help with shrink wrap

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thehadmatter

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Posts
199
Loc
Central USA
I have no training with shrink wrap and after several attempts I have had no luck. The wrap keeps coming off. Is there someone who can direct me to a step by step or offer suggestions?
Our previous framer repeatedly provided this service for one client. He's back with a stack I need to work up! Currently pulling my hair out with dread.
 
thehadmatter said:
I have no training with shrink wrap and after several attempts I have had no luck. The wrap keeps coming off. Is there someone who can direct me to a step by step or offer suggestions?
Our previous framer repeatedly provided this service for one client. He's back with a stack I need to work up! Currently pulling my hair out with dread.
Click to expand...

I would try to find that previous framer, and beg him to come back and shrinkwrap for you. ;)

I hate shrinkwrapping. It's clear bags or nothing in my shop.

Doe's anyone want to buy a brand new shrinkwrap machine, cheap?
 
HEALTH WARNING!

Unless something has recently improved, I've been informed that fumes from shrink wrapping are carcinogens. Same as some, if not all adhesive sprays.

As has been said above, we also do not do any shrink wrapping!

We use Clear Bags - and have for years!

www.clearbags.com

They come in all sorts of sizes and different type openngs.

Should you purchase from them, don't hesitate to mention those that referred you to them.

Thanks!
 
1. Make sure the sealing arm or wand temperature is high enough to seal the two flaps of wrap together.
2. I hold the wrapped piece in one hand while I seal the open side of the package. As the heat from the arm melts the plastic together, you can gently pull the package away. This also confirms that the plastic melted the seam together.
3. Keep your heat gun moving, and don't get too close to the plastic. Further away is better until you get a feel for how close you can apply the heat.
4. If your package bubbles when you shrink it, use a pin or a blade corner to poke a small hole in one corner. This will eventually allow all the air to escape.

As long the pieces are standard sizes, clear bags are much quicker and easier. The shrink wrap may be a bit cheaper, until you consider the 3-5 minutes you have to stand there with the heat gun.
 
Not too long ago, I was interested in buying a shrink wrap machine. After reading several replies to my post on the Grumble and visiting with my supplier(s), I went with the clear bags. I'm so glad I did. They're pretty inexpensive and quick.
 
Jay is right. Without a little more description, it will be hard for us to help.

I'm a shrink wrapping fool. I have been doing it for over 18 years. It is way better than the bags because you make your own size, and there is no need to stock a bunch of different sizes. One roll does it all.
 
Well, apparently I have been going about this all wrong. We do not have the equipment that has been described in previous posts to deal with shrink wrap. What I had done was dry mount the picture to a piece of foam core and then try to seal the shrink mount to the mounted piece. As long as it came into contact with the promount, I had a fairly good seal. If I did any trimming, the seal would loosen and then, eventually, the shrink wrap would come off. So, without the equipment, would everyone recommend I toss the roll of shrink wrap I have in stock (:D) or is there another way to deal with this junk?
 
thehadmatter said:
Well, apparently I have been going about this all wrong. We do not have the equipment that has been described in previous posts to deal with shrink wrap. What I had done was dry mount the picture to a piece of foam core and then try to seal the shrink mount to the mounted piece. As long as it came into contact with the promount, I had a fairly good seal. If I did any trimming, the seal would loosen and then, eventually, the shrink wrap would come off. So, without the equipment, would everyone recommend I toss the roll of shrink wrap I have in stock (:D) or is there another way to deal with this junk?
Click to expand...

It sounds like you're trying to achieve a laminant look rather than "shrinkwrapping" They're two different applications and end results. If it is the laminant you're after, then you need laminating film and apply it with your heat press. Shrinkwrapping is simply used for packaging and not intended for long term protectection.
 
Just my luck i ordered a s.w. machine yesterday, I have a photographer needing large amounts of photo's all the same size of course, sounds like I should have looked into clear bags! Or at least saved myself some $ and got a used one from surferbill!
 
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