Sorry but the BS really is BS

[fmg]

I don't know why but I have had this thing now for 5 years and have had nothing but bad misfortune with it.
I have wasted numerous amounts of prints applying to substrates.
I know some of you swear blind by it and have had great results and thats a good thing.Maybe I am missing the point or using it wrongly. I don't use it to laminate just apply small prints to Dibond, Coro etc etc.
Please for the life of me can someone just let me into your mounting technique/secret as its now in the bin and about to get thrown out.My patience and money is starting to wear thin from this green and white thing.
I am all for bigging up a vendor if I think the product/service is a good deal but I think I just ain't got one here.
Thanks and no offense to the vendor as I am sure he is a stand up helpful guy, maybe he could let me into the secret of application.

 

[J Hill Designs]

this is what helped me learn how to use it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfKd_SlnI20

 

[fmg]

I do just that but have had miserable results with it ever since I purchased it.
Bubbles, creasing, misalignment of the print to substrate.Beats me!

 

[Circleville Signs]

The two biggest issues that people have with this product are as follows:

1. The surface that you are placing your substrate on MUST BE PERFECTLY FLAT. If your work table is bowed, even slightly, you will have TERRIBLE results.

2. If you are using laminated prints, and the laminate used was reverse wound (oracal or the like), there is normally a lot of static. You will need two people to do larger pieces - one to push the squeegee, and one to pull the backing paper away.

 

[ChicagoGraphics]

The first one I had I busted it to pieces it got me so pissed off, then a customer gave me one, and now that I have the hang of it it's a good tool to have.

 

[fmg]

The first one I had I busted it to pieces it got me so pissed off, then a customer gave me one, and now that I have the hang of it it's a good tool to have.

I am sure it is I just cant get the hang of it.

Circleville:
My tables are even from what I can see.
Seriously wound up by this tool.

 

[401Graphics]

I agree it sucks. I still have mine and only use it a straight edge, and "paper weight" (hinge vinyl with it by putting it in the center of a print with a 50yd roll of vinyl on it, rather than using tape). If i had known that the thing doesn't work with oracal laminate i would have never got it... of course the vendor will never tell you that.

 

[Circleville Signs]

Lay a piece of rigid substrate (MDO or the like) on your table. If you can see daylight underneath it, it isn't level enough for the BS.

 

[John Butto]

BS only works if you were bought up driving on the right hand side of the road. Line up your print on the substrate, small piece of tape on top and bottom to hold it in place. On the right hand side pull back about 2-3 inches and cut off backing paper. Squeegee down that edge. roll the remaining up, place the BS on edge already down and give a push on down the length of the substrate as the backing paper separates and lays down the vinyl as shown in countless videos.

 

[Pixels Are Bad Mmmkay?]

I will gladly pay the shipping if you would like to send them to me. Seriously. Not much sense in throwing them to curb if someone else can use them.

 

[tsgstl]

I have a 10 mil sheet of pvc I lay down under what I am using it for (unless it is a hard substrate already. This gives a nice sturdy flat surface to work with.

The biggest mistake I had at first was rolling the material I am laying down the wrong way. Curl up under instead of back over (I know that makes no sense)

I don't normally use it for smaller stuff like 18"x24" but we do a lot of 24"x36" coro signs and it has saved us $100's in transfer tape alone not to mention that extra time. We also have a customer we make 24"x48" coro and 36"x36" we get orders of over 100 of these at a time. It used to take us all day of masking and then laying down. We can make over 100 of them in a little over a hour now.

What exactly is your problem? What size substrate and what substrate are you having trouble with? When you say bubbles then I would guess your main problem is the table not the squeegee

 

[SlightlyChilled]

They work well. If the operator can't use the tool then how is that the tool fault. what sizes do you have ill take them Ill pay for the shipping

 

[fmg]

I have a 10 mil sheet of pvc I lay down under what I am using it for (unless it is a hard substrate already. This gives a nice sturdy flat surface to work with.

The biggest mistake I had at first was rolling the material I am laying down the wrong way. Curl up under instead of back over (I know that makes no sense)

I don't normally use it for smaller stuff like 18"x24" but we do a lot of 24"x36" coro signs and it has saved us $100's in transfer tape alone not to mention that extra time. We also have a customer we make 24"x48" coro and 36"x36" we get orders of over 100 of these at a time. It used to take us all day of masking and then laying down. We can make over 100 of them in a little over a hour now.

What exactly is your problem? What size substrate and what substrate are you having trouble with? When you say bubbles then I would guess your main problem is the table not the squeegee

A measily 24" by 18" piece of Dibond, trapped bubbles
Between the media and substrate.

 

[tsgstl]

I agree it sucks. I still have mine and only use it a straight edge, and "paper weight" (hinge vinyl with it by putting it in the center of a print with a 50yd roll of vinyl on it, rather than using tape). If i had known that the thing doesn't work with oracal laminate i would have never got it... of course the vendor will never tell you that.

Dale has got to be the nicest guy I have ever dealt with. And I know I saw him address problem laminate installs.

Twice in 2 days I have seen people unfairly bash Merchant members. Sad

 

[xxaxx]

I hate ours ... never works well and much quicker to lay the edge and put them through the laminator, comes out perfect every time that way.

 

[tsgstl]

A measily 24" by 18" piece of Dibond, trapped bubbles
Between the media and substrate.

IMO (I know Dale disagrees) 18"x24" are not worth the setup
I don't even hinge 18"x24" I put one end in my mouth and just start from the top.

 

[401Graphics]

So really there should be a notice in the item description saying it doesn't work with oracal, and you will be wasting prints and time learning how to use the thing, and may or may not end up know how to use it. The issue is customers that buy this expect it to work when they get it, not waste prints, and time trying to figure it out.

 

[fmg]

It was a 48" but now in two pieces if someone wants it
Message me with u details and u are welcome
I have to move on from this sorry Dale but it just not for me sir

 

[401Graphics]

I hate ours ... never works well and much quicker to lay the edge and put them through the laminator, comes out perfect every time that way.

+1

 

[gabagoo]

I notice in your pic that the garbage can is right next to a laminator!!!!!

Don't need a BS if you have a laminator so I dont understand why you would be using it at all.

I have a few here before I purchased a Seal and now I might use them for pre masking or applying cut vinyl to substrates... and thats about it.