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Ezytaper vs Laminator
I am in the market for either of the two but wanted some opinions on what others think is better to have over the other.
I need to laminate posters and banners as well as flood coating vinyl or prints on to boards. I know some laminators can be used for flood coating and I have also heard that some people have problems laminating on the Ezytaper. Taking in to account I can’t just set the machine up and leave it as it will be used for different medias and thicknesses.
Price wise I don’t think there is a massive difference between the 2 if I bought an entry level laminator but would obviously like to get the right machine for my use.
Looking at a 54" minimum size so that is suitable for the future when I get a printer 🙄
cheers
Warren
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25 Replies
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Have a chat with Derek Heron mate, he has the Ezytaper and he swears by it, pretty expensive for what it is but does the job.
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Hey Warren,
I have both a laminator and an ezy taper.
I find for application tape I use the ezy taper all the time.
For mounting and laminating I use my laminator.
My reasons are I find my laminator never needing adjustments as I need to do for my ezy taper to keep it square. I also find opening the gaps on my ezy taper very hard and if not careful can cause some damage to myself.
My laminator has a simple mechanism for opening up the rollers to get thicker materials in. I also like the ability to put a roll of prints on my laminator and going roll to roll. I know ezytaper has a platinum package which now addresses this.
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For what it’s worth, I was going to purchase an ezytaper but I did hear from a service engineer I know well that they give a few problems. Since then I have seen the Table laminator from williams… Wow this machine is the business and really simple to use.
Timmy
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Got a link Timmy?
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Front page john, middle of left side. Cracking table, but its a few quid tho.
Don’t know if we get UKSG special discount tho -
Go for a proper laminator. We have both and the only thing the Eazy taper is good for is sticking prints to boards. Read my posts on the rollers splitting.
They changed the design a few years ago to rough rollers when the old ones were perfectly smooth. The one that was demonstrated had smooth rollers but the one I got was completetly different. This gives a lot of silvering and bubbles, it is also really a two man operation to do anything other than mounting to boards as the vinyl will crease. The back up service in the UK is non existent now and I have been in contact with the makers in Australia and after about six months they have agreed to send me a replacement roller unit, but only if I pay the shipping which is about £500. I will then need to pay import duty on that in this country to get it out of the docks, I don’t know what this would cost. We have an old 54" Seal and one person can laminate 54" prints on that easily single handed and this machine is not to good because of age. You will find some good recomendations about the Ability machine on this board which is available from Europoint. I’am not sure what make this is as they put the Ability name on all their products. I Would get one of these if I had the room. -
Laminator won for us, but if your still doing a lot of things on your own and in the kitchen then EzyTaper would be a good bet.
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Hi Warren, we ended up buying two laminators, one to be used only for application of laminate and a cheaper model for application tape and boards, works well, we were put off by the issues highlighted and the costs.
Very happy with the setup.
Jason
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Hi Warren
I have been told that there is a new version of the Ezy Taper, do you if this is true ?, not sure if it’s called the Ezy Taper 2, or that there is two models to pick from ??
Paul
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The ‘big squeegee’ is touted about a lot as a very good tool, will laminate or apply prints to 8×4’s without creases and bubbles… not a lot of dosh either.
Ian :lol1:
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I’m intrigued which way around you guys have issues, I’m looking at several larger laminator models to back up our Image 400 (1040) mainly to cater for wider print lamination (ie: almost exclusively to laminate printed vinyl) – I have seen quite a few cheap cheap machines – has anyone used one of those?
I am imagining that the roller pressures on these machines could be ‘variable’ to say the least!
My point is : (and I think its relevant) : if you have a cheap machine set up solely for lamination (and not board mounting etc) are they reliable enough?
Not hijacking – rather hoping this expands the question a bit.
Oo
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Owen
a lot of it is to do with Roller quality e.g grade of silicon. steel shaft size etc
i had a cheaper model originally set up just for laminating had no end of problem. Now have a larger heat assisted top roller model & is 100 times betterKev
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Sorry double post 😳
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quote Dave Rowland:Laminator won for us, but if your still doing a lot of things on your own and in the kitchen then EzyTaper would be a good bet.why is that Dave? I don’t see the one any bigger than the other? Yes I am pushed for space and it might just end up in the kitchen 🙄 but why would the EzyTaper be better if space is an issue?
And as Jason said I have been put off some what by the stories I’ve heard about the EzyTaper but if it’s the right machine then I would seriously consider it.
Maybe one day I will be able to have both but for now need to get something more suited to my needs and I would say laminating is more important as I can (with much difficulty) flood coat on to a 6×4 by myself but know there is probably no way I will be able to laminate posters at 7×4 😕
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Warren
i have both i laminate with the Laminator & mount board, mag & correx with the Ezy Taper. Would i use the ET to laminate no, my opinion & this can be a decision resulting from the particular laminate being used etc. My laminator can do all the ET can & maybe somethings easier (roller lift arm to place board first). But that said the ET can do other things quicker than the laminator and i don’t have to strip out every time i want to mount or laminate something different.Kev
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ok, then do with the laminator… i consider the ezytaper (which we tested) to be useful for a person on his own, it has 3 useful functions as an applicator/laminator and flood coater, but our big bulky laminator is great but we use it in the middle of two large tables, so that we can keep things straight as it goes through at it’s own speed.
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If you get a good laminator then laminating large prints on your own will not be an issue. As I said, I can do 1360 wide prints on my own at least four metres long (because its an old machine then over this it runs off) But others on the board can do a whole roll of laminate. I do not think the Eazy taper is a single handed unit. When I laminate prints I use one hand to hold the vinyl and I wipe the material over with a cloth as the material goes into the rollers as this eliminates the dust. Because the machine is electric with a foot switch then this leaves both hands free. I find it almost immpossible to do this on the Eazytaper.
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Warren
another point to consider is that my 1650mm wide laminator weighs approx 250 kilos, ET weighs less than half that and some laminators can be touching 500 kilos plus -
Ah ha,
Sorry… http://www.williamsmith.co.uk/uploads/document … r_2006.pdf. also if you google rolls roller there is a youtube clip.
It’s available from Williams smith
Timmy
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Timmy, Do you have one of these and if you do would you mind me asking the size and price and also if it’s as good as they make it look.
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Just to throw another name in the mix, what about a ‘Sheeter’ that Peter N was talking about on another thread? Think on their site it mentioned using it as a cold laminator. Much cheaper than the ezytaper if thats true? Not sure if it opens up though.
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Warren
We have an Ezytaper and as has been said it isn’t the best laminator. It can be done be not as good as on a laminator. I know Shane swears by his Ezytapers even for laminating so it may just be an experience thing.I would suggest going and visiting someone with an Ezytaper and a laminator and looking at them in the flesh. As has been said they a great tool and the weight is much more suited to home use. Mounting prints is a doddle and saves so much time from doing it by hand.
We will be looking at possibly buying a laminator at Sign UK to run alongside our Ezytaper.
Long term I don’t think you would be dissappointed with either.
Cheers
Gary
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Hi guys, I think the sheeter will be too small as I need something to fit 54" graphics and prints.
It’s a good point I suppose about the weight of the unit so might play a part in the decision then. I have seen the EzyTaper in action a few times as a local guy to me has one and has helped me out on a few occasions but he only used it for lamination and never changes the setting and in all honesty we had some problems flood coating some large panels with vinyl once but I think it’s because of technique rather than the machine 😕
I will be doing a lot of research first anyway and looking for a deal at SignUK most probably or the 2nd user market but if going for a EzyTaper I will have to be 100% sure I am not buying somebody else’s problems or buying a new problem so if they got a new model and works better (and can be proven) then it could be a good option.
cheers
Warren
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looks like we should get together guys at sign uk as I have been thinking hard about getting one this year, but only a small one. Rich
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I was also thinking about getting one this year. But am still unsure as there is not European dealer anymore if i run in to any problems.
By the way your looking @ $900 for shipping
Martin
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