I have a Daige 55" QM4, and I think it works like a Cadillac. I do think that there are many things about the machine that are somewhat "chinsy", but for the price, I couldn't have asked for anything better. However, I do think a lot of it is how you use it. My equipment rep didn't really know how to use it all that well, but it was a new machine for them, so maybe other people are having the same issue.
To load it, I first install the laminate roll on the back roller, then separate the laminate from the liner. I then tape the liner to the take up roll. Make sure you remove the belt (by just picking up the liner take-up tube) and put tension between the laminate roll and the take up tube. This ensures that the liner is square to the laminate. Then, I drape the exposed laminate over the top roller, just enough where a couple of inches are past the meeting point of the rollers. Here, I made a sled (two sizes, 54" and 30") out of polypropylene that is six inches long. I take the sled and stuff the laminate with it between the two rollers. The top roller is backed up 3 and a half turns on each side. I roll it ahead about 3 inches, then back the top roller off another turn, and gently push the sled further to take up any slack on either side. Now, I take the first print, and tape it to this sled. I run the roller ahead until it goes past the sled, and tighten down until I am a half turn from full-tight. Then, I just run them through. When I go from print to print, I just place the start of the new print underneath the tail of the print before it and carry on. I only use the sled once, when I first load the machine.
The drawback is that you have to use the same size laminate and media. Don't use the kraft paper deal, it doesn't work. The material thickness difference from side to side will just create slack on that side and wrinkle the print.
I do not get any silvering or bubbles, and I run on average 100-150 linear feet per day. The other day, I ran 57 consecutive feet of 30" laminate.
On a sidenote, I went to the Seal booth at the SGIA show, and looked at their laminators. The rep asked what I had, and I told him a Daige, and he laughed at me. So he showed me the machine, which, without question, is a higher quality product with more bells and whistles like variable speed, one control for roll vertical displacement, etc. So, I said that is great, but what I am interested in is can you load it for me, and run a print. It took two people over 20 minutes to try and run an eight foot print which they destroyed with the wrinkles. His response was, you have to waste about 8 foot of laminate to get it started, then it will work fine. He said you have to do that with your machine too. I said no I don't, I waste about 6 inches, and it takes me no more than 5 minutes to load and laminate.
I am sure there are other good machines out there, but for me, which I do everything by myself, I can honestly tell you that I would take my Daige over that Seal, even if both were the same price. Face it, a laminator is a laminator, it does one function. No matter which one you get, you have to learn how to use it, and I would almost guarantee that someone out there has mastered it (I am waiting for a Seal guy to tell me how good his works, which I am sure it does), so each machine has the capability of working properly. So unless it just laminates it all for you without you having to do anything, I just don't see the any big differences in them besides the bells and whistles.
Going off of invoices, I have laminated somewhere around 12-15,000 feet of laminate, with no issues, with my Daige. I am buying a second one (38"), just to save me the time of having to load and unload material all the time.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer what I can.
Jimmy Schiltz
Dirtwrap
To load it, I first install the laminate roll on the back roller, then separate the laminate from the liner. I then tape the liner to the take up roll. Make sure you remove the belt (by just picking up the liner take-up tube) and put tension between the laminate roll and the take up tube. This ensures that the liner is square to the laminate. Then, I drape the exposed laminate over the top roller, just enough where a couple of inches are past the meeting point of the rollers. Here, I made a sled (two sizes, 54" and 30") out of polypropylene that is six inches long. I take the sled and stuff the laminate with it between the two rollers. The top roller is backed up 3 and a half turns on each side. I roll it ahead about 3 inches, then back the top roller off another turn, and gently push the sled further to take up any slack on either side. Now, I take the first print, and tape it to this sled. I run the roller ahead until it goes past the sled, and tighten down until I am a half turn from full-tight. Then, I just run them through. When I go from print to print, I just place the start of the new print underneath the tail of the print before it and carry on. I only use the sled once, when I first load the machine.
The drawback is that you have to use the same size laminate and media. Don't use the kraft paper deal, it doesn't work. The material thickness difference from side to side will just create slack on that side and wrinkle the print.
I do not get any silvering or bubbles, and I run on average 100-150 linear feet per day. The other day, I ran 57 consecutive feet of 30" laminate.
On a sidenote, I went to the Seal booth at the SGIA show, and looked at their laminators. The rep asked what I had, and I told him a Daige, and he laughed at me. So he showed me the machine, which, without question, is a higher quality product with more bells and whistles like variable speed, one control for roll vertical displacement, etc. So, I said that is great, but what I am interested in is can you load it for me, and run a print. It took two people over 20 minutes to try and run an eight foot print which they destroyed with the wrinkles. His response was, you have to waste about 8 foot of laminate to get it started, then it will work fine. He said you have to do that with your machine too. I said no I don't, I waste about 6 inches, and it takes me no more than 5 minutes to load and laminate.
I am sure there are other good machines out there, but for me, which I do everything by myself, I can honestly tell you that I would take my Daige over that Seal, even if both were the same price. Face it, a laminator is a laminator, it does one function. No matter which one you get, you have to learn how to use it, and I would almost guarantee that someone out there has mastered it (I am waiting for a Seal guy to tell me how good his works, which I am sure it does), so each machine has the capability of working properly. So unless it just laminates it all for you without you having to do anything, I just don't see the any big differences in them besides the bells and whistles.
Going off of invoices, I have laminated somewhere around 12-15,000 feet of laminate, with no issues, with my Daige. I am buying a second one (38"), just to save me the time of having to load and unload material all the time.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer what I can.
Jimmy Schiltz
Dirtwrap
