I am wondering if there is any way to minimize the drip problem with vinyl lettering on the windows.
I have to do a lot of wiping and it takes time. Is there anything that would make the problem less in terms of soap, tools, or techniques?
As it is now, I wipe the lettering down after washing with a towel.
Thanks Merv
Merv, For myself when i do my storefronts with vinyl lettering i try not to use any dishsoap unless there is a ton of greasy fingerprints. I find if i use the right mixture of GG4 and glide i can get away with not as much wiping.
most of the time ill wait to do the doors last because i know there will always be greasy fingerprints, so ive got a squeeze bottle with my normal mixture and some dawn mixed in that i use that cuts the grease.
Water is easier to wipe…I agree. I will try that. I tried using different kinds of towels and the better ones work better. Microfiber helps if it is good quality but it is an expensive towel.
In a humid environment those drips might tend to come back and the customers do not like it. Some jobs add the lettering later and the amount of work increases.
Lately the problem has been increasing with more lettering being put on and the customers getting more picky because of the bad economy.
Ettore’s Soren rubber in Quicksilver) channel works really well over vinyl lettering. Ettore Soren rubber is very thin and conforms to surface variation better than any rubber I’ve tried. This rubber leaves very little to sometimes no water on the lettering. I use GG4 with Winsol Super Slip which is a very non-messy solution.
Also get some scrim and use an area of the scrim cloth that is very slightly damp to wipe or detail lettering if water is left. The slightly damp scrim beats out even the best of micro fiber cloths for detailing vinyl lettering or any other part of the glass.
In my Tool Talk review of Unger rubber vrs Ettore rubber I talk about how Ettore’s rubber seems to leave less behind on the glass when squeegeeing over vinyl lettering.
check it out.
http://windowcleaner.com/vBulletin/showthread.php5?t=1813
Merv,
I think that in some cases you’ll just have to go back over some areas with that towel, scrim, micro–whatever you use, to ensure that the glass is perfect. I have left a job that I thought was 100% accurate, only to return the next day for something else, to find a huge, very noticable drip and run hangin down from the vinyl. It sucks, but I think its all in the detailing.
As far as the customer coming back and adding vinyl lettering or stickers later, you should just adjust your price. Tell the customer that the price was for cleaning, then they added something that makes your job more difficult, more time consuming, more labor intensive, and therefore must be accounted for in the price.
Most will understand. Others won’t. But being honest and open will get you more "ok"s and less problems and quiters.
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Did you do the comparison with Pulex rubber? How did it compare to Ettore rubber in regards to vinyl lettering. Thank you
When I got my Steccone Featherweights and started useing them, I notice the rubber left practically nothing behind when squegeeing vinyl lettering. Other than that, I didnt care much for the rubber but I have considered getting some just for those jobs with a lot of letting and stickers.
