Vinyl decals on Powdercoated boxes?

[rossp6304]

Can I apply a vinyl decal to a hammond 1590bb that is powdercoated?  If not what are my best options?

[rockhorst]

Sure you can, use 'em all the time. Just be careful with applying it: don't try to stick the entire thing on there at once. Position it, stick a small strip on the box and roll of the rest of the decal, while swiping with your finger to keep the air out.

[Processaurus]

Here's a vinyl sticker'd pedal I made a while ago, it has the eggshell finish powdercoat which has caused a corner to peel up over time, I might try to glue it down or something...  A smooth finish powder coat would be better, and I think the decal would last a long time if it wasn't placed in a way where you could stomp on it, and if the pedal was on a board, rather than getting thrown in a bag.

The way to not get air bubbles is to, before you peel the sticker off, putting low tac masking tape or frisket (they make big, wide, low tac masking tape just for this purpose) over the sticker, and then peeling off the backing, and apply the sticker, then peel the frisket/masking tape off the top of the sticker.  No bubbles that way.  That's how to do multiple layer, multicolor stickers.

[Ice-9]

If you need to apply a decal and move it around slightly you can use water and car shampoo, let me explain.
With a little car shampoo mixed in a bowl of water, (it has to be car shampoo not fairy liquidas fairy has salt in it)

Wet down the surface of your pedal with the shampoo/water mix, put your sticker on. It is possible to float the sticker around, when in the perfect position flatten the sticker down and allow the water to dry. It will not affect the glue in the sticker.

This is how it is sometimes done in the auto trade to get the decals/dtickers in the exact position.