Doing aqua-printing with my own hands at home
Hello, everyone. In this post I will tell you about one of the most difficult for me “modifications” in my Toussaint. And that is aqua-printing. It’s been about 4 months since I did it all. The result is a solid seven for me. Satisfied. More about everything.
The first thing we need – 1) film. 2) activator. 3) primer on plastic 4) base (paint) 5) lacquer.
Simplified process aqua looks like this film itself consists of two layers – the texture (paint) itself, which will remain on the part. And the gelatin base. Of course the film structure is much more complicated, but for simplicity will do. The film is put on the water, pause for 2 minutes. During this time the gelatin base dissolves, and roughly speaking the texture (paint) itself is pure. Then the activator spray is applied, it is necessary so that the paint has begun to take on your part. After applying the activator, wait about 30 seconds (averagely), wash the detail. Then you need a pure experience.
Where to buy – I ordered everything at www.fusiontech.ru/aquaprint/ They only ordered, with delivery to Minsk. Then I did all by myself. I was interested. Just a couple of times with questions addressed in Insta to a very smart guys in Minsk – Dynamica DTL Just as a film for aqua printing can be ordered on Ali. There it is not expensive and good quality.
The hardest thing is to find the activator. I have read a lot of that can be replaced with solvent, 21 solvent. But no one has a normal quality job. Order a normal activator in a can. and do not fool your head. Waste time, disassemble the entire cabin, and you will save 10 bucks. Not only that – even with the activator in a bottle is very difficult to guess at the time. I’ve been through a lot.
Regarding primer on plastic, base, and 1k varnish – in any store varnishes and paints. Also need scotch-bright for matting the plastic.
Now step by step: 1) Removing the parts. In my case, I removed both air deflectors on the sides, the center trim around the head unit. The center tunnel, steering wheel cover. I did not remove the door liners. There is a lot of fuss. There is just a film.
The right deflector is easy to remove. Remove the right plastic panel by opening the door. Remove one screw. Pull the air duct toward you.
To remove the radio, and the frame around it – you need to remove the upper visor dash, sliding it toward you. Unscrew all the screws in the photo (3 screws on the right to remove the radio, the rest – to then pull out a little speedometer dashboard, and pull out the left deflector).
The hard part is removing the left deflector. It is screwed on the left with a screw (to do this, remove the plastic liner from the end of the door. Then unhook yourself from the bottom panel (where the control unit esp), as well as a couple of centimeters pull the dashboard toward you. To release and pull out the right side of the deflector. Also on the bottom there are two screws – unscrew them.
The central cover, the one near the handbrake, remove from the armrest, gradually lift up. When it is all gone from its seat – disconnect the 2 loops – go to the area PRND. In the photo I have the old film glued to this plastic panel. I will take it off further.
And at the end – the sweetest part. Removing the steering wheel. In order to remove the V-shaped gray plastic pad. In the photo on it as a carbon sticker – bought before on ali (will demonitit).
The steering wheel is difficult to remove – turn immediately by 90 degrees to one side, put a screwdriver on the left – flat but wide, to get her and bend the spoke inside the steering wheel. This spoke can be seen in the photo (circled). I at this stage took a very long time – about 20 minutes. It is necessary to unbend from 2 sides, while filing a cushion klaksona itself. In general, the photo will understand.
Further we remove and separate clean gray elements from all removed parts, with which we will work further.
Preparation of plastic before waterprinting.
Roughly speaking, a part covered with waterjet is the following layers
1 layer) is the plastic part itself. it is rough and matted. 2 layer) primer on plastic 3) base – a paint without varnish (because often in cans is already paint and varnish). 4) itself a layer of aqua-print 5) varnish. 6) varnish 7) lacquer. – It is clear that the lacquer can be covered in 2-3 layers.
1) This applies only to the central panel. It is covered with soft touch plastic. Neither the primer nor the base will lay on it. All this soft touch will have to wipe it off with solvent. Wet it, wait, scrub it. And so it goes until all the soft touch is removed. You can see everything from the picture below.
2) All parts should be matched with scotch-bright (such a rough sponge). It is necessary so that the primer (primer) on the plastic firmly grasped the part. And then for this primer then took the base (paint without varnish).
3) Apply the base after we primed parts. We degrease them. On the reverse side with a glue gun glue 200 nails. This is to make it easier to twist the parts. For fixing the parts I used pizza boxes, you can use paralon.
And spray the base of the spray cans. My base is dark gray (graphite).
4) passes literally 20 minutes. completely dry the base is not give – then the most responsible – “soaking”. I even recorded a short video for you.
The film is cut to spare, the sticky side will be put on the water. You can wrap the perimeter with masking tape. This is to ensure that after the dissolution of the gelatin layer – aquaprint is not blurred across the surface of the basin (container). But the tape around the perimeter will not allow the film to stretch well behind our piece. So the ideal is to cut the aqua-print to the size of your pail, and do not tape anything around the perimeter. Take my word for it… I’ve already eaten my dog…
We put the film on the water (the water is slightly warmer than room temperature)-about 25. Wait 2 minutes. The film will be smooth. apply the activator from a distance of about 30 cm thickly enough. Let’s wait 20-30 seconds more. Let’s soak! There are 2 lines in the text – in the case – 3 times remade some parts.
5) after applying the film – coating varnish. in 3 layers. at intervals of about 20-30 minutes. not on the dry. The lacquer should not dry out to the end between coats.
Well and after the last layer of lacquer – leave to dry for 24 hours.
6) After a full drying is better to polish a little.
What happened as a result.
I would say that for the first time turned out well, because in any case you need to fill up a hand. Central tunnel was redone 3 times. Also, the texture on the plastic near the GUI is going in the wrong direction. Only later I figured it out. But as is. Maybe a little later remake.
Waterprinting at home, organizing your own business
The uniqueness of things, objects, which a person uses, can tell about his tastes, preferences. Help create a special aura, atmosphere. Hydrographic printing will help to make such things. Its convenience is that any smooth surface can be used for printing: glass, ceramics, metal, polymeric materials.
The essence of the technique and areas of application
Such a process was first launched in Japan. In our country it is a popular direction of auto tuning. Except the image, “water” printing helps to transfer and sense of structure of a material.
Components of the process, 5 main stages. The surface to which the print is applied must be clean. Then the basic shade and film is selected. The next step is the activation of the film. Then – water procedures and completion: drying and applying varnish.
The preservation of the coating depends on the quality of the varnish. The better it is, the longer the surface and the applied pattern lasts.
The “water” print can be used for decoration in almost any area. Elements of cars and motorcycles, both interior and exterior. Furniture and appliances, sports equipment, musical instruments. You can give your thing a unique look with your own hands or turn to a specialist.
Materials and equipment
Preparation for the self application of aqua-printing begins with cleaning and degreasing the work surface. If necessary, it can be cleaned with an abrasive material. The working surface for better adhesion and application of the film should be smooth.
After degreasing and cleaning primer is applied. You can use an automotive primer. Preparation ends with primer. Dried primed surface must be sanded as well.
For the base color is used paint. You can take any option, such as enamel. Nitro enamel is good because it dries in 15 minutes. The color is chosen depending on the basic pattern. You can experiment and mix several colors.
The water part of the process needs the following tools: a thermometer, a boiling pot, a container, a compressor and a sprayer.
From what work surface is chosen and the container. The thing must fit freely. Water is heated to 30 degrees. To determine the temperature in this case, a thermometer will help.
Working with the film is the most responsible moment. First, it must fit completely in size. Secondly, you need to determine the application side. This is the sticky side. Small cuts are made in the film along the edge not more than 2 cm in distance. The film is then lowered onto the surface of the water with the sticky side. It is desirable at this point to avoid unnecessary movement.
The edge of the film, according to the notches made, in the water will begin to roll, then you need to keep for two more minutes. The activator on the film is distributed horizontally and vertically and allowed to stand for 10 seconds. Activator, coming into contact with the film, gives a kind of jelly.
The surface of the thing is immersed in the resulting jelly and immediately after contact of surfaces is taken out of the water. It is left to dry.
The surface with the applied film should be processed again. Wash the product in the same temperature regime, dry it and varnish it. The total number of coats of lacquer depends on its quality and the desired effect.
Care for the surface with aqua-printing is not complicated. The main rule is to maintain the integrity of the lacquer layer. When cleaning, it is not necessary to apply considerable effort or use solvents.
Organizing your business
Hydrographic printing, when viewed closely as a business project, has advantages. Such a business justifies the costs. The technology is not too complicated and is interesting to the audience. The target audience includes car and motorcycle owners, musicians, designers, athletes. The market does not have a saturation of such a service.
Disadvantages
Quality workmanship requires certain skills. The better the work is done, the higher the demand for it. The first condition is mastering the skills yourself, at a good level or finding a master.
The costs
The organization of their business to provide services immersion printing in terms of costs can be about 200,000 rubles. The most expensive item – the equipment. If the printing services are designed for large parts, you need a bath with a temperature sensor. The volume of such a tub is 500 liters. Water printing services on small surfaces do not require such a volume.
Needed as a tool grinder and paint sprayer, compressor. At the cost of the tool will cost 40000 – 45000 rubles. Rent of space and consumables as costly items.
Savings are possible by renting space, tools. Tools can be purchased on specialized forums used or search it on any service free ads.
You can perform a cost calculation yourself or use any software. The estimated profit from a single order can be about seven thousand rubles.
The search for customers should consider the target audience for the services offered. This can be auto stores, tire service, car washes, if the main focus of the services – water-printing for vehicles.
Social networks will be an excellent launching pad for advertising and attracting the target audience and, of course, high-quality work.
To provide services for immersion printing, you can consider two options for doing business. Register as an individual entrepreneur or become self-employed.
To send documents to the Federal Tax Service, you can use the “one-stop-shop” or the State Services portal.
Aquaprinting is not classified as a separate type of business, but two OKVED codes can be used:
An individual entrepreneur will still need to choose a taxation regime, and the self-employed will need to go through the registration procedure.
Such activities do not require permits or licensing . After obtaining a certificate from the Federal Tax Service, conclusions of the epidemiological and fire services, if it is not separately stipulated in the lease agreement, you can carry out activities.
