first time with 3mIJ280 and it aint working

[soggywinter]

I’m doing my first bus wrap with 3m IJ280 / 8428 laminate. Three issues we’re having-
1) the media edges are shrinking and curling with heat before application

2) the media pulls up easily after post heat

3) there is bubbling under the media after initial application from the heat gun

The surface is flat with rivets

the vehicle has been inside for a couple of days
room temperature is 65F
humidity around 20%

The media was printed on an Epson S40600
Waited 8 hours before lamination
Laminated with a Kala Mistral pressure 3 with top heat, and speed 4

 

[Broome Signs]

3m have been using Ritrama for some of there wrap material
we no longer use or trust 3m after having to completely re-wrap three arctic trucks
best ask you supplier if it is a genuine product or one of Ritramas, if not 3m ask for a replacement
we now use Avery and

also in my opinion 8h is not sufficient time to gas off on full print coverage
don't trust what the manufactures say,
we loosen up the roll and leave on an elevated plastic pallet for a minimum of 2 days prior to lamination

Good luck

PB

 

[White Haus]

3m have been using Ritrama for some of there wrap material
we no longer use or trust 3m after having to completely re-wrap three arctic trucks
best ask you supplier if it is a genuine product or one of Ritramas, if not 3m ask for a replacement
we now use Avery and

also in my opinion 8h is not sufficient time to gas off on full print coverage
don't trust what the manufactures say,
we loosen up the roll and leave on an elevated plastic pallet for a minimum of 2 days prior to lamination

Good luck

PB

Agreed. Edge curl like that is a common indicator that the prints weren't off-gassed properly.

Personally, I don't care what printer/vinyl manufacturers tell you about off-gassing - I'll throw our prints on our off-gas station for 24-48 hours if they are any sort of wrap panels.

To the OP - If it's your first wrap, and from the sounds of it possibly your first project like this, I'd also assume that your prints are oversaturated due to using canned profiles.

Trust me, I've been there.

Has the whole thing been printed already?

 

[soggywinter]

Agreed. Edge curl like that is a common indicator that the prints weren't off-gassed properly.

Personally, I don't care what printer/vinyl manufacturers tell you about off-gassing - I'll throw our prints on our off-gas station for 24-48 hours if they are any sort of wrap panels.

To the OP - If it's your first wrap, and from the sounds of it possibly your first project like this, I'd also assume that your prints are oversaturated due to using canned profiles.

Trust me, I've been there.

Has the whole thing been printed already?

Printed about 70ft.

I tried laminating a 4x4ft piece without ink and it still isn't applying correctly- the media stretches when heated and does not stick to the vehicle or a test piece of aluminum composite after setting and heating. Tried heating the vinyl after setting to 120F and 200F with separate pieces.

One of my staff recently attend a 3m installer training with Wrappix and said that this does not feel like the IJ280 that used in the class. It is way less sticky and the deforming after heating should not be happening.

I suspect that I have a defective roll.

That being said, besides offgassing for longer, is there anything that I should be doing differently?

Also, how do you determine laminator pressure and speed settings for vehicle wrap?

 

[Broome Signs]

the rollers only need to touch the material to grip it, do not squeeze the life out of the film
try laminating cold and with minimum pressure, speed 25% on a test pice, un-printed, and see if that works for you.

when using heat it only needs to be turned up to make the silvering disappear, you will have to play with your own products to determine the correct temp and speed for for each roll
alway use matching laminate ie cast on cast, polymeric on polymeric

don't rush it , if you have a take up spool on the laminator that will determine the correct speed
to fast it will pull and twist, to slow and it will hit the floor
practice and practice till you are confident that you can leav it unattended to do its job, while you do something else

I still suspect the 3m film is the problem, get a sample of Avery or Arlon from your suppler, and repeat the test print
the same way as what you are doing with the 3m film.
if you get the same problem then it must be down to your technique, if it works fine it is the 3m film at fault.

good luck
PB

 

[MikePro]

did you laminate with a conformable laminate like the recommended 8428?
ooof, u said it won't stick? have you tried sticking anything else to the surface? ...sometimes people wax their vehicles and it makes it difficult to adhere.

no experience with the 280 but it was my understanding that these newer wrap adhesives love to have "slideability" and tackiness sets when pressed onto the surface.