Application Tape Laminator

[Martin Pearson]

Do you really need a laminator just to apply app tape to vinyl graphics?? They are handy to have but not generally essential if that’s all it is to be used for.

[Steve Hill]

Hi Martin

Well ordinarily I would agree but we apply app tape to over 100m of vinyl every day and my wife who does most of it has developed tennis elbow even though we have invested in a good quality hand roller. I therefore thought a laminator would solve the problem…..unless of course you know of a better option.

Regards

Steve

[Kev Mayger]

If I was applying 100m of app tape every day I would’ve bought a laminator ages ago.
A good tip is to leave a border on the vinyl when using a laminator to apply the tape this ensures that the vinyl remains even when feeding in & reduces creasing coming out.

Kev

[Jon Marshall]

That sounds like a good tip.

[Martin Pearson]

Just buy the wife a bandage and tell her to stop moaning :lol1: :lol1:

In all honesty if I was doing that volume a day then I would have bought a laminator a long time ago same as Kev.

I know a few guys on the forum use a sheeter for applying app tape and have said it is really easy to use although it is operated by hand so may not be ideal for your wife, might be worth a look though.

The width of the vinyl your taping is probably going to play an important part as some of the cheaper machines don’t seem to be able to handle the wider rolls of vinyl very well, normally due to a problem with the rollers.

[Mo Gillis-Coates]

I bought a 1600mm cold laminator on ebay, beast of a thing but hardly cost anything, it’s worked well for a few years now and still running like a goodun, i use it for just about everything, tape, acrylics, boards, laminating too..lol even ran a full colour print on to 8×4 composite last week…..

[Steve Hill]

Martin

I have passed your comments on to my wife along with your contact details 😀 Be afraid, be very affraid (:)

Business has grown very quickly hence why we have not bought one before.

Great tip on the Sheeter, looks very interesting…I shall research…anyone in the south using one?

[Martin Pearson]

Where about’s in the South? Peter & Lynn have one because Lynn has posted to say she finds if quite easy to use. They are out Luton way I believe but not 100% sure.

[David Hammond]

I’ve got a 1600 laminator and like Mo use it for everything.

Only think I am missing is another spindle so I can take prints off the take up unit and run it through the machine easier, rather than keep taking laminate off my spare.

For app tape I run it through on a large(ish) off cut of composite. But haven’t done much vinyl work lately. 🙁

[Steve Hill]

Hi, I’m keen to talk to Lynn or Peter Normington about the sheeter. Anyone know how I contact them?

Thanks

Steve

[Martin Pearson]

They are on the forum a lot but not seen anything from them for a while so maybe they are away on holiday.
Sure if you hang on a few days Steve they will be back and knowing them they will be more than happy to help if they can.