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The following are the
application instructions recommended by Universal Products. These
procedures must be followed prior to any consideration by Universal
Products in regard to replacement or credit. Failure to follow
instructions listed below in bold red letters may result in product
failure and be considered non-warrantable. Please note that any
horizontal application of products, such as a vehicle hood or
roof, is never warrantable.
Storage and Rotation:
Stock
rotation and climate-controlled storage are important. Age and
temperature extremes degrade the adhesive and can dramatically reduce its effectiveness. Product should
be used within the recommended storage life of two years. In
addition, product should be stored in an environment between
60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cleaning Procedures:
All
surfaces are contaminated to some degree. To ensure good adhesion
to any vehicle surface, it is critical that you follow these
recommended procedures in decontaminating and preparing the surface
prior to any vinyl product installation. A clean, lint free towel
or cloth must be used between each of the cleaning steps to prevent
cross-contamination.
- Remove
heavy road grime or tar using a solvent such as acetone. Repeated
use of such solvents may cause damage to painted surfaces. Test
for negative reaction on an inconspicuous area of the vehicle.
- When
a silicone substance or residue is suspected, wash and rinse
the contaminated area with liquid dish detergent and warm water.
Dry
the surface with a clean, lint free towel or cloth.
- After
the detergent wash, use Universal Products' TFX cleaner and a
clean, lint-free towel or cloth. If you choose you may finish the
process by wiping down the entire area with isopropyl alcohol.
Again use a clean, lint-free towel or cloth.
Temperature Recommendations:
- Surface
temperatures should be between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit before
attempting the installation. As a general rule, if the surface
is hot to the touch it's over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Adhesive
becomes brittle when it gets too cold and gummy when it gets
too hot. Applications outside the recommended range of 50 to
90 degrees Fahrenheit reduce the adhesives' ability to perform.
Application Procedures:
- Do
not excessively stretch pin stripe during the application. This
is the main cause of end lift. Pull the stripe only as taut as
necessary to keep a straight line.
- Because
vinyl is a pressure-sensitive product, a squeegee must be used
for all installations.
- Apply graphics using a squeegee. After the application tape/premask
is removed, squeegee a second time focusing mainly on the edges
and tips. You
may want to use a protective sleeve on the squeegee to avoid
damage to the paint.
- Pin stripe can be laid down initially using your thumb. However,
after the application tape is removed, a squeegee must be used
on all cut ends including door breaks as well as the ends of
the stripe.
- When
removing the application tape/premask, always pull it slowly,
back onto itself, at a 180-degree angle.
Bubbles
should be punctured using a sharp air release tool. Do not slit
the vinyl to release the air. If the vinyl is slit it will spread
or gap.
- The cutting
or trimming of any stripe or graphic should be done using a very
sharp knife and very little pressure. Any openings, such as doors, should
be trimmed back away from edges at least 1/8 of an inch. Do not
wrap the vinyl around door edges.
Universal
Products understands the challenges the applicator faces today.
The TFX Pro System is a tested and proven process, developed
to address these issues. We recommend you adopt this as your
standard practice.
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