• I want to thank all the members that have upgraded your accounts. I truly appreciate your support of the site monetarily. Supporting the site keeps this site up and running as a lot of work daily goes on behind the scenes. Click to Support Signs101 ...

laminating procedures

Zambookajoe

New Member
Im kinda new to this and Ive been looking on youtube and google for laminating procedures and Im surprise to see all the information thats out there. but Im still having a bit of problems with moutning my prints I was kind of wondering what do you guys prefer doing "laminate then mount or the other way around. I feel for the first few prints Ive done are not bad thhe lamination has been perfect.

Ive just purchased a used Seal Image 600s in perfect condition anybody has any tips for a beginner


Thanks
 

chopper

New Member
look up the seal web site seal.com and down load the manual
I am not familiar with the model you have but I have a seal
best investment I have made to date......
good luck //chopper
 

Erikka@Rainier

New Member
I run a Seal Image 600 and I always laminate my graphics before mounting them. That's the way I was taught, seems to work out fine. I often end up applying large vinyl prints on substrates like sintra or styrene and it would be too difficult to apply without laminating first, to give the graphic some extra rigidity during application. If you have any specific questions about the machine, post them and I (or others) will try and answer them.
 

econolinesigns

New Member
Laminate first before applying to substrate if possible. Also, we learned from a Seal tech that it is really important for their machines (if using heat) to let them heat up all the way to the set temp before starting.
 

Zambookajoe

New Member
Youve got a seal 600 s too. well that s great

I paid 3700 US is this a good deal coundt find much info on this machine
Its in top shape. the rollers are perfect.

couple of questions

do you apply heat even for cold laminates? if so what temp?

in the manual they dont show the webbing diagrams clearly? I never used a laminator before so I kinda figured it out but maybe youve got a pic of yours webbed for different situations.

I always get bubbles at the start of my print the rest is perfect what am I doing wrong, laminating and mounting.

do you have a trick to remove the realease liner off of the stupid winder I always make a mess? or does the shaft be removable?

pressure of the rolls and thickness. at my shop we are pretty consistent in are substares. coroplast, mdo, dibond, aluminum, do you have a quick guideline of what height and pressure to use

same questions goes for laminating a decal or print. just a guideline I know
there is so many possibilities?

if you can answer some of those questions you help me so mmuch

its really appreciated
 

Erikka@Rainier

New Member
Youve got a seal 600 s too. well that s great

I paid 3700 US is this a good deal coundt find much info on this machine
Its in top shape. the rollers are perfect.

couple of questions Sorry it took me a while to respond, March was very busy.

do you apply heat even for cold laminates? if so what temp?
I don't apply heat for cold laminates. Cold lams are pressure sensitive and often times you have to adjust the PSI on the machine to get it to work right. In my experience, the thicker, more textured the laminate, the higher the PSI. I usually have mine set around 75 PSI for pressure sensitive, around 50 or so for Heat.
in the manual they dont show the webbing diagrams clearly? I never used a laminator before so I kinda figured it out but maybe youve got a pic of yours webbed for different situations.
I don't have a pic but often times I do web up depending on what type of material I'm using. If we are printing on film with our HP, I use a heat activated overlaminate, temperature set on 215, no heat on bottom roller (rarely use bottom heat) and a pressure sensitive adhesive mount. If I am laminating prints from our Roland, I use a pressure sensitive overlam and no adhesive mount since I print on vinyl and it already has adhesive.

I always get bubbles at the start of my print the rest is perfect what am I doing wrong, laminating and mounting.
I always let it run about 4-6 inches or so before running the print through. It depends on what you are laminating, are you using lam and adhesive, or just lam? If I'm using the lam/adhesive, after webbing up, I 'pop' the roller a few times to get it to smooth out, and adjust the tension ring on the laminate roll. That helps it smooth out pretty nicely. When applying the cold press lam, I always feed out enough material before cutting it off the printer so that the first 6 inches or so that I run through the laminator is blank, that way any bubbles or lines left from the release liner are not visible on the print.

do you have a trick to remove the realease liner off of the stupid winder I always make a mess? or does the shaft be removable?
Two things, if it's a paper liner, I score it with a Zippy then peel it up and tape to the take up reel. If it's a plastic film, I pop a little hole with Xacto and slide the blade between liner and lam.
To remove, take the shaft off, usually you can slide it off the shaft, hold the tube in one hand, and with other hand, turn the liner in the opposite direction that you are turning the tube. Don't use a bunch of tape to get the liner to stick to the tube either, that is a PITA. If it's a plastic liner and there is a lot, I have to cut it off, (sucks) but it works.

pressure of the rolls and thickness. at my shop we are pretty consistent in are substares. coroplast, mdo, dibond, aluminum, do you have a quick guideline of what height and pressure to use
PSI typically will be around 50 or so for mounting. Height is dependent on substrate thickness. i.e. 1/4" MDF = 1/4" nip setting on the machine.

same questions goes for laminating a decal or print. just a guideline I know
there is so many possibilities?
Not sure what you are asking on this one. Hopefully above responses answer it.

if you can answer some of those questions you help me so mmuch
Hope that helps.
its really appreciated

See bold above, again, sorry for the delay in posting.
 
Top