I've mainly used my printer for just about everything, but I needed to make some vinyl lettering for a project, so I grabbed a roll of Oracal 651 and discovered that the backing was basically welded to the vinyl. I tested a couple of other rolls and the same thing with those. I hated to trash all that vinyl. Very wasteful. This makes me curious about the shelf life of adhesive vinyls. Are there brands that have a longer shelf life than others? Do the manufacturers have shelf life recommendations?
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Question Who Makes Adhesive Vinyl With the Longest Shelf Life?
- Thread starter David40
- Start date
Texas_Signmaker
Very Active Signmaker
I have rolls of 651 that are probably over 10 years and they are ok...but it's climate controlled.
MarkSnelling
Mark Snelling - Hasco Graphics
Yes....most adhesive manufacturers will claim 2 years for shelf life. If it is in a consistent environment, despite the shelf life, the product will still work for many, many years....but in an environment where the temperature and humidity fluctuate, you'll see much shorter lifespans.
I'd have to say over 10 years, so I'm not surprised.
tulsagraphics
New Member
Today I tried using some 3 year old GF 226 (low tack mural job on some older paint -- thankfully not a low VOC formula), and it was really hanging on to that liner. Print and cut job. (11) 24" tall letters.
Regular high tack tape? Laughable. TransferRite AirMask 510U? Not even close.
Knowing I'd probably have to trash the vinyl... I said eff it and threw down some frickin' 3420 laminate as transfer tape!
And... it actually worked!
Of course I don't recommend that method, and it wasn't the quickest install -- had to hold down the first inch or two of each edge as I pulled the laminate away... but at least I salvaged it.
Regular high tack tape? Laughable. TransferRite AirMask 510U? Not even close.
Knowing I'd probably have to trash the vinyl... I said eff it and threw down some frickin' 3420 laminate as transfer tape!
And... it actually worked! Of course I don't recommend that method, and it wasn't the quickest install -- had to hold down the first inch or two of each edge as I pulled the laminate away... but at least I salvaged it.