Magnetics, are there different grades?

[Kate Griffiths]

Hi Bob,

it is usually recomended that you use a .85mm mag for a vehicle so that when it is travelling at a speed it will be heavy enough and strong enough to stay on. Also it is a good idea to make sure it is back-coated. Its like a glossy finish to the brown magnetic side, it helps prevent the magnetic sticking to the vehicle in harsh weather conditions. If moisture gets between the magnetic and the vehicle, and they get left on for days/weeks at a time (you are suposed to take them off daily and clean behind them), then the paint and magnetic can weld together. A good quality magnetic with a back coating will prevent this.

I hope this helps?

Kate 🙂

[Robert Scullion]

Kate

Thanks for the prompt reply, the reason I am asking is that I have a customer who I done some mag signs for. He is saying they are not as heavy or strong as previous ones he had and that he has lost a couple saying they have come off.

My immediate reaction is they have not been fitted properly or are not on flat panels.

He denies this saying he has had mag signs on various vehicles and never had this problem. He thinks the mag is not strong enough.

Incidently the material used was from europoint and I have not had this problem before

Bob

[Kate Griffiths]

Was it the 0.85mm or the 0.60mm. did you think it felt any different to previous mags that you’d made?

Kate

[Robert Scullion]

Used the 0.85mm as I have always done

Bob

[Joe McNamara]

Hi Bob,

The .85 that europoint sell is from a well known magnetic supplier.

I buy it direct in large quantities from them and you should have no problems with it – quality stuff.

Customers will tell you anything to try and get freebies.

They might roll the mags up and chuck ’em in the boot, then put them on the car/van, and wonder why they come off!!

PS you still on tintdude?

Cheers
Joe

[Robert Scullion]

Joe

Thanks for the reply. I am sure the guy’s drivers are at it with the mags but want to keep myself right.

Still on tint dude, tinting is mostly what I do, the signwork is just something I fell into, dont do a great deal but every little helps

Jingle Bells

Bob

[Peter Cox]

The Gypos around here nick them all the time.
When I used to have a High St shop they would come in regularly with mags and A boards claiming that they were changing business from a Butcher/Carpenter/Bricklayer etc to landscape gardening, tarmacing or UPVC fascia fitting.

Theiving bas****’* (:) (:) (:) (:)

[Martin Armitage]

Interesting, we had a problem with a particular magnetic vinyl, the customer kept saying he was losing them just driving at normal speeds, I thought at the time he was trying to get freebies. Changed supplier and problem was sorted. This customer orders 200 pairs of taxi magnets a year. Like anything else there must be the occasional bad batch.

[Robert Scullion]

Martin

Can you advise who supplied you with "the bad batch"

(mod-edit)

Cheers

Bob

[Lorraine Clinch]

one of my customers has lost 2 mags recently, both off same door, both between destinations with no stops. Needless to say she’s not ordered another. I can’t understand it.

[Steve Morgan]

Lorraine,
Has the lady had a repair done on the door? A thin skim of filler over a dent will be more than enough to nullify the effect of the mag panel.

[Lorraine Clinch]

Hmm, possible Steve, hadn’t thought of anything like that. The other side has stayed on, but as I say, 2 gone off one door, there has to be something to do with the door itself.

[Martin Pearson]

Lorraine, that happened to a signmaker I know, the customer lost a couple of magnetics and automatically blamed them for selling inferior products, it turned out latter that although the car was brand new the door had been repaired before the customer collected it from the dealer and he wasn’t told. So it might be worth checking the door, the last thing you want is a customer thinking badley of you especially when its not your fault.

[Phill Fenton]

quote Lorraine Clinch:

one of my customers has lost 2 mags recently, both off same door, both between destinations with no stops. Needless to say she’s not ordered another. I can’t understand it.

I think she’s probably not ordered another because they keep falling off 😕

[David Rogers]

I’ve got a rule: "I don’t guarantee magnetics"

The customers take full responsibility for them to be:
Put on correctly, stored correctly, clean & positioned well.

ALL I guarantee is the vinyl stuck to them!

If pushed, I’ll state that they’ll stay on to 30mph if applied correctly (allows for a big headwind too). They lose them – not my problem.

I’m actually doing a big limo next week (supply only) Pink Flames on the bonnet & down the sides. He’s taking full responsibility for them. I’m only applying the pink to the material – he’s even profiling it!! (saves him ££’s).

ps. i get my mag from Bisbell – pretty good stuff. Just PHONE for trade orders – the public front is silly prices!!
http://www.bisbellmagnets.com/shop/index.htm – About £60 for 10m +VAT & P&P