Applying A Dacal?

[jtmullet]

I recently have aquired a gibson cellulose waterlide decal from the mid 70's are there any special tricks or advice I shoul take into consideration before applying it.

[Bertbart]

Find and purchase a product called "Solveset" pronounced solve-ve-set. Maybe even spelled that way. Anyway go to a big time hobby store that sells a lot of airplane model kits and they will have it. Read the directions on the bottle. It's great stuff and really makes the decal lay down so that the edges disappear.

If you can't find that product then add one drop of dish-washing soap to a shallow dish of warm water. drop the the decal paper in the water it will curl up and just as it starts to uncurl use your finger and dab some of the soapy water on the headstock face where you're going to place the decal then lay the decal paper about where you're placing the decal and push lightly down on top of the decal and slide the decal paper out from underneath the decal proper. You'll have a few seconds to center it where you want it. Then make sure there are no bubbles of air between the decal and the face of the headstock (When chasing the bubbles keep your finger wet) Then blot the water on, and around, the decal trying not to move it and let it dry over night. Shoot clear over it...at least three coats and depending how well the finish lays down you're done. If after three coats you can still see the edge of the decal then shoot three more coats and lightly wet sand with a block and repeat if necessary until you can't see the decal edge.

[jtmullet]

I have ben looking up information on that solvaset stuff and it sounds like great stuff but I have just a few questions the first one is I have read that it dries very quickly and since I am not very expierienced in this would it work best to use water to soak and position it then apply the solvaset to get it tolay flat cause I have read its possible to delute it with water so it sholdn't be aproblem.Also solvvaset shouldn't harm the decal like the inks or anything I assume it shouldn't since lacuer won't but better safe than sorry all help is apreciated cheers mate.

[leeranya]

a popular choice is to add a little bit of "Future" cleaning liquid:

I also tried adding vineger once... I'm not sure whether it helped or not

however this method is ment for applying waterslide decals to plastic - model kit building, to be exact...

[Bertbart]

I have ben looking up information on that solvaset stuff and it sounds like great stuff but I have just a few questions the first one is I have read that it dries very quickly and since I am not very expierienced in this would it work best to use water to soak and position it then apply the solvaset to get it tolay flat cause I have read its possible to delute it with water so it sholdn't be aproblem.Also solvvaset shouldn't harm the decal like the inks or anything I assume it shouldn't since lacuer won't but better safe than sorry all help is apreciated cheers mate.

Just use water with a single drop of soap as I stated above, blot the decal dry and then apply Solvaset. It will work that way as well. I was a Gibson and Fender warranty center for over twenty-five years and installed many decals in that time. Solvaset was the ticket.

[marksound]

There is a lot of discussion on a lot of forums lately about how to apply waterslide decals. I never thought much about it, but then again I got a lot of practice when I was a kid building plastic models. Compared to those bumps and curves a headstock is a piece of cake.

[Doeringer]

if you are using Nitro as a clear, your first several coats have to be very light, just a dusting. Otherwise the lacquer will disolve the waterslide.