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big squeegee help!!!!
- Thread starter signwizz
- Start date
J Hill Designs
New Member
long runs / thinner backing = a second helper pulling the liner
J Hill Designs
New Member
I think its the 210 lam that has a REALLY thin backing - is that what you are using?
Pixels Are Bad Mmmkay?
New Member
Yes, it is far better for laminating than the cut vinyl tool from my experience. Don't ask me why, but it just is.
Jack Knight1979
New Member
I ALWAYS have a 2nd person pulling up the liner in front of me when using the BS. Have them pull straight up and use a 3-5" lead in front of where the laminate is hitting the substrate.
I know I'm gonna get a lot of angry looks from the peeps around here but...just get a laminator. Any laminator at all.
Get a Chinese laminator for a few hundred bucks. Unless it's totally screwed up it should laminate just fine and it will be a lot easier.
The big squeegee is a fantastic tool and applying vinyl with it is really fast but nothing really beats a laminator when applying laminate.
In my experience, and many will probably disagree, even a chinese cold laminator works just fine. A laminator isn't some complex of machinery, it's a few chains and a few rolls. If you can find a cheap one, under a couple hundred bucks that isn't too far away from ya, I'd just go and pick that thing up. It'll save you a lot of time and problems.
Get a Chinese laminator for a few hundred bucks. Unless it's totally screwed up it should laminate just fine and it will be a lot easier.
The big squeegee is a fantastic tool and applying vinyl with it is really fast but nothing really beats a laminator when applying laminate.
In my experience, and many will probably disagree, even a chinese cold laminator works just fine. A laminator isn't some complex of machinery, it's a few chains and a few rolls. If you can find a cheap one, under a couple hundred bucks that isn't too far away from ya, I'd just go and pick that thing up. It'll save you a lot of time and problems.
Jack Knight1979
New Member
Laminators are great for long runs. I've recently just bought a 60" seal and it changed my life. The BS has been our laminator for about six years. It has been used for mounting, and laminating. I still use the BS when laminating or mounting a couple pieces. I find it to be easier than using a laminator. Set up on a laminator can be a PITA in certain instances.
Anything more than three pieces and they're going through the laminator.
Anything more than three pieces and they're going through the laminator.
For vinyl, sure.
But for laminate ? Laminating anything with a squeegee freaks me out lol.
Chriswagner92
New Member
I personally didn't know there were different types of BS's, but we use i would say about the 48" for all laminating. If i can reach the end of the print from the edge of the table i could usually do a decent job. We do have a laminator that when I asked why we don't use it, the other designer says because it gets itself off track and sucks.
TheSnowman
New Member
I started using Arlon laminate and never looked back. Long as I'm on a flat surface I can laminate big stuff w/ the Big Squeegee. Anything bigger than a 4X4 I normally sub the print out so that I don't risk it, but I can go up to 4X4 no problem now days.
Design it Graphics
New Member
This ^^
When we first opened up we used Arlon overlam cast or calendered with the BS.
Spent the first 4 months or so hand laminating. Now we are equipped with a RS laminator, however time to time, I still use my Big Squeegee.