Big Squeegee help

[Circleville Signs]

Hey everyone! We just got our 50" Big Squeegee today and I'm having some problems. Obviously, the videos are made by people who are used to using the product, however I'm having real problems getting things moving and keeping them moving.

I'm rolling the print onto a core and dropping it into the cradle. I then start the print liek the videos show (lifting a small protion of the backing paper and then setting the squeegee onto the substrate).

That's where the problems start. Unless I put an ungodly amount of forward pressure onto the BS, I can't even get the thing moving. Everything I have seen makes it look like it should just slide right on. When i DO get it moving, it grabs and catches on the print.

Am I doing something wrong?


Gary

 

[Mosh]

With the 50" ones we use two people. One to run the squeegie, and one pulling and rolling up the backing. If the backing is just slid, it make it hard to push.

 

[Circleville Signs]

Ah...ok. That makes sense.

Thanks.

Gary

 

[Circleville Signs]

OK...Still having issues - and again, maybe it's just user error/getting used to it.

Tried it two man. Getting a TON of bubbles. Mostly micro bubbles, but bubbles nonetheless. All the time it saved me in application I am now using to go back over it with a picker and get the bubbles out.

Any suggestions?

Gary

 

[32bantum]

When I use mine I tape the vinyl to the table then lay out the laminate on top then tape it to the table. Reverse roll the laminate into the tray. Pull back on the laminate till you can peal back the backing paper and get the laminate even with the squeegee blade. Slightly lift the back of the big squeegee and make sure you keep the laminate backing paper away from the sgueegee front. Push the squeegee into the laminate (no downward pressure except the weight of the tool) and go all the way across the print in one fluid motion. No bubbles no silvering.

 

[BobM]

You may be pushing "DOWN" on the BS. Reduce the incline and see if that doesn't help.

 

[Mosh]

There will be some silvering IT IS NOT A LAMINATOR. Most silvering goes away.
Try doing some smaller stuff with it first to practice.

 

[JoySigns]

The first time I used it I got a lot of bubbles because I didn't hold it at the proper angle to the surface. Don't lay it flat and push.

 

[scarface]

I just got mine this past Tuesday and it took me about 3 tries to get it down decent.

I just cut off non-printed material to practice on rather than wasting prints.

I had alot of silvering and it went completely away in 2 days.

What i do is the exact way this video is showing..... http://www.youtube.com/user/james6784#p/a/u/0/Gr5WU8aya4o

 

[gnatt66]

the cradle tool takes alot of the angle/pressure variables out of the equation, imo...just set it down and slide it along.

 

[gabagoo]

There will be some silvering IT IS NOT A LAMINATOR. Most silvering goes away.
Try doing some smaller stuff with it first to practice.

you say MOST goes away, what do you do when it doesn't go away?

 

[Salmoneye]

I am having the same issues. Mine works ok for me when mounting prints but when trying to use thin backed laminate like 210 I have followed the special instructions using double sided tape and a wound core with no real luck at all. I am not putting down force and I bet that it is requiring 100lbs of forward pressure. I know that it is something that I am doing because everyone else seems to be doing fine.

 

[gnatt66]

210 stinks for me too.....it either takes two people (imo) or it's sketchy.

i'm gonna switch back to the fdc lam i was using....was like butter.

 

[Mosh]

you say MOST goes away, what do you do when it doesn't go away?

I cry.

I went and bought a laminator and the problem was solved. I love the printer sales people tell you that you won't need this $5,000 peice of equipment to do signs. Technicaly you don't but.....

 

[GB2]

Hey everyone! We just got our 50" Big Squeegee today and I'm having some problems.

Which model?

Obviously, the videos are made by people who are used to using the product, however I'm having real problems getting things moving and keeping them moving.

Yes, there is nothing quite like practice...it definately takes a little practice to perfect your skill with the BS.

I'm rolling the print onto a core and dropping it into the cradle. I then start the print liek the videos show (lifting a small protion of the backing paper and then setting the squeegee onto the substrate).

Print? What exactly are you applying and what exactly are you applying it to? Is it really a print...what kind of print, solvent ink, thermal...is it laminated...do you have transfer tape on it...what material is it?? It's important to know all that to give you good advice.

That's where the problems start. Unless I put an ungodly amount of forward pressure onto the BS, I can't even get the thing moving. Everything I have seen makes it look like it should just slide right on. When i DO get it moving, it grabs and catches on the print.

It should not require "an ungodly amount of forward pressure". It really should basically "just slide right on". When you get it moving and it "catches the print", what do you mean by that? I can tell you one thing, if this is a non-laminated ink print that you are applying the ink must be thoroughly dry. Even if the ink is dry, sometimes the BS will have more resistance as it goes over heavier concentrations of ink rather than just unprinted areas of vinyl and then it will "catch the print" and sometimes wrinkle the vinyl.

 

[gabagoo]

That's where the problems start. Unless I put an ungodly amount of forward pressure onto the BS, I can't even get the thing moving. Everything I have seen makes it look like it should just slide right on. When i DO get it moving, it grabs and catches on the print.


make sure the backing paper is moving forward and not getting caught on the underside, put more pressure forward than down and hold the squeegee at a low angle

 

[Circleville Signs]

Hey everyone! We just got our 50" Big Squeegee today and I'm having some problems.

Which model?

Obviously, the videos are made by people who are used to using the product, however I'm having real problems getting things moving and keeping them moving.

Yes, there is nothing quite like practice...it definately takes a little practice to perfect your skill with the BS.

I'm rolling the print onto a core and dropping it into the cradle. I then start the print liek the videos show (lifting a small protion of the backing paper and then setting the squeegee onto the substrate).

Print? What exactly are you applying and what exactly are you applying it to? Is it really a print...what kind of print, solvent ink, thermal...is it laminated...do you have transfer tape on it...what material is it?? It's important to know all that to give you good advice.

That's where the problems start. Unless I put an ungodly amount of forward pressure onto the BS, I can't even get the thing moving. Everything I have seen makes it look like it should just slide right on. When i DO get it moving, it grabs and catches on the print.

It should not require "an ungodly amount of forward pressure". It really should basically "just slide right on". When you get it moving and it "catches the print", what do you mean by that? I can tell you one thing, if this is a non-laminated ink print that you are applying the ink must be thoroughly dry. Even if the ink is dry, sometimes the BS will have more resistance as it goes over heavier concentrations of ink rather than just unprinted areas of vinyl and then it will "catch the print" and sometimes wrinkle the vinyl.

It's the 50" with the cradle and the cotton edge cover.

The print referenced was a solvent print on Oracal 3651 w/210 laminate. 42"x66".

I realize that it shouldn't take that much effort. I was able to get the prints laid down, however there were ALOT of micro-bubbles. The entire print didn't seem to have the type of adhesion to the substrate as if I was doing it wet w/a gold squeegee.

The cradle tool was not functional for us, as the print/core just kept falling out of the cradle and causing issues. It took 3 people to run the BS. 1 to pull the backing paper, 1 to push the squeegee, and 1 to hold the print.

Saved real time - man hours though...Not sure. Hope that practice makes better.


Gary

 

[The Big Squeegee]

It's the 50" with the cradle and the cotton edge cover.

The print referenced was a solvent print on Oracal 3651 w/210 laminate. 42"x66".

I realize that it shouldn't take that much effort. I was able to get the prints laid down, however there were ALOT of micro-bubbles. The entire print didn't seem to have the type of adhesion to the substrate as if I was doing it wet w/a gold squeegee.

The cradle tool was not functional for us, as the print/core just kept falling out of the cradle and causing issues. It took 3 people to run the BS. 1 to pull the backing paper, 1 to push the squeegee, and 1 to hold the print.

Saved real time - man hours though...Not sure. Hope that practice makes better.


Gary

The Cradle tool was not designed to be used the way you describe. The cradle tool is used with the flat side down. You can use the flat side up to contain the roll during preparation but the roll is set out in front of the tool during application. I guess I need to make some more videos.

The laminator tool can be used as you describe but it don't matter if the roll comes off the holder once you start. Just push the roll in front of the tool.

I guess there is some confusion because the vertical installs show the roll in the tool. The one vertical install is with the felt side and the one that is made for windows is designed different so that the felt is replaced by a cotton edge for that purpose.

 

[Salmoneye]

Hi Dale, I am having the same problem. Mounting 3651 on ecopanel 4'x8' goes pretty well, I just roll it and push away. For laminating with 210 I roll on a core with double sided tape like I saw on your video but it catches. I can't push hard enough to make it go. It seems to take two people and we have to each use one hand to hold the core up in the cradle position. If we just try to push the core in front of the laminator it is like the brakes are on. When we use one hand each to hold the core up it is hard to control the squeegee and I get bubbles. I am not knocking your product at all, just wish I was better at it. Any advice?

 

[The Big Squeegee]

... For laminating with 210 I roll on a core with double sided tape like I saw on your video but it catches. I can't push hard enough to make it go.

The video shows the roll being pushed out in front of the tool. When you roll the graphic up on the core; tape it to the core and roll it up tight on the core. Maintain a tight roll until the double sided tape is adhered to it. You will come up against the taped edge but once over that, it should be smooth sailing.

If you have to push hard, it may be because the roll was not tight enough when the tape was stuck to it.

If you have any more problems, call me. I'm available 7 days a week. If I don't answer it may be because of too much noise and don't hear the phone. I will call you back.

There may be some confusion as to the identity of the Cradle tool and the Laminator tool. The Cradle tool is the cradle by itself with two 1" holes for handles and both edges covered with fabric. One edge has been machined for applying vinyl. The Laminator tool has both the cradle and a base glued together and only has 1 edge covered with fabric.