Hi Guys, I am tired of searching this topic. I have worked with very little wrap material personally and I am getting ready to order a kit of material. Although we all like to save a little money what I really want to know is; In your opinion, what would be the best material for an installer new to wraps? I am talking the easiest to learn with, most forgiving... This might not be the material that you work with every day as some are surely trying to save a few bucks or some with a lot of experience might prefer a little advantage or feature that another high performance material has but isn't necessarily as forgiving... But in general, easiest, most forgiving good material for a new installer to learn with?
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Wrap Material - Hate to start a new thread but...
- Thread starter Salmoneye
- Start date
BigfishDM
Merchant Member
Yes for sure without any question use the 3M the savings is not that huge from brand to brand but the 3M180CV3 is what you should use for full wraps. I can save you money on the laminate though as you can use a different brand then 3M but you need to use their base vinyl.
Kentucky Wraps
Kentucky Wraps
3M or Avery. I prefer 3M...but Avery is comparable. I find you have to squeegee Avery a little harder to get it to lay down, whereas 3M seems to lay down easier. IMO
Gino
Premium Subscriber
If you don't have any training or hands on under your belt, you're gonna be in for a huge eye opening experience.
I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but if it's for learning only and not a customer's vehicle.... I think the A V E R Y stuff is easier to use from a learning standpoint. However, if you are gonna use this in any level of getting paid from a customer, then DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT use A V E R Y products on end user's vehicles.
Take some classes and get a feel before you just throw good money around for nothing. Learn on your dime for the classes, but their dime for the experience.
I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but if it's for learning only and not a customer's vehicle.... I think the A V E R Y stuff is easier to use from a learning standpoint. However, if you are gonna use this in any level of getting paid from a customer, then DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT use A V E R Y products on end user's vehicles.Take some classes and get a feel before you just throw good money around for nothing. Learn on your dime for the classes, but their dime for the experience.
Good Luck.................
Circleville Signs
New Member
What Colorado said - although IMO, the difference in quality between the two is negligible.
HulkSmash
New Member
You're right, but 3m has much better quality control, I've gotten more contaminated Avery rolls then non contaminated -- when it comes to their wrap vinyl.
I agree on both 3m and avery products... love them-
my previous employer switched to them after using the oracal rapid air for some time. it was a huge difference!
that being said though- my new employer uses mactac gv929. and i gotta say- im diggin' it. very very very easy to use. adhesive doesnt come off when repositioning (unlike oracal) and when heated and stretched it doesnt seem to get too thin. Im not sure about price, because im not the guy who pays the suppliers. also, one of my first tasks at my new job was to remove the full wrap from the company truck that had been on there for about 3 years- and let me tell you- it would have lasted alot longer. it wasnt lifted anywhere and i guess this material locks to its new shape when you post-heat. not sure how that works though
my previous employer switched to them after using the oracal rapid air for some time. it was a huge difference!
that being said though- my new employer uses mactac gv929. and i gotta say- im diggin' it. very very very easy to use. adhesive doesnt come off when repositioning (unlike oracal) and when heated and stretched it doesnt seem to get too thin. Im not sure about price, because im not the guy who pays the suppliers. also, one of my first tasks at my new job was to remove the full wrap from the company truck that had been on there for about 3 years- and let me tell you- it would have lasted alot longer. it wasnt lifted anywhere and i guess this material locks to its new shape when you post-heat. not sure how that works though
Hicalibersigns
New Member
Avery 1005 SuperCast with 1360 Lam.....Avery set might be a little cheaper and is comparable.
We have been using the above for a year and a half. We can't get anyone to come close to the pricing with 3m products and we have had no issues with the material. I know Avery went through a bad patch some time ago and a lot of people have a very bad taste in their mouth regarding the situation. I probably would too had I experienced the issue. However, so far we have no complaints and the pricing difference is significant.
We have been using the above for a year and a half. We can't get anyone to come close to the pricing with 3m products and we have had no issues with the material. I know Avery went through a bad patch some time ago and a lot of people have a very bad taste in their mouth regarding the situation. I probably would too had I experienced the issue. However, so far we have no complaints and the pricing difference is significant.
Signed Out
New Member
No love for oracal 3751ra? Guess I'm going to have to get a roll of 3m 180... and try it out. I have noticed with the 3751 that when repositioning sometimes the adhesive stays with the vehicle and not the vinyl, looks like crap if it doesn't get laid right back down where the adhesive came off from, this hasn't happened in a while though. Is anybody using 3751ra?
HulkSmash
New Member
you want the IJ 180 cv3.
with the regular IJ 180, you can see the cross hatch pattern in the print.
as for the others, they're just cut vinyl.
Circleville Signs
New Member
Oracal and Arlon have the most aggressive adhesives on the market. This makes them an absolute BIATCH to work with in the wrap arena. If I'm doing flat panel stuff (box trucks, transit, etc.) then I'll use Oracal all day long.
Otherwise, I'm not touching that stuff with a 10' pole.
Otherwise, I'm not touching that stuff with a 10' pole.
