Sticken Vacuum Lables On 101

I recently spent a week cleaning of the old labels on the Vacuums at our SS wash. Now I have six big shinny Stainless vacuums with nothing on them. So I ordered some cheap generic labels Red Vacuum Lables to add some color.
I was not going to spend $85 to advertise the manufacturer . I like the big red VACUUM label .
But now How to do it. I have been told that if I spray soapy water on the vacuum first I can move the label around a bit before it dries and wont have to be so perfect on the first application. Is this true. Sure would like to get some impoot from some one that has done it.
In case any one wants to know. I found a heat gun to remove the old label and then LOTS of laquer Thinner.
Thanks

The best way is to take a solution of soapy water in a spray bottle, spray the vacuum and the back of the sticker. Place the sticker close to where you want it. You will be able to move it around. Take a plastic squeege and work from the center out in a star pattern to remove the solution behind the sticker. The sticker will them be stuck lightly. With in 24hrs. it will be all set. Make sure to do it on a day where you will have atleast 24hrs. of dry weather. I have my sign guy make my stickers and I do it my self from menu, street sign to vacuums. (the solution of soap water does not have to be super concentrated just a little slippery)

Good Luck,

Shannon

shannon: thanks for the tips . sounds like a plan :)

I prefer to keep the soapy solution just soapy enough to allow the decal to be lifted and moved but not enough that it can slide around. First, it makes it hard to squeegee it down if it keeps moving. Second, it won't stick until it dries completely, and as shannonm pointed out that can take a day. Third, too much soap between the adhesive and the surface reduces the adhesion. There's a greater chance someone will peel it off of they can get under it at an edge. Kids love to peel decals, and parents don't watch their kids. Try just a few drops of plain dish soap (You can still get plain Joy, no antibacterials or heavy grease-busters, just a mild soap and lubricant). Thoroughly clean the vac, use the sprayer to rinse it so there's no dust, then peel the backing off the decal a little at a time and keep it wet as you go. Spray your fingers too, and try not to handle the decal at the corners. A credit card with electrical tape wrapped around the edge makes an excellent squeegee; work from the center out and move all the air and water toward the edges. Spraying the surface of the decal as you work makes that smoother. If you get it right, the decal will be stuck right away and won't try to curl up at the corners.

Good stuff guys thanks, waiting for the wind to subside its blowing 40 mph at the present :) Kansas you Know :)

Years agoe I worked at a sign shop and we used Windex window cleaner to apply decals, it worked great. We used a credit type card the smooth out the bubbles and get the excess Windex out from under the decal.

Windex will cause the same problem I described with using too strong soap.

Someone recommended to me once to use isopropyl alcohol which worked great to let the decal slide around, but it took forever before the edges would quit rolling up.

We use a little alcohol in with the soap seems to work good.

So a little dish soap with a litttle alcohal,,how about puting some tape on the edges to keep them from rolling up when you leave ???? First we had wind not its raining. I might get these decals on this year haha

If you use only dish soap, you won't need to tape down the edges.

Gotcha MEP1 THANKS