Your favorite blog series is returning! Back with fresh questions and responses brimming with vinyl information. This time, one of our senior installers, CJ, joined us at the table. Now, it’s time to get inside the mind of this installer. Keep your seatbelt fastened and enjoy our chat below!
Q: The first thing is your name, your job title and how long you’ve been with Seifert?
A: My name is CJ. I’ve been here for about five years. Going on six now. I’m a vinyl installer for transit busses!
Q: Have you always been interested in installation?
A: I didn’t know nothing about it (vinyl). I had never heard of vinyl before, although they had mentioned it at my job prior. They wanted to wrap a boat and that was my first introduction. But before I got this job, I didn’t know much about it (installation).
Q: What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of learning how to wrap?
A: Overall, it wasn’t even that difficult for me. But I’ll say lining up certain graphics to fit the registration was hard for me. Keeping lines straight and matching certain elements was a challenge.
Q: Who inspires you if anybody?
A: I got some family members. I got some kids. They inspire me. Honestly, everybody around me in the job. I learned from everybody.
Q: Do you feel like you’re still learning?
A: All the time because I normally don’t pay attention until I have to.
Q: Explain a time that installation went wrong and what you did to fix it.
A: Well, I couldn’t get the graphic to match the measurements for the drip rail area. I’ve been doing these buses for a while and this part gets me every time. But it finally clicked, instead of applying it right way, it needs to be tacked, cut then laid down. Now that I know a good way to do it, it’ll be easy every time and match the measures.
Q: What’s your favorite part of the bus to install?
A: The rear. I’ve done it so much, it’s just like second nature. I come into work and go straight there.
Q: What’s your favorite tool?
A: Probably the “V Cat”, it’s a roller. You use it for concaves and stuff like that. You just heat it up and roll it right along the bus. You don’t have to worry about the vinyl bunching up.
Q: What has been your favorite contract to install?
A: None of them.
Q: You don’t have a favorite at all?
A: No, because, you know, you run into your issues with every one of them. I really don’t like the ones with reflective because it’s a very delicate piece of material.
Q: This is the last question, what is your favorite snack while you’re installing?
A: Ohhh! Real personal questions! Definitely cool ranch Doritos!
Stick around as we continue to meet the installers!
Meet the Installer - Part 1
BY JANE FARRELL
Transit Advertising Wraps: Seven Rules to Follow
BY MAX SEIFERT
ConSeal Your Crack!
BY JANE FARRELL