Hi everyone,
Please see pic. I applied my decals over a dried gloss finish last night (3 gloss coats, actually), but now there’s a bit of residue from the Microset and/or Microsol (or maybe it’s the residue from the decal glue.
What can I do to remove it before adding 2 more layers of gloss?
All feedback appreciated.
On a gloss finish like that, I would think that a little gentle rubbing with a clean microfiber towel would do the trick.
I usually wet a swab with distilled water to clean most of it off. The finish should look fine again once you spray the gloss coats.
I agree with the others that the residue should come off with water, but I’ve had times where it hasn’t. Once I believe it was due to insufficient curing/drying time of the gloss coat (future). Any residue you can’t remove should disappear under a flat coat (which you could try before the planned gloss coats).
Neither Micro Set Nor Micro Sol should leave a residue. Sol is made from pure acetic acid and water, which should have no solids in it.
Now people who use vinegar may have a residue. Food vinegar does have particulates. If you do make your own, use white vinegar or cleaning vinegar, which are made from pure acetic acid and water (about 3 - 5%).
Every time I had residue, it has come from the glue.
Thanks all, I appreciate the feedback.
I think I’ll let the glue dissolve completely before applying from now on.
Hi!
What I do with Decals, part one. I handle them carefully, cut them at their very edges, soak them till they start to curl, Apply them to my clear coated surface then take a swab with distilled water on it and rub the decal gently from the center to the outside edges. Then I apply Micro-Set and after a wee bit of Drying the decal and apply Micro-Sol. ON the Decal, Never on the outside, because when you maneuver the swab from the middle to the outside the decal glue is left in a non-discernable line will clean up with distilled water.
Think about this (Micro-Set), Solvent to soften the decal and let IT conform to the surface. (Micro-Sol), sets the decal to the position and detail it covers. It’s like a Kicker for the remaining Glue on the decal. Foreign bits then come loose leaving the decal looking like it was painted on. then just a Mist coat over the decal. Polish and done! NOTE:
When handling Decals,Wet or Dry, use a pair of tweezers used by Philatalists(Stamp Collectors).
Micro-Set is a wetting agent to help slide the decal in place. It should be used FIRST, before Micro-Sol, per instructions on the bottles (!).
I personally don’t use MicroSet or anything else until the decal is where I want it to be. I find that even MicroSet softens the decal a little too much for my liking when I’m wanting to still move it around and manipulate it. I just use ordinary filtered tap water to keep it wet, and use either a small brush or the silicone rubber decal positioning tool I got from the old Squadron. Once its in position and I have squeegeed the water and air out from underneath it, I just go right to MicroSol and give it 3 applications of that. If that isn’t enough (which depends largely on the decal manufacturer) then I go to the nuclear option and use Solvaset. [H]