Install Notes

General Installation

Wash your hands - keeps your finger oils off the adhesive.

Clean it up - You'll see the dirt as soon as you put the graphics down, and that's too late. Wipe the area down first with 409 or Simple Green, then rinse and dry.

Warm is good - warmth does two things: it makes the vinyl more pliable and less prone to wrinkle, and it softens the adhesive so it's easier to push around. Soak your graphic kit and bike or helmet in the sun if you can, or use a hairdryer to warm things up.

Bubbles - Don't try and press them down, you'll stretch the vinyl. Lance the buggers with a sharp needle or tack.

General Removal

Warm helps here too - again, the adhesive will loosen with temperature, and is more likely to hold on to the sticker as it comes off. For removal you can use the sun, a hairdryer, or hot towels to heat the graphic area.

Lift and pull - Lift a corner with your fingernail or a credit card, and slowly pull off the graphic.

Remove remaining adhesive - if the graphics have been applied for over a year they will probably come off in pieces, and leave some adhesive on the surface. Remove the adhesive residue with a citrus-based cleaner such as Goof-Off or Goo-Gone. We've had good success with Simple Green too.

Plotter Cut Graphics Installation

Plotter Cut graphics are packaged between the backing and a transfer tape. For installation the opaque backing is removed to expose the graphics adhesive, while the semi-transparent transfer tape keeps the graphics aligned. It also keeps your fingers off the graphic during install.

Step 1. Use sharp scissors or an exacto blade to cut the sheet to fit the target area.

Step 2. Use the edge of a credit card to smooth the decals into the backing, paying particular attention to to small features and sharp points. This helps for the next step.

Step 3. Carefully remove the opaque backing from the decals, ensuring that all decals stay with the transfer tape.

Step 4. Align and place the backing and decals on the target surface, starting with one end of the graphic, and smoothing to the other.

Step 5. Use the edge of the credit card to smooth all decals flat to the surface, working out any trapped bubbles.

Step 6. Carefully remove the backing. You're done with these, move to the next line!

Barbed Wire Installation

The Barbed Wire is easy and straightforward to install, so we'll just mention some things to notice while installing it.

- There is a top and a bottom to the wire and barbs. The metal color should be on the top, shadow on the bottom. You'll forget, but that's ok, the sheets don't cost much.

- Join the wire to the barb by putting the crotch of the barb on the centerline of the wire. You can join them by putting the barb over the wire, or the wire over the barb. Either way looks good.

- The wires are designed to be spliced together for extra length. Just butt them together.

- You can put a curve in the wire, limited only by when the wire starts to wrinkle. You can easily turn through 90 degrees over 10" of wire.

- Pick your lines, then go wire-barb-wire-barb-wire til you're done!

Killer Wasp Installation

- Number of sheets you need - One sheet is enough to cover a helmet or gas tank. More sheets may be desired for coverage on a sportbike or faired motorcycle. In this case, print out fit templates page 1 and page 2, cut out and count 'em.

- Air Bubbles - The Killer Wasp is printed on clear vinyl to show the color of the bike or helmet through the wings. Air bubbles are very visible under the clear vinyl, so you really don't want any. Make sure to clean and dry the surface properly before applying.

Warming the vinyl and the surface really helps in avoiding bubbles and wrinkles (see General Installation above). If any bubbles remain, puncture them with a sharp needle or pin. Don't worry about small air bubbles, they work themselves out with time.

- Decal Border - The clear vinyl has a matte finish, which can make the clear border around the design very visible on dark or glossy surfaces. If you care about the visibility of the border, plan to trim it off. This looks really nice, but requires an additional step.

To trim, place the sticker sheet on a hard flat surface, (not your bike or helmet!). Use a sharp exacto blade and a steady hand to trim as close to the ink as you comfortably can. Pull the trim off of the sheet to get it out of the way for the installation. A good compromise is to trim only the largest. most visible wasps. You're ready to peel and stick.

- Application on Helmets - Helmets are highly curved for a sticker the size of the 100% wasp. But you can get perfect results by cutting two V-shaped wedges between the segments of the wings. This allows the wings to go down without wrinkles.

Visitor Installation

Coming soon