Vinyl On Wood - Step By Step
In this post, I’m going to share a little about the difference between heat transfer/iron on vinyl and traditional adhesive vinyl. And how to apply them on wood.
What type of vinyl should I use?
Adhesive or sticky vinyl: Be sure to use permanent vinyl when adding to wood instead of the removable vinyl. This means that you will have more luck with getting it to stick once you start to peel back your transfer paper. It means the project will be permanent. If you are wanting to do something like a stencil, just be aware that the removable vinyl may not stick as well and you may have more issues removing your transfer tape.
Heat Transfer or Iron-on vinyl: Yes, you can use heat transfer vinyl on wood! Heat transfer vinyl isn’t sticky itself, but bonds to the material using a heat press or iron. This makes it permanent either on fabric or wood. I’ve used it on both stained/sealed wood and untreated wood with no issues. But it works amazing and almost feels like it is painted on the surface once complete.
How to Cut The Vinyl?
Both kinds of vinyl are best cut with a cutting machine. The one I use and love so much is a Cricut Maker 3 (The latest Version).
You can technically cut vinyl by hand too but it’s a lot more time-consuming, especially if you want to do a design like the hand-lettered.
Here are the materials you will need:
A smooth piece of wood.
Adhesive or heat transfer vinyl.
Transfer tape.
Sandpaper (150-grit).
Cutting mat.
Cutting machine.
Weeding tool.
Squeegee.
Heat source if using HTV or iron on vinyl such as a heat press or iron
Parchment paper or Teflon sheet. (for HTV or Iron On Process)
BONUS: How to get better adhesion of vinyl on wood.
If the wood is rough or porous, sand it so that the surface feels smooth to the touch. Then make sure there's no sawdust or residue on the wood before applying the vinyl.
If it's been painted or sealed, allow a few weeks for the paint or sealant to cure before applying vinyl.
If you have a choice of paint, use 1 shot or an enamel paint.
Try a vinyl with a solvent adhesive.
If the vinyl letters are coming up with the transfer tape, give it some time, and/or moisten the tape.
Last but not least, YOU NEED TO BE PATIENT WITH THE PROCESS!
