By Abbey H September 12, 2021

Adhesive Vinyl FAQ and Common Issues

Crafting with adhesive vinyl can be tedious. Creating personalized water bottles to signs and adhesive vinyl can do it all, but sometimes we can get into trouble with our crafting projects. Not only is it upsetting when we run into a problem with our craft, but it can also ruin your vinyl and cost you a lot of money. Gather information is essential when solving issues when crafting with this product before sitting down and starting your craft. For first-time crafters, this is very important. Here are some tips below that can save you a buck or two!

Tip # 1: How to get the vinyl to stick to metal or glass.

You have just created your first decal, and you are ready to stick it to the product. When you go to remove the transfer tape, the decal doesn't adhere to the item! The first thing you will want to do is make sure that the surface area is clean. I mean spotless! Make sure there are no oils from your hands or dust on the item. Try using rubbing alcohol when cleaning the thing. If you are still experiencing some oily residue, you could try using some nail polish remover. Make sure the surface is dry and untouched before trying again with the decal. Are you still having trouble? You can try to leave the transfer tape on the vinyl for a bit after applying it to the surface. Sometimes it just takes time for things to stick.

Tip #2: How to get the vinyl to adhere to the wood.

Honestly, I think that adhesive vinyl looks beautiful on wood. There is just something about it. However, working with rough timber, let's say I wouldn't wish that on anyone. If your adhesive vinyl is having a problem sticking to the wood, it could just mean you need to give it another sanding. Ensure that you are sanding your timber so there appear to be no splinters or anything that would cause the surface to be uneven. Sanding helps a lot when you are smoothing down your vinyl. This prevents it from getting stuck on rough spots in your wood, causing the vinyl to rip, tear, or fold. If you want to go another step further, look into painting a varnish to fill in any holes or cracks that may be causing you some trouble. Now, if you still what the piece of wood to look "rustic" and you want to keep the cracks, Try using a heat gun or hairdryer. When applying the vinyl to the surface, turn on the heat. It will help the vinyl conform to the uneven surfaces better. The heat will give the adhesive vinyl more flexibility.

Tip #3: How to get your vinyl to stick to the transfer tape.

Are you having a little trouble getting the vinyl to adhere to the transfer tape? Your transfer tape maybe not sticky enough! Not all transfer tapes are created equally. It depends on if you got it from a dollar store V.S an actual craft store. Also, tapes have all different types of levels of adhesive tack. For heavier types of adhesive vinyl like glitter, you will want to use a stronger adhesive to pick it up off the backing.

Tip #4: How to get the adhesive vinyl to release from the transfer tape.

Transfer Tapes Sold By RQC Supply If you are trying to apply vinyl and it's not releasing from the transfer tape, the tape may sticky! If the transfer tape is too sticky, there isn't away to get the vinyl to stick to the surface you are trying to apply. I would try using another tape that is not sticky. Another solution would be to de-stick your tape. Try to apply the tape to other surfaces before sticking it to your vinyl. Some places to de-stick tape are; jeans, blankets, or anything fuzzy. Let some of the fibers attach to the tape because that is what makes the tape less sticky.

Tip #5: How to get your vinyl to come off the backing properly.

Are you having some trouble with the backing of our vinyl? Usually, this means that you are cutting too deep. Decrease your pressure n your cut. If it cuts the backing of the vinyl, it makes it harder for the vinyl to release from it. Next time adjust your settings, so your cut isn't that deep. I would suggest doing a test cut before doing any bigs projects.

Tip #6: How to get your vinyl to weed correctly

Pink Weeding Pods sold by RQC Supply Canada If you are doing an intricate design, you could run into problems when weeding the item. For example, the letters will not stay on the backing paper and lift when pulling the negative vinyl away. The blade wasn't sharp enough when you performed the cut. To get a clean design, you will need to replace the blade. If you don't have a replacement, try slowing down the speed on your cut settings. Still, having some trouble with your adhesive vinyl? Sometimes it's not the cut that is the problem. It just may be a rigid design to weed. Try reverse weeding. Instead of weeding your design on the backing of the paper, try weeding it after you have applied the transfer tape to it. Place the transfer tape first right after you cut the design. Pull off the backing of the paper and weed it on the transfer tape instead. Transfer tape tends to hold on to your art more than the backing would. Another thing to look into would be replacing the cutting strip on your machine. If you notice that the design cut is fine on one side of the vinyl sheet but not so lovely on the other, You should replace that.

FAQ about Adhesive vinyl.

Question: I put the item I designed in the dishwasher, and the vinyl is now peeling off! How can I solve this? Answer: Most vinyl can't survive the dishwasher. I would suggest washing your item by hand. Now, this is unless you are using a vinyl-like 751. You could also cover the thing with Mod Podge. This would seal the design making it dishwasher safe.

Question: My vinyl won't stay on the item after I cleaned the area I applied the decal to. Answer: It takes about 24 hours for vinyl to adhere to the surface of the item correctly. So if you wash or disturb the vinyl in any way, the vinyl may not want to stick to the thing anymore.

Question: My Vinyl stayed on the item for a couple of days, and now it's peeling off! What should I do? Answer: Make sure you are using the right type of vinyl. You want a vinyl that has a healthy adhere level. I would use a permanent vinyl for anything that is going to be hand-washed after. I hope this blog post helps with your crafting projects! If you had another question that we haven't answered, check out some other blog posts or email us at info@rqcsupply.com. We want to help you as well, so you are successful! Remember that with any project, it takes time to learn how to use the material. Happy Crafting!