Opinions Wanted Roller Laminators

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Mike Drury

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Posts
435
Loc
Lexington, KY
Anyone print photos to canvas that uses a roller laminator to mount and or laminate these? I am once again looking into this process versus rolling a wet laminate onto the canvas to protect them. Thoughts? Thanks, Mike
 
Hi Mike, Rollers won't work well unless they are a specific model heatable top roller ($$), using heat seal laminate and a slow application. However just to concur - a Hot Vacuum Press will give the best results for heat seal laminating of digitally printed canvas.
 
We are getting a lot of over size pieces to mount and frame. The latest two are 58"x 58". We have been jobbing these out for mounting and they botched one of the last ones which cost me nearly $400. to replace. I have been educating myself on different adhesive films and purchased a 64" roll ($550.) for them to use but I a prefer to do it myself which means buying a roller press ($15,000.) Just trying to justify the expense. We currently have a Vacuseal 48" x 96" press but as you can see, it is too small for many of these pieces. If I purchase one of these machines I would hope there will be other opportunities to use it to help offset the cost.
 
Mike Drury said:
We are getting a lot of over size pieces to mount and frame. The latest two are 58"x 58". We have been jobbing these out for mounting and they botched one of the last ones which cost me nearly $400. to replace. I have been educating myself on different adhesive films and purchased a 64" roll ($550.) for them to use but I a prefer to do it myself which means buying a roller press ($15,000.) Just trying to justify the expense. We currently have a Vacuseal 48" x 96" press but as you can see, it is too small for many of these pieces. If I purchase one of these machines I would hope there will be other opportunities to use it to help offset the cost.
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I fortunately have not had anything that large but I would be reluctant to send it out exactly because of what your experience has been. I would recommend customer have it mounted and then bring it in; however, this is a good reminder to ask around and find someone for them to contact for the mounting.
 
Mike Drury said:
We are getting a lot of over size pieces to mount and frame. The latest two are 58"x 58". We have been jobbing these out for mounting and they botched one of the last ones which cost me nearly $400. to replace. I have been educating myself on different adhesive films and purchased a 64" roll ($550.) for them to use but I a prefer to do it myself which means buying a roller press ($15,000.) Just trying to justify the expense. We currently have a Vacuseal 48" x 96" press but as you can see, it is too small for many of these pieces. If I purchase one of these machines I would hope there will be other opportunities to use it to help offset the cost.
Click to expand...

Mike, you can sell facemounts if you buy the laminator. They are super hot in my area, NY Metro.

Have you looked into Drytac laminators? They're reliable and very reasonable. I own two and the company is great.
 
Drytac machines are nice. I have talked to them and I am also looking at GBC roller laminators. Face mounting is another way I can utilize the machine as well as justify the investment.
 
Another machine to consider is CODA. They aren't pretty but are like the ECLIPSE mat cutter - built like a tank. CODA also manufactures a series of precoated boards for roller mounting that really speed up the process.

http://codamount.com/laminators
 
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