If thermal printed, the .999 silver must be laminated or clearcoated with One Shot 4005 acrylic clear
PRELIMINARY
This authentic silver material is not guaranteed for use outside. Having said that, many signmakers are using it outside on
fire trucks, boats, and signs of all kinds. The key to using it outdoors is making sure no moisture gets behind or into the edges of the silver. Read the SEALING AND FINISHING section below for important details.
CUTTING
Always make a “test cut” before cutting, at least until you have become familiar with .999 silver properties.
ALWAYS USE A SHARP BLADE. Cutting an upper case Helvetica “A” or “N” serves as a great test for blade sharpness.
A standard angle blade used for cutting standard PVC vinyl is fine; no special blade is needed…cuts like butter. Our silver product cuts and weeds as good or better than a good quality high performance cast vinyl.
Never cut silver too deep…Just enough pressure to kiss-cut the material so weeding is easy. Cutting too deep into the poly-liner can cause the adhesive to settle into the cuts thus causing difficulty in getting the silver to release from the liner.
Never allow silver to be rolled backwards (with the release liner to the outside). Try to keep the material flat as it goes through your cutter to keep down the chance of tunneling. Always cut material at room temperature and do not cut material during cold temperatures below 50 degrees as premature release from the liner resulting in tunneling is possible.
WEEDING
Weeding silver is actually easier than weeding many high performance vinyls. It is recommended that you weed your job immediately after cutting. Do not leave for the next day.
APPLICATION
Silver MUST be applied DRY. Using fluid of any kind jeopardizes the material by introducing moisture which will tarnish the material over time.
Use a “medium to high” tack application tape. On letters or graphics taller than 8 inches, a “high” tack tape is recommended. Using a translucent application tape like Transferite clear 1310 or R-Tape clear medium tack Conform series will make registration to your outline easier.
To insure good adhesion on vehicles, silver is best applied over high performance cast vinyl like Gerber/3M 220 series vinyl. On dark color vehicles, high performance cast vinyl is highly suggested under the silver. If it is necessary to remove the silver later for some reason, it removes much easier because the high performance cast material is under the silver.
NEVER APPLY SILVER MATERIAL OVER WATER-BASED OR LATEX FINISHES.
When applying silver to acrylic or polycarbonate sheets, remove substrate protective sheeting and allow surface to outgas at least 24 hours before applying the silver product.
Applying silver over wood or HDU, the surface must be sealed using an oil-based or epoxy coating to restrict moisture exposure from behind the silver. We recommend West Systems Epoxy #105 Resin with the appropriate hardner.
SEALING & FINISHING
As indicated above, silver must be protected extremely well around the edges in particular to keep out ANY moisture. Our silver is protected with an excellent clear on the surface. Used inside or outside, silver must be edge sealed completely.
Completely laminating the silver is one choice to protect against moisture attacking the silver. We recommend 3M 8519 or OraCal 290. Over-laminate and leave a 1/4 inch minimum past the edges of the graphic. No edge-sealing is then necessary as the laminate past the edge creates the protective seal required. Gerber’s G5 and 3m 8528 are also approved laminates.
EDGE SEALING WITH ONE SHOT 4005 IS REQUIRED. Note: Better edge seal coverage and protection will be achieved using a traditional brush application. Seal-It pens are acceptable but use great care not to miss any areas during the sealing process. Use a liberal coating to insure .999 Silver edge is COMPLETELY sealed to the vehicle background or vinyl if an outline is used.
NOTE: Quick-Sign Gold does not guarantee .999 Silver product if used for exterior applications. NOT guaranteed against tarnishing.