3M Super 77 why did you fail me?
 

I've used this for attaching my number to my skinsuit several times. However, last Saturday the number would not stick well at all. I usually lay the numbers face down on the ground and spray the backs making sure I get the edges well. I'll wait 15 seconds or so and attach. What did I do wrong or does this stuff not work in high humidity conditions?

If I'm only using 77 - no pins - I won't wait the 15 seconds. It leaves residue. I don't care.

I like residue. Helps with sticking. I spray the skinsuit and the number. I have also found I wait at least a minute for both to dry. When I used to not wait long enough, my skin suit was too sweaty from the warm up and I could not get adhesion. Spray number, suit, and let dry for at least a minute.

Shake the can. You were probably trying to stick your number on with propellant.

Putting the number on is one of the first things I do - it's before warmup, so I don't really have experience with the sweat. I don't adhesive my skinsuit, though, and I haven't yet had a problem.

I do shake the can, just out of habit.

just bought some today to try out. no difficulties washing it out of your jerseys/skinsuits?

TT this Thursday. I'll give the 1 minute wait a try. I was in a hurry so it is possible that I did not shake the can, but I remember stepping on the ground where I had sprayed the numbers after the TT and it was sticky. Also, I had not considered the sweat issue.

Instead of 77, try 90 or shipmade labeling adhesive, which is fast dry and water resistant.

It takes about ten washes or so.

guess i'll just use the same spot every time then, unless i missed the sarcasm

The one time I really sprayed the stuff on it got into the jersey and never got out. Well, it did, but it took like 2 years of regular use/washes. Since I use my kit all the time, even on the trainer, that meant a lot of washes.

If you do the light spray, wait, and stick, then it's better, no residue, but a chance of losing the number.

Since I use it for convenience (i.e. late to start) and no flapping, I'll sometimes put a pin or two on the leading edge of the number (after it's glued). Okay, I don't put them in, someone else does. But you get the idea. This way the number is flat but the wind won't peel it off my jersey.

I have 3-4 cans of the stuff and I've misplaced them all. So for now no Super 77.

cdr

No sarcasm. After race season's over, it takes me about ten washes to get off the residue.

The method you use determines how much residue. Wait a while? Less residue. Greater chance of blowing off. If you use pins as backup, this is the way to go.

i'm fine with that. not there to look pretty.

Tried the one minute trick tonight. When I got home and tried to pull the number off parts of the bottom layer of the number were still stuck to my skinsuit. No chance of that number coming off during the race.

hmmmmm

maybe i used a bit too much today because i left a bunch of my number behind on my jersey when i went to peel it off. or maybe just the type of numbers they were using? kind of a fibrous plastic, is the best i could describe it as. wasnt able to pick it all off even

Any potential damage to the skinsuit fabric if I use this stuff?

Try goo gone for removal of the residue. Just pour it on and the extra glue just rolls off in little pills.

A big +1 for Goo Gone. Works like a charm, and leaves your skinsuit smelling citrus fresh.

I'm too slow to worry about numbers slowing me down.

my skinsuit has permanent glue marks. I don't care.

but does peeling the number off ever damage the skinsuit fabric?

fabric is fine on all my jerseys and skinsuit.

I haven't had a problem yet.

Was your skinsuit damp from a warmup? That could cause difficulties with the adhesion...

I like to approach the number gluing like the gluing of a tubular. First put a heavy coat on the back of the number and let it "set" for a few minutes. Then, when you're ready to put the number on, spray a light "activation coat" on the back of the number and immediately apply it. I don't spray any on the suit.

I've also had best results with removing the numbers (i.e. less residue or stuck number spots) if I remove the number immediately after the TT. If you wait too long, it gets a lot harder to remove :thumb: