Looking for reviews on 3M Scotchcal vinyl?

[David Rogers]

Been using 50 series for years. Very comparable to most branded 5-7 year. Closest to Ritrama ‘O’ range.
Cuts very well, weeds excellently (minor variation between colour) and one of the highest grab adhesives around for a standard media.

William Smith good for delivery and stock levels, pricing fair.

It’s also fairly conformable to gentle shapes on cars, although with enough patience and practice you can make it do some mental things and stay on. It’s not great for a stretching over deep recesses as it will pull out…it’s not cast, but is an excellent calendared vinyl.

90% of my cut vinyl is 50series…the rest Mactac 9800

Don’t waste your money on ANY 3-5 year vinyl unless you are just doing flat stuff, indoors or don’t mind it deteriorating fast on vans.

Dave

[Ewan Chrystal]

Thanks david, going to give it a try

[Martin Pearson]

Ewan, any particular reason why you are looking to change?
I only use the one vinyl for general sign work which is 551, don’t use 651 because it saves me having to stock 2 different vinyls, the price difference is not huge & as pretty much all the work I do is one offs the actual difference in material price per job is small.
If I were going to change to a 3m film then I would only stock the 50 series. Which would probably be a comparable film. I did use it when I first started out & didn’t have any problems with it that I can remember.
I keep clear of monomeric vinyls simply because they are far more likely to shrink over time, some brands more than others but it’s in the nature of the material so they will all do it to an extent that I find unacceptable.

Polymerics will also shrink but not to the same extent, I have stuck with 551 over the years because even though I am sure it must shrink a bit over time I have not personally ever been able to notice it.

[Lee Reeves]

We use 3M 50 series and the 80 series both weed easily and we have had no problems with either, 80 series is only available in 1220 so if you have a smaller plotter you will need it slit but most suppliers do this foc.

[Ewan Chrystal]

Thanks for the feedback. Martin, the reason I am thinking of changing is probably more psychological than anything. I am happy enough with oracal but my supplier doesn’t do trade only prices so potentially my customers can find out exactly what I pay for materials whereas my new supplier has given me a dedicated point of contact and tailored prices.

[Martin Pearson]

quote Ewan Chrystal:

Thanks for the feedback. Martin, the reason I am thinking of changing is probably more psychological than anything. I am happy enough with oracal but my supplier doesn’t do trade only prices so potentially my customers can find out exactly what I pay for materials whereas my new supplier has given me a dedicated point of contact and tailored prices.

Do your customers know or care what brand vinyl you use? From my experience most haven’t got a clue when it comes to vinyl, it’s all just sticky back plastic. I’ve had the " You can buy it on ebay dirt cheap" & had to try & explain the differences between vinyl types but to be honest if they are not happy or think I am over charging them then I am quite happy to show them the way out, I don’t want customers who will only buy the cheapest tat they can get.

Customers like that are also the ones who seem to take up a lot more of your time & complain the first chance they get, I’ve been there in the past & never again.