[John Lyus]

After using many other different ways I now use Acronis backup software (paid). It will back up to Network drives and direct drives. It will also back up from one network drive to another. I went this way after having the NAS software constantly fall over, and stop backing up without us knowing it. We also lost files because of this. I been on with Acronis for 6 months and so far not a problem, apart from some licensing issues when I upgraded to 3 users…. eventually got sorted out, and didn’t affect my backing up. You get 30 days free BTW to try.

[John Lyus]

Like a guy once said to me…"if YouTube can’t fix it, nothing can fix it". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWAMdmJPdhg

I’ve seen the masking tape and WD 40 before.

[John Lyus]

We have had to do the same. Removal is a pain, but depends on what else you have on, and the expense of your labour. I have used vinyl removal solution and it does work well but can soften the sheet. I only really strip polycarbonate. The cost of the poly is way more than acrylic. I also talk my customers into buying poly new as it is pretty much vandle proof.
I always turn the sheets over and upside down to reduce the ghosting.

[John Lyus]

quote Martyn Heath:

Thanks for the info guys its a great help!!

One thing im still a little confused with, ok is 2804 or 2000 good enough to use into panels on a van, lay over and heat in half inch or do you really need to use 1104 cast for that? which seems a crazy leap in price.

Back in the day before wrapping was invented 🙂 when i worked for a large company avery 900 (i think) was the go to vinyl for heating into panels. Now there seems like far too many options, cast, supercast, wrap, and what doesnt help is the advertisement for cast with an example of a wrapped mini. :rollseyes: maybe its just me

I would not put anything over a vehicle other than full cast, unless it didn’t go into valleys or around compound curves.
All vinyl shrinks, Calendered vinyl much more so than Cast. Monomeric are worse than Polymeric. Using a cast lam over a cheap base isn’t a good idea, the base vinyl will still shrink, although maybe less so. Use the best, do it once and do it right. No comebacks. Charge a bit more and explain to the customer why. There are lots of shit jobs around, don’t make the mistake over trying to go cheap. Post heating is very necessary depending on the vinyl chosen will change the amount of heat required. Here in Western Australia, it isn’t unusual to have a vehicle hit 85 deg C in summer. It won’t get any hotter though. We have measured and tested this.

Hope this helps.

[John Lyus]

I use Avery vinyls almost exclusively. The real stand out vinyl for me has always been Avery 3002. It is removable for up to 2 years. But we have removed it long after that. It very rarely leaves any glue. Also 3000, These are both the same face stock and therefore profiles. These are 3-5 yr. In the UK I am sure that you would get longer. The matching laminates are DOL 3000, and in either Gloss or matte. We use both. Eventually the 3000 lam will turn brown and shrink. If vinyls have to stay outdoors for a very long time (and don’t forget we have a very harsh environment) then I use DuPont Tedlar. There is nothing like it. 20 years! Look it up. It is not cheap though and hard to find. Another great all-round vinyl is 3M IJ-35. Air egress, and satin lam.
I also use Avery 800 vinyls and sometimes 900. 700 series I only used when we have to. For wrapping Avery Mpi1005 and Supreme wrap films are always my first choice.

I always err on the side of quality. Vinyls are the cheapest part of the job here. Labour much more expensive. Doing the job twice, very costly.

[John Lyus]

We have our own scaffold with a trailer so that makes it easy. However it is always a dilemma what to use. The scaffold is cumbersome, and takes about 20 mins to put up and take down.

Years ago I built a mutli-purpose frame on my ute (pick-up for you guys). That has been brilliant. It allows me to reach to 5m, and work at 4.5m. It has two levels good wide tops (600mm each). It also gets used for lashing signs upright for delivery. In the photo you can just see the top level. Of course the HS powers would probably deem it illegal as it has no rails around it. You will notice the angles on the frame which allows a pallet to loaded by forklift. The whole thing is removable by one guy in about 5 mins. It has saved me a lot of hire fees.

[John Lyus]

Dreamstime is really good. Very large range and nowhere near the costs. Have used them for years.

[John Lyus]

You want to be looking at Avery Supreme wrap. I have no idea what it cost in the UK here is Australia it’s about $40/m @1530mm wide. I have my car wrapped in the Matt Purple metallic.

[John Lyus]

Probably too late for this reply to help much but I have always used Avery 3002 with one of the 3000 range of laminates. If it is really short term (ie an event) then don’t bother laminating. We did a rally and every vehicle was stripped in less than 5 mins. NO PAINT DAMAGE. Which is the most important thing. We have also had 3002 on a vehicle for over 3 years, (bonnet of my wifes car) and still had a clean removal. With our amount of UV in Western Australia it is a VERY accelerated decay over the UK. I had a car sticker sent to me from a club and it lasted 5 months! It turned orange and literally fell to pieces. I sometimes still the same club sticker in posts online…. and it is now 20 years since that club existed! We also use this product for Real Estate Hire boards (1200 x 1800). We keep over sticking them and when about 5 deep remove the lot.

[John Lyus]

It’s obviously just a "show" pic. The board is already printed, so why measure the depth at all. Of course here I actually know and can recognise 3mm board from 5mm! But then I actually order that too. The whole thing looks like one big advert for the franchisor, to me.

[John Lyus]

Because of our harsh UV I use Avery 800 as minimum. Very occasionally I will use 700 or 900. In summer (temps over 30 deg) trying to use Avery 900 is like try to use chewing gum. We mainly use Avery products. 1005 for wrapping and the Supreme wrap Films. Biggest problem there is usually the vehicle not so much the vinyl. I have used other vinyls. Don’t like 3M so much, but the Diamond Grade Reflective is very popular and a must with mining vehicles. I never scrimp on vinyls, in my eyes they are the cheapest part of the job, doing it again for free is the most expensive!