Decal Application Tips

1. Make sure the area is clean, dry and at room temperature.

2. With the decal face up, rub the surface with a squeegee, credit
card, or your hand.

3. Turn the decal so it is facing down and slowly peel the blue or
white backing paper away from the clear application tape. The decal
should remain on the clear tape, but if it peels off with the backing
paper repeat step 2.

4. Lightly apply decal to desired surface and apply pressure/remove air
bubbles in overlapping strokes from the center outwards.

5. Let the decal sit for 5-10 minutes if possible and then remove the
clear application tape by folding it back onto itself.

6. Enjoy your new decal!

Tips: We recommend cleaning the area with a diluted solution of plain dish
soap or vinegar and then wiping with rubbing alcohol. If the area is
very greasy or oily you can use a degreaser beforehand but make sure it
is completely cleaned off before applying the decal. For decals on car
paint, especially large decals like stripes, you may want to use a clay
bar before application since any debris on the paint will affect the appearance. If there is a border around your decal you can cut it off before application, or you can peel it off later when you remove the application tape. For decals like the caliper cover or the engine Volvo logo go slowly and take your time aligning the decals. Once you have applied pressure you won’t be able to re-position them.

1. Make sure the area is clean and at room temperature

2. Carefully peel the R from the backing paper like a sticker. Make
sure your hands are clean of oils and dirt, or use tweezers

3. Start placing the decal in the indentation on the left side and
upper left corner. Once it’s aligned apply light pressure only to this
part to make it stick

4. Start forming the decal into the loop part of the R but don’t yet
apply pressure. It may look like it won’t align or fit but ignore this
for now.

5. Position the lower right part of the R and the inside corner and
apply pressure to make it stick.

6. Lastly, start applying pressure to the loop portion, slightly
stretching and conforming the vinyl as needed.

Tips: We recommend cleaning the area with a diluted solution of plain dish soap or vinegar and then wiping with rubbing alcohol. If the area is very greasy or oily you can use a degreaser beforehand but make sure it is completely cleaned off before applying the decal If the decal is too cold and you’re having trouble conforming it to the R you can briefly use a hair dryer or heat gun to make it more pliable. Only a small amount of heat is needed, be careful not to overheat it which may cause it to stretch or break. If you’re having a hard time applying pressure to the R in the indentation you can use a pencil eraser, corner of a squeegee, the flat part on the top of tweezers, or anything else small to fit in the groove.

  Here are a few additional tips that are not often elaborated on during instructional videos. Clean the surface of your application area to the best of your ability. On the painted surfaces of a car/truck we recommend a very thorough cleaning and the use of a clay bar to ensure ALL debris between the paint surface and vinyl are gone, or at least washing the surface with wax remover or something like Dawn dish soap. Debris leads to small, unwanted bumps. Clean glass surfaces with a good glass cleaner. If you are applying stripes that end in the wheel well or under the hood, make sure to clean these areas thoroughly. If the edges don’t adhere well, the vinyl may peel off. Before application, lay the entire vinyl decal flat (for an hour or more if possible if your decal came rolled up) with the clear tape facing up, and, starting at the middle, go over it with a squeegee or the edge of a credit card. This will remove any air bubbles that may have formed during shipping and should help your decal application to go smoothly. If there are large bubbles that you can’t remove, you can poke a hole in the tape with a pin or knife and remove the air that way (be careful not to damage your decal!) Removing bubbles in the tape will help prevent bubbles once the decal is applied. TAKE YOUR TIME! Preparation is key. We generally use masking tape to mock up where we are going to apply the vinyl and make adjustments. Vinyl is not permanent, but the adhesive gets weaker each time you must pull it up off of the application surface, and you risk stretching or tearing the decal.The hinge method is an excellent way to make sure your decals are properly aligned. Here are two videos explaining how to use it to apply large and small decals: (For this method we recommend cutting the backing paper with scissors or a knife instead of ripping it.) When you smooth out the vinyl with the top tape layer still on, start from the center of the vinyl and work out. Do your best to not trap any air because certain areas are very difficult to work bubbles out.If possible, apply the vinyl in a warm environment. It is difficult to apply vinyl when cold because the material is rigid and the adhesive does not stick as easily. If necessary, use a heat gun or a hair dryer to add heat and make the application surface and vinyl easier to work with. If there are small bubbles in your applied decal they may work themselves out after a few days. If you want to remove them yourself, you can poke a hole in the bubble with a pin and force the air out.If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. We cannot refund the cost on decals due to errors in application so if you are unsure of anything just ask and we’d be glad to help you out.