Headstock decal

[GuitarStv]

Does everyone just use waterslide decals for headstocks, or is it possible to use vinyl stickers? I want something like this:

But with a thick black outline and neon pink for the character . . . and I don't think I can get neon pink on a waterslide decal (at least have never seen one). I'm sure I've seen very bright pink colours on vinyl stickers, and the ones I used to used to stick on my skateboard were pretty durable.

 

[v8stang289]

Re: Headstock decal

I've used vinyl before, it holds up well. My wife has a CriCut machine and does custom decals among other things. So she has cut some decals for me. This one is a brushed aluminum style vinyl, doesnt show up well in pics though.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Headstock decal

I've used vinyl before, it holds up well. My wife has a CriCut machine and does custom decals among other things. So she has cut some decals for me. This one is a brushed aluminum style vinyl, doesnt show up well in pics though.
View attachment 103591

Cool! You just get vinyl sheets somewhere and cut 'em out then?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Headstock decal

My Warmoth decal is essentially a metal sticker. It looks great several years later.

 

[v8stang289]

Re: Headstock decal

Cool! You just get vinyl sheets somewhere and cut 'em out then?

Pretty much. You can order the adhesive backed vinyl in all kinds of styles, colors, patterns, textures, etc. We've done some carbon fiber type, brushed metals, or with zebra, tiger, or whatever. You can layer them too as long as it's a thinner vinyl. Like with the black background with a neon pink center or whatever you want.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Headstock decal

If you have a color laser printer
You can print out your design on regular paper

Get a roll of the wide clear packing tape
You may have some sitting around

Once your print is sized to scale

Press the clear tape over the top of the design
Make sure the tape covers the design in one piece

Rub the top of the tape with something like the handle of a pair of scissors
This ensures contact of the adhesive and the print and removes air bubbles

Trim closely the design

A cup of warm water
Must be warm not cold

Put the design covered in tape in the water
It will start to curl in about 3-4 minutes the paper will start to slide off
Rubber the paper gently to roll it off the tape
The design will stay on the tape

Once all the white paper is gone

Drip some water from the cup onto the landing spot
Place the design where you want it
It will side around easily

Once it is in place
Hold it still with a finger and dab the water off slowly from the center out
With a dry towel or paper towel
Let it dry for about an hour the get ready to spray a few coats of clear over it

Some people say spraying clear over it before trimming it helps but
I didnt do that

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Headstock decal

I get my vinyl sticker made from various e-bay people for a low price. I seal over it and it looks good.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Headstock decal

If you want the old school look, you screen print onto decal release paper, then screen a top sealer coat of clear lacquer over the final design. Any available screen-printable material can be used, and there is definitely hot pink (and pretty much everything else) available.

You should be able to use vinyl stickers, though I have never done so myself. Not sure if you can clear coat over them, but I would think that you can, with the right material (maybe not a solvent-based clear coat). A few possible problems I can forsee would be that I would think you don't want a relief from the vinyl, that solvent-based clear coat might melt the vinyl when sprayed on, and that the vinyl might slightly shrink over time. But it's worth some experiments, if you don't want to go the traditional screen printing route.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Headstock decal

I've read about screen printing, but it seemed to be a little difficult. You think I could just print a black and white waterslide, then paint inside of it with a fine brush?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Headstock decal

I've read about screen printing, but it seemed to be a little difficult. You think I could just print a black and white waterslide, then paint inside of it with a fine brush?

You could, but it would look bad unless you are a top-notch painter. You want to paint your rough color blocks first, then put your neat black lines on at the end.

I wouldn't get into screen printing just to do this, but there are probably a zillion local screen printers in your area who can be hired to do a small project like this.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Headstock decal

You could, but it would look bad unless you are a top-notch painter. You want to paint your rough color blocks first, then put your neat black lines on at the end.

I wouldn't get into screen printing just to do this, but there are probably a zillion local screen printers in your area who can be hired to do a small project like this.

Set up is most of the cost
Regardless of size

When I did shirts

The first one was 50 bucks
Only 10 bucks each after that

Setup
Making the stencil
Is the artist part