additional layer after the first just to make sure that my previous vinyl didn’t melt and stick to my Easy Press. It would have to be clear since I will also be wood burning a few clipart pictures also TIA Lago. Apply Vinyl Decal. In this video I show you how to stain wood and apply polyurethane, finish it properly and apply vinyl. How To Apply Vinyl Wall Decals ... Wall decals will stick best to hard, clean, dry and smooth surfaces such as walls, windows, painted metal, finished wood, glass, plastic, appliances, crafts and more! Step 3. • If none of that works, try the stencil option and just paint the wood instead. So here are the bullet points for better adhesion of vinyl on wood. 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