If you want people to not only remember your brand but can also refer it to others, customized signage, banners, posters and messaging is very important. Vinyl has become a go-to material for all the marketing and customizations requirements of every business. Vinyl has emerged as a material that is best for advertising and decorating on any surface such as wood, glass, metal, walls, vehicles and what not.
In order to get the best results every sign maker needs to have specific tools in his/her tool kit to master this art. Vinyl tools will allow any artist to push their boundaries, try newer methods and crafting techniques and have so much fun with their work. When you have the liberty and proper tools to support the work you do, things start to get interesting and that's when innovative ideas kick in.
Vinyl is a film-like material that is durable and versatile, allowing you to use it for multiple purposes. Vinyl sheets can be applied with the correct vinyl tools in interior decorations and it also has qualities that are best suited for outdoor decorations.
UV adhesion promoter is also great for ensuring a good bond between different surfaces for both indoor and outdoor usage. In this article, I will educate you about the top 5 vinyl tools that one must invest in to elevate one's craft, especially if you are a rookie!
The Top 5 Vinyl Tools for Beginners
1.Weeding tools
One of the most important vinyl tools in vinyl sign making is the weeding tool. This tool makes it possible for the design to look perfect, crisp and so immaculate. When the design is printed and cut from the vinyl plotter, it is far from perfection.
There is a lot of excess vinyl attached to the design which needs to be removed in order to see the design in its true essence. Some weeding tools are hooked, some are crooked, so have double faces and some are straight.
The tweezers are also another great tool to have on hand. The difference between the weeding tool and the tweezers is that the latter is ideal for picking small bits and pieces right from the middle of the designs, whereas the former is great for outer corners and bigger bits of vinyl.
2.Squeegees
My favorite tool as they push out any unwanted air pockets when placing the design on the vinyl sheets. They offer a steady pressure that allows the adhesive to stick to the surface and the design appears to be perfect as no air bubbles are left.
You may find various kinds of squeegees in order to apply different kinds of graphics. Some of the most common ones are soft plastic, felt, nylon or teflon ones. A vinyl crafter should always have a couple of squeegees in their arsenal!
3.Vinyl scraper
From the shape and material of it, you may confuse it with a squeegee but the purpose of a scraper is completely different. With a scraper you can remove the previous vinyl application or even remove the excess application. Just as its name suggests, you can scrape out the unwanted vinyl from the design or for the work surface.
4.Magnets
As the vinyl sheets and the vinyl designs are both done on delicate sheets, you need to have strong magnets that will hold everything in place, securely. Magnets will last you forever, unless you misplace them somewhere.
5.Heat-Resistant Gloves
When dealing with a heat press you should always have your hands secured. Put on your heat resistant gloves when putting the print under the heat press and also when removing and transferring it from one place to another.
6.Lint Roller
Lint roller is something that will take your project from a rookie to a professional. Just run the lint roller once over the entire surface of your project and save it from dust particles, lint and other things that can settle on it in the long run!
7.Heat-Resistant Tape or Spray
You can choose a tape or spray as per your liking but having any of these two on hand can make your work very easy and fuss free, especially if you are a rookie. Once you have printed a crafting project and placed it on the heat press, you need to make sure that it stays exactly where you have placed it. This is where the heat resistant tape or spray comes in. it will fix the print on the pace you settled for.
8.Vinyl Rack
As the name suggests, a vinyl rack is for putting your ready-to-go projects in such a way that they remain good as new. You can also keep soon-to-be-used vinyl sheets in the rack!
Summary
The above mentioned vinyl tools are all great to have in your tool box if you really want to excel in your craft and offer quality in your work. All crafts have a learning curve but with the correct tools, things become easier much faster!
