-
any recommendations of different vinyls please?
I received a catolouge from a Vinyl distributer but I dont relly know what type I should be getting.
I noticed many different types of glues used quality of materials. I have had many vinyl stickers made for me in the past but no sure what type they were.
Does anyone have any recommedations of what make, type, thickness etc etc is a good starting point for basic applications such as bike fairings, motorcycle visors, vans, shop windows, car glass etc etc? I notice most are commented on outdoor use years. Is there a standard that most people use?
Thanks for any help,
Mark.
-
9 Replies
-
Mark,
The vinyl varies for various applications.
A good cast (Oracal 751c, Avery900 or 3M 7725 – 7 to 10 years) is ideal for anything going around or over odd shapes like fairings, but a good polymeric (Oracal 551, 3M series 50 or Avery 700? – 5 year) is a good alround material for anything that does not involve deep recesses or concave surfaces.
Certainly works well on glass and flat surfaces are no drama at all.
If you are going to use a wet application tho, try and steer away from water based adhesives in the material you choose. I’d look at using 551 as a standard, but I think they have a 651 (4 year) too, which is the grade below the 551 series.
Hope that helps
Shane
-
Cheers for the info. I usually use dry application for my bikes and even for the full length of my van but I might try it wet if I was to do a van again as it was very tricky to get it on without bubbles, creases or moving. I was very lucky! lol.
Are the numbers you quoted specific to a manufacturer or are they set material standards throughout the industry?
-
quote Tark Malbot:Cheers for the info. I usually use dry application for my bikes and even for the full length of my van but I might try it wet if I was to do a van again as it was very tricky to get it on without bubbles, creases or moving. I was very lucky! lol.
Are the numbers you quoted specific to a manufacturer or are they set material standards throughout the industry?
Keep doing it dry if you can. Personally (and with the utmost respect to the members here that are wet applicators) wet is a backward step if you have mastered a dry application already.
551, 651, 751 are all Oracal. They have 3 digit numbers as their code.
3M usually have 4 digit codes and avery have ‘A’ as a prefix (in OZ anyway, may be different over there)
The guys in the UK use other brand too which I don’t use (Mactac is one) so it would pay to ask around. Others here will tell you brands they use too, some are easier to use than others.
If you want to standardise, I’d stick to a cast personally, 751c is an excellent product and easy to appy.
-
Tark?
have a look at http://www.grafityp.co.uk/100a%20series.htm
A good site for all your vinyl and it tells you bits about them and what vinyl’s to use on what. -
Thanks.
Had a look at the 100 series when browsing a few days back. Is that a good bet then? Not sure on pricing but is 12-13 pound a good price for 610mm by 10M? That should last me about 10 years!! :lol1: How long is the shelf life??
-
Looking at the Oracal vinyl and that seems to be 18-19 pound for same dimensions for 651.
I notice the Grafityp 100 series is 75 Microns thick where as the Oracal 651 is 2mm thick? is the 2mm quoting for the backing paper too?
Its difficult for me to choose without seeing and touching it lol. Someone just tell me which one to buy! :lol1:
Oh and I will need some application tape. Is that simple or are there 1000s to choose from too?
I cant be doing with all these choices. 🙄
-
quote Tark Malbot:Oh and I will need some application tape. Is that simple or are there 1000s to choose from too?I cant be doing with all these choices. 🙄
There’s dozens of manufactures each with tapes of different properties.
Paper or Clear is your biggest choice. I use paper, I just prefer it.
Then do you want Super Hi, Hi-tack, Med-tack or Lo-tack? For small stuff you’d probably be better off with a Hi-tack as it’ll lift the letters better in all conditions.
Some types have anti-curl, anti-shrink, anti-stretch or anti-otherstuff attributes. In general, the more expensive – the better it performs. Currently I’m using the Hi-tack Paper (GMI) from Vinyl Logistics and it performs well for the price. Gone through about half a dozen logs without incident.
Tape is a VERY PERSONAL thing, maybe even more than vinyl. Don’t let that put you off though, some suppliers will send out small rolls as ‘samples’, give some of them a ring & see if they can sort you out.
Dave
-
Tark contact our sales office for vinyl swatches and request samples of any series vinyl you would like to have a closer look at.
Nigel
-
Ok then. I will give them a call.
Thanks.
Log in to reply.
