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3M Electro-cut vinyl help
Hi
I have been given 3 full roll of 3M vinyl, but know nothing about it, (life, adhesive, uses etc.)
The backing paper has grey text, but no numbers etc, so no idea of series either, and there seems to be no help on the 3M site.
If anyone can shed some light onto it I’d be very grateful-maybe then I can use it! (Or maybe not!!) Never used 3m before.
Thanks
Lorraine -
12 Replies
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quote Lorraine Clinch:HiI have been given 3 full roll of 3M vinyl, but know nothing about it, (life, adhesive, uses etc.)
The backing paper has grey text, but no numbers etc, so no idea of series either, and there seems to be no help on the 3M site.
If anyone can shed some light onto it I’d be very grateful-maybe then I can use it! (Or maybe not!!) Never used 3m before.
Thanks
LorraineHi Lorraine
Normally 3M products would have a series number on the liner which step and repeats throughout the liner i.e 30 series, 50 series, 70 series, 100 series etc if not then could you check the following ….
Is it a paper liner ?
Is it a coloured film ?
Is it on a core ?If you check inside the core (if its the original) there should be code number which would help me identify which range it is.
My best guess at the moment is if it has come from the UK then it is most likely to be 100 series (which is a 50 micron 10 year + cast film) as this uses ElectroCut branding but some US 3M films also use this branding
If you can answer any of the above questions I have raised hopefully I can confirm what you have and what it is therefore suitable for
Stuart
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lorraine,
electrocut is a film that generally goes over diamond or engineering grade reflective 3M material, it allows you to have a multi coloured face to a diamond grade sign as well as allowing the reflective nature of the sign to still be maintained.
I think you may just have a film that cannot be used other than with the other vinyl.
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lorraine,
electrocut is a film that generally goes over diamond or engineering grade reflective 3M material, it allows you to have a multi coloured face to a diamond grade sign as well as allowing the reflective nature of the sign to still be maintained.
I think you may just have a film that cannot be used other than with the other vinyl.
Just be careful in its use until 3M advise
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quote gordgeko:lorraine,
electrocut is a film that generally goes over diamond or engineering grade reflective 3M material, it allows you to have a multi coloured face to a diamond grade sign as well as allowing the reflective nature of the sign to still be maintained.
I think you may just have a film that cannot be used other than with the other vinyl.
gordgeko is correct in terms that the product he is referring to is described as ElectroCut by 3M but unfortunately this is a term that 3M use on a number of their products – ElectroCut is used by 3M to describe any product in their range that is designed to be Electronically Cut ….. in other words virtually all their self coloured films. However they only use the "Electrocut" branding on a few of their film’s liners, most commonly the 100 series I mentioned earlier – If the product is opaque good chance that it is 100 series, if the product is Transparent and on a synthetic liner then it would probably be the 1170 series overlay film mentioned by gordgeko
Stuart
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Hi Stuart and Gordgeko, thanks for the replies, sorry not been back sooner.
Now had a look again, Stuart: they have a paper liner, on a core, and is opaque.
I found some numbers in the core, which are:
00004499
GLO4-100004349
GLO4-1and
100F-833
GPR-2
JB.1So I guess 100 series may be correct, but I shall await your reply!
Bonus if they are 10 year cast though!
Thanks
Lorraine -
quote Lorraine Clinch:Hi Stuart and Gordgeko, thanks for the replies, sorry not been back sooner.
Now had a look again, Stuart: they have a paper liner, on a core, and is opaque.
I found some numbers in the core, which are:
00004499
GLO4-100004349
GLO4-1and
100F-833
GPR-2
JB.1So I guess 100 series may be correct, but I shall await your reply!
Bonus if they are 10 year cast though!
Thanks
LorraineLorraine
The first 2 numbers you quoted are purely lot numbers and relate to manufacturing plant, operators, production line etc and normally are in addition to the product code which are definately missing here.
The 100F-833 does sound more like the product code …..however 100-833 is not a 3M UK code at all, highest number in current 3M 100 series range is 100-731. It is possible that it has been made for use in another European country or for a specific contract.
Are all the 3 rolls the same colour ? Ideally if you can send me an A4 piece off each roll (you will find our details in the Sign Toolbar under the 3M tab for vinyl suppliers) I am happy to assess the material fully and confirm what product you have and what you could use it for – As you say nice bonus if it is 100 series.
Stuart
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Hi Stuart
I have 1 light/med blue. 1 bluey/purple, 1 red.
I can send you samples if you give me your address-would certainly be worth knowing whether I can use them, as they will be quite valuable if they are cast!
The vinyls all came from an advertising co. and were going in the bin unused!Lorraine
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quote Lorraine Clinch:Hi StuartI have 1 light/med blue. 1 bluey/purple, 1 red.
I can send you samples if you give me your address-would certainly be worth knowing whether I can use them, as they will be quite valuable if they are cast!
The vinyls all came from an advertising co. and were going in the bin unused!Lorraine
Lorraine, from experience, if its come from an advertising company its probably been made specially for a contract.
Pretty common with the fuel companies etc.
You might have to make a call to the agency and make sure they are not covered by a copyright. Could explain why it was being thrown out.
I know people like Cadbury for instance will sue you till you bleed if they find you using their corporate colour.
I use 3M all the time, great products, you can’t go wrong to be honest.
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quote Lorraine Clinch:Hi Stuart
I have 1 light/med blue. 1 bluey/purple, 1 red.
I can send you samples if you give me your address-would certainly be worth knowing whether I can use them, as they will be quite valuable if they are cast!
The vinyls all came from an advertising co. and were going in the bin unused!Lorraine
Hi Lorraine
As Shane has said there is a good chance that these have been produced for a corporate program and are surplus to requirements – If you send me an A4 sample of each I will check against our swatches to check if they are standard or specials
You should be able to get our address from the suppliers section under General Sign Supplies or the 3M part of the vinyl suppliers … if you haven’t loaded the sign toolbar you will find our address on contacts section of http://www.williamsmith.co.uk
Regarding Shane’s comments about using other companies corporate colours, as I understand the law I believe a company like Cadburys can copyright/trademark the colour purple but it only in relation to how they use purple i.e. Cadburys wrap chocolate bars in purple and therefore a competitor could not use this purple for wrapping chocolate ….. however a school could use purple for their logo as it is unrelated to chocolate. If you google copyright colours or trademark colours you will find lots of examples of this – check this link out it pretty much sums it up http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3555398.stm
Stuart
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quote Stuart Taylor:Regarding Shane’s comments about using other companies corporate colours, as I understand the law I believe a company like Cadburys can copyright/trademark the colour purple but it only in relation to how they use purple i.e. Cadburys wrap chocolate bars in purple and therefore a competitor could not use this purple for wrapping chocolate ….. however a school could use purple for their logo as it is unrelated to chocolate. If you google copyright colours or trademark colours you will find lots of examples of this – check this link out it pretty much sums it up http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3555398.stm
Stuart
Thanks Stuart for clarifying that. Yes, its only copyright if for the same use. Problem is if you don’t know what the material was originally used for, you may be inadvertently doing the same project as it was intended for ie wrapping a car etc.
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I wouldnt have thaught that lets say "brembo" would be bothered by people advertising their company……it can only be a good thing surely, If somebody was advertising my company for me i certainly wouldnt prosecute them for it. But the laws may well and probably will say otherwise.
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quote Garethed90:I wouldnt have thaught that lets say “brembo” would be bothered by people advertising their company……it can only be a good thing surely, If somebody was advertising my company for me i certainly wouldnt prosecute them for it. But the laws may well and probably will say otherwise.
Big companies are very specific how the want their brand marketed. Most have Brand Managers who have the job of policing who and how that brand is presented.
It may be that they don’t want to be associated with your business, not the other way around.
Brand managers are just as concerned about you ‘promoting’ their brand as a subliminal message that their Brand is happy to be associated with you, when in fact they don’t know you.
In terms of corporate logos, I used to re produce a lot of Holden special vehicle decals for panel beaters many years ago. I received a legal threat from Holden, with the claim that;
a) by me reproducing them so well, it gave the impression that I was Holden approved
b) by me reproducing them so well at half the Holden wholesale price, I was ‘stealing’ their client base.
c) I had no authority to reproduce their copyrighted logos.I was given the one warning, if I was caught again, I would be sued until I had lost everything.
If its a one off, I wouldn’t worry, but if its something you’ll be doing often, I’d get permission to be safe. 😉
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