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Laminating a 4.2 meter print…Help!
Hello,
Apologies for posting this twice (originally in Quote & sub-contracting forum), but I need to get it seen soon.
I need urgent help from someone, somewhere in the Bristol area.I have a customer who wants a sign above his shop, 420cm by 65 cm.
I have done the print (the 2 printing now will make it 5 times!) but can’t get the print onto the substrate (foamex) without screwing it up.
I have bought a laminating machine and messed up with that, and I have made a Big Squeegee (sorry to the manufacturer but couldn’t wait for one to come from the States) and messed up with that, too.
What I need is for someone to laminate the print job and put the whole thing onto the substrate for me.
Please.
John Malone
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29 Replies
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Why don’t you either laminate by hand or use a spray laminate?
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Thanks, Jason.
I started off laminating by hand, then moved on to the machine and then the Big Squeegee, all without success. Guess I’m just cack handed.
Spray laminate (never heard of it) doesn’t solve the problem of putting the print onto the substrate.
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Are you using soapy water or rapid to apply to the substrate? Anyone helping you or are you doing it by yourself. You could use frog juice?
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Jason,
I’m working alone (the wife helped me the first time, but wasn’t here the next time).
I’m doing it dry. And I really don’t want to try again because it is costing me a fortune in ruined prints.
For future reference, what is frog juice? OK, just Googled it.
Cheers
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I would just soak the back of it with soapy water and apply wet, much easier if you are working by yourself and lots of opportunities to get out of jail, use a felt squeegee. Do you have to laminate?
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Jason,
"I would just soak the back of it with soapy water and apply wet"
That seems like a reasonable suggestion.
If I don’t get any offers of help I will give it a try.
And if I do then I will laminate with Frog Juice! (update: Frog Juice ordered)
Cheers
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John
Out of interest would like to know why you are laminating the whole 4.2 meters in one go?
I didnt know you could get foamex sheets that long.Simon.
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Hi, Simon,
I’m not doing the whole thing in one length, I’m cutting it into 2 (unequal) lengths.
Following Jason’s advice I’ve had another go this morning and the result was entirely predictable.
I’m still hoping someone in the Bristol area (or Gloucester, Swindon, Cardiff) will offer to help.
Cheers
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Hi John, did it not work?
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Hi, Jason.
I tried a scrap bit of vinyl to see what happened when I soaked the backing paper and it seems that the backing paper is waterproof.
But I then sprayed the substrate with plenty of water, peeled back some backing paper from the edge and tried to stick the end of the vinyl to the substrate and it won’t stick.
I’ve left it all out in the sun now hoping that the vinyl will become sticky again when it dries out.
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Sorry John I should have been clearer. As you are doing this in two sections, get someone to help you (wife) a section at a time. Peel the backing paper off slowly, as you do this spray with soapy water so the adhesive side of the vinyl is soaked, then apply pushing all the water out from underneath the stucker as it sticks to the substrate. Does that make sense, it would be worth looking at a youtube video, it is very easy and quick once you get the hang of it.
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Hi, Jason,
Yes, it makes perfect sense, and I have watched loads of youtube videos and I have contacted UK Sign Training twice about getting a course but as yet have had no response from them (second time was this morning).
(UKSGtraining.com, but I have since found another web site, uksb.eu, both of which seem to be affiliated to UKSignboards.)I have done this before but the signs I’m working on just seem to be too big for me to deal with.
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Thanks for your advice, Jason.
I now have one full print left and half of the one that I just tried to fit.
I will now give the customer his money back and apolgise.
I’ll give him the prints and the foamboard and tell him he needs to find someone to finish the job.
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how big is the biggest piece? 2-3m? shouldn;t be causing a big issue really.
lay the print out on the board on a bench. when in place just put a masking tape hinge across the print at 1/2 way or a mtr from the end, fold back, peel away the backing and cut away, then apply dry… you can still snatch it up from foamex if you put a crease into it. when you”ve applied the first part, remove the hinge and apply the other parts, peeling backing paper off as you go – rather than removing it all at once.
repeat with the laminate – or apply the laminate through the laminator before applying the print.
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Thanks, Hugh, done all that.
Customer wants his sign. And you’re right, it shouldn’t b causing an issue. But it is and I can’t afford to keep printing it and throwing it away.
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Hi John, cant you contact a local sign shop and ask if they have a laminator and say that yours has broke and you have a rush job on and could they run it through for you if you bring it around as you need it asap?
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Hello, Vic.
I had thought of that but assumed the response would be a bit negative, that’s why I was asking on here.
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Most people are always willing to help fellow trades people as at one time or another we all need help.
Just call around i’m sure they will get you in and out quick and its always a nice way to meet other sign guys
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Vic,
I’ll try and let you know.
Thanks
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Not sure if its too late but we could laminate it for you in the Bristol area.
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Martin
Not too late
I just tried emailing you but the message came to me
Please pm
Thanks
John -
Hi John
Sorry your having a bit of trouble with this job I could help you with this but am not local to you if you can’t find anyone local I could print laminate and mount for you and then ship it to you.
So if your still stuck give me a call tomorrow on 01376 341164 or if you just want to chat through the way your doing it I might be able to offer you some advise.
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Not sure if this will help, but we’ve had real problems in the past with inexpensive "foamex" PVC – the material fits within the manufacturer’s spec of +/-10% – the difference of 1mm in thickness across the width of an eight foot sheet caused every laminator run to fail.
These days, I’ll only ever order Forex, which is a complete PITA, now that RHG don’t supply it.
So, it could be the substrate not being flat that is helping the problem.
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Martin
Not too late
I just tried emailing you but the message came to me
Please pm
Thanks
John -
Thank you, Richard, that’s very useful, I’ll bear it in mind next time I order
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quote Lee Reeves:Hi John
Sorry your having a bit of trouble with this job I could help you with this but am not local to you if you can’t find anyone local I could print laminate and mount for you and then ship it to you.
So if your still stuck give me a call tomorrow on 01376 341164 or if you just want to chat through the way your doing it I might be able to offer you some advise.
Brilliant, Lee.
I’m going to see Martin today (should have gone earlier but been in bed with food poisoning for the last day and a half.
Thanks
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quote Vic Adair:Most people are always willing to help fellow trades people as at one time or another we all need help.
Just call around i’m sure they will get you in and out quick and its always a nice way to meet other sign guys
Vic,
Response was much as expected.
I called one local company and the person I spoke to was very helpful and said that he would get the Production Manager to call me when he returned from lunch. That call never came, but before I needed to call anyone else Martin had kindly offered to help.
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are you still struggling?
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quote Brenton Ford:are you still struggling?
That’s very kind of you, but no, Martin from Vizual Impact in Bristol very kindly sorted me out, thank you.
John
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