any difference between a clear 3ml vinyl and a 3ml laminate?

[gabagoo]

I really wonder if there is much difference.
Most 3ml laminates I have tried are fair at best. 3ml clear vinyl is rated for 5 years outdoors, so it must have UV inhibitors in them.
I am going to try using some clear vinyl on a few jobs to see just how well they flow over graphics and see if they silver any worse.

 

[Biker Scout]

From what I can remember, there were only slight differences in the adhesive composition. And the printable vinyl got some corona treatment on the surface. However, I've used lamination to print on when I didn't have clear. Worked just fine, since I always laminate prints anyway. Plain 'ol clear vinyl does have imperfections that show up as fisheyes in the print. It's often dirty and has smudges on it that you can't see until you print on it. QC is higher on printable vinyl and they are cleaner. But as long as you know that going in, I don't see why you can't use regular clear vinyl to print on.

 

[gabagoo]

So you're thinking of using clear vinyl.....as a laminate?

Which one specifically are you thinking?

The first thing that comes to mind (that I use on a regular basis) is Oracal 3651 clear and 210 gloss lam - both 2.5 mil calendered and as far as I'm concerned almost the same product. Only difference is one is reverse wound and they charge a bit more for the laminate.

I have a roll of general Formulations just sitting here, so I will experiment.... Ironically 3ml clear digital vinyl is about $55.00 per roll cheaper too.

 

[gnatt66]

i wish i had two laminators. i'd have one with clear vinyl for racecars and the other with 210.

 

[WhiskeyDreamer]

Did a fire truck a couple years back. Customer wanted a Spectratone color (GerberEDGE) that had no close cross reference to vinyl. So I printed the two foils on 3M 220 vinyl and applied to the truck. Then did a clear vinyl overlay with a contour cut about 1/8" all the way around. That was about 5 or six years ago now, and the color is still perfect. Not a bit of fading.

 

[Billct2]

I don't know about the results with digital printing but we use 3M clear all the time to protect signgold on vehicles, boats and also on edge print signs that will be in a rough environment. The results have always been great.

 

[Gman75]

Printing on laminate

I've printed on laminate and what I found is that the backer (liner) paper
is thinner making it difficult to laminate. It's more vulnerable to wrinkles
when laminating because the backer is so thin. Other than that it works fine.