Gluing lawn mower decals

[royalton10]

I have a zero turn mower with one of the decals working loose. It is about 4" x6" in size. I want to reglue the decal before it comes off.

Any suggestions on what to use?

Thanks!

 

[djjsr]

Rubber cement. Brush it on both surfaces and let it dry, then stick it together. Excess around the edges will rub off easily.

 

[fury9]

I would take an exacto knife and cut it off where it's still good, throw out the damaged piece and leave it be. I tend to take all the labels off my stuff, but a new label might be the way to go.

 

[CNGsaves]

Might as well take advantage and fab up a Snap On decal !! . .

 

[HAP]

I have a zero turn mower with one of the decals working loose. It is about 4" x6" in size. I want to reglue the decal before it comes off.

Any suggestions on what to use?

Thanks!

Let me guess; JD right?

 

[royalton10]

Scag zero.

 

[HAP]

My JD is doing the same thing. Wish I had edge-sealed them with clear polish. Maybe if I get new ones...

 

[fitz11]

Might as well take advantage and fab up a Snap On decal !! . .

On a lawn mower? Why?

 

[Doc]

If it is a safety decal, some manufactures will just give you a new one for free. just ask them.

 

[Boyd]

When decals start peeling up on my equipment I just take a high-res photo of them and save them to my computer. That way I still have access to the information if the need arises and I can even reprint them if I need to, which I haven't done yet.

 

[brownbagg]

i usually just pull them off, doesn't help much with grass cutting

 

[mds5951]

I would use a combination of the rubber cement then edge seal with clear polish (both of which are mentioned above)

 

[zmotorsports]

I am **** about mine as well. When the Snapper logo started to come off of my walk-behind mower I used 3M plastic and emblem adhesive. Pushed it down and held it in place with masking tape overnight. Then removed the masking tape and applied clear fingernail polish around the edges to keep the edges sealed down.

I used the leaf blower after every use before putting it away in the garage and I think that is what eventually catches the edges and starts them peeling. Also once a year before putting them away for the winter I pressure wash all of my lawn/garden equipment but I try to stay away and not focus any pressure on around the emblems and/or decals.

Mike.

 

[JakeKohl]

There is some serious OCD happening in this thread....

 

[A**holes Garage]

There is some serious OCD happening in this thread....

 

[Dave in Mass]

There's decals on lawn mowers? Might need to hose off the 7 years of dirt and dust from mine and see what they say.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

There is some serious OCD happening in this thread....

Hey! I resemble that remark! Lol.

I wash my mower off most times I use it, dry it too. Sometimes with that wax-as-you-dry stuff. Why? I like my stuff to look clean, preferably as-new but I don't truly make that.

When my old bottom-of-the-line OSH rear throw pusher mower finally died last Spring I WAS going to spend bigger bucks on a top line mower. Then I realized my old one had lasted so long I couldn't remember when I bought it. So I bought another one!

 

[zmotorsports]

Hey! I resemble that remark! Lol.

I wash my mower off most times I use it, dry it too. Sometimes with that wax-as-you-dry stuff. Why? I like my stuff to look clean, preferably as-new but I don't truly make that.

When my old bottom-of-the-line OSH rear throw pusher mower finally died last Spring I WAS going to spend bigger bucks on a top line mower. Then I realized my old one had lasted so long I couldn't remember when I bought it. So I bought another one!

Similar approach here except I bought a higher end/quality one when I bought one. My wife and I bought our home in March 1991 and I bought our first and only lawnmower late summer of 1991 after getting the yard put in. It is still going strong and still looks like new. I have had to replace the valve guide seals twice, front wheels and the starter rope in those 22 years. I trim and mow my lawn twice a week and blow off the line trimmer and lawnmower after every use. I don't like grass tracked into the garage.

In the fall after the last time using the mower for the season, I scrape the underside of the deck, sharpen/balance the blade, change the oil, clean and/or replace the air filter and pressure wash the entire thing. I also pressure wash the line trimmer and leaf blower prior to storage. They are ready for action at the first hint of spring weather.

Some may call it **** or OCD but I just know it as normal. I like to take care of my assets.

Mike.

 

[4xdog]

I've protected plenty of stickers and decals with an overlay of a pressure sensitive film. Sort of like laminating in place. If one leaves a border of 1/4 or 3/8-inch or so it protects the decal surface and holds it down.

I buy the film by the sheet -- around 20 inches by 30 inches -- at the local art supply store, and a sheet lasts for years. Works best on smooth, flat surfaces, of course.

 

[zmotorsports]

I've protected plenty of stickers and decals with an overlay of a pressure sensitive film. Sort of like laminating in place. If one leaves a border of 1/4 or 3/8-inch or so it protects the decal surface and holds it down.

I buy the film by the sheet -- around 20 inches by 30 inches -- at the local art supply store, and a sheet lasts for years. Works best on smooth, flat surfaces, of course.

How does it work sticking to plastic, especially that slightly textured plastic on small engine covers and such? Do you need to wipe the plastic and/or parts down with anything in particular before applying the pressure sensitive film?

Mike.

 

[chadman]

For crying ouit loud it's a damn lawn mower. Who gives a **** about decals?

 

[4xdog]

How does it work sticking to plastic, especially that slightly textured plastic on small engine covers and such? Do you need to wipe the plastic and/or parts down with anything in particular before applying the pressure sensitive film?

Mike.

Sticking to plastic is usually OK, although polyolefins like LDPE or polypropylene aren't the best. Texture can be a problem, but the result will ultimately depends on how much there is. The more grain, the worse for sticking. Pebble grains are not great for this method. Some leather grains are OK.

If the original maker put a sticker on a noticeably textured part, they too are asking for problems. Many times the tooling will have a smooth area where the stickers go, and if there's a bit of oversized margin, an overlay can work there.

I don't worry too much about surface preparation, although I'll often Windex or isopropyl alcohol wipe the surface. It's really frustrating to overlay something with **** under the plastic, so cleanliness is good for aesthetics as much as adhesion.

I've done this to protect things like serial numbers and safety information. Is that OCD? Well, maybe... but I can look up service details on old stuff and I still have all my fingers...

 

[JakeKohl]

How does it work sticking to plastic, especially that slightly textured plastic on small engine covers and such? Do you need to wipe the plastic and/or parts down with anything in particular before applying the pressure sensitive film?

Mike.

Those ABS plastics are considered "low energy surfaces" in the vinyl graphics world. There are special adhesives to adhere to them but outside of that, they don't retain decals (or overlaminates) very well.

 

[mpire]

This seems like really strange behavior to me.

I usually peel the decals off and apply them to blank sheets and then put them in the manual binder with the other information/reciepts, warranty information, etc.

That way the damned decals don't get gummed up when I wax the lawn equipment.

Also, using some cheap cooking spray on the bottom of the cutting deck helps keep the grass from sticking when you go to hose it off afterwards.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

For crying ouit loud it's a damn lawn mower. Who gives a **** about decals?

Obviously, you don't!

Move on, nothing to see here for you...............

 

[4xdog]

...I usually peel the decals off and apply them to blank sheets and then put them in the manual binder with the other information/reciepts, warranty information, etc.

True enough -- a good idea. I've done this sometimes too.

 

[aka rotten]

Have a 2000 year mod John Deere,After every use gets washed.Get waxed 2-3 times a year.I was in hospital 3 months last year because of cancer,when i got out my dear wife of 52 years had been mowing grass and didnt clean it.She did change oil thou,so i went ahead and forgave her.Paul

 

[soapii]

This is funny, definitely proves there are different strokes for different folks.

I hate decals/markings on anything. As soon as I buy something out comes the Goo Gone to get rid of all markings.

--Joe

 

[zmotorsports]

This is funny, definitely proves there are different strokes for different folks.

I hate decals/markings on anything. As soon as I buy something out comes the Goo Gone to get rid of all markings.

--Joe

I agree, definately difference of opinions on this thread. What is ironic is I am that way with my vehicles. I have debadged both my 06 Duramax and my 2011 Jeep Wrangler as I don't want any badging or emblems on them whatsoever. I like the clean, no decals/emblem look on my vehicles yet on other things I like them looking like they were brand new with all signage/emblems.

Nothing wrong either way whether people are **** about decals or rip them off as soon as they get them home or anywhere in between. Just different.

Mike.