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signmaker

=== Green Star Vinyl ===

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==== IS IT JUST ME OR GREENSTAR VINYL =====

I've cut and used over 950 yards of greenstar calendered vinyl.....
all signs have held up very well on all type of surfaces from rough
latex painted plywood and every surface that vinyl can be applied to.

BUT ( and there's always a but )  the last shipment I received
did not stick and released from metal and wood signs.
after a few short months or less !!!
I was wondering if the unusually cold weather caused failure.
but older signs seemed to be holding up quite well..
may add they looked as fresh as day one..
any suggestions about my problem ??
thinking about trying oracal 651 ( I think this is the exterior number )
but what I've read is other people are using a different type of apt tape
I've used the cheap low tack lay flat paper with great success and
want to know if it will work on oracal and if not why?

all input will be appreciated because I getting ready to place order
for this years stock...
thanks, singman

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Are these the lyrics to a song?  (sung to the tune of "Oh, Susanna")

 

Or are you a S I G N maker?

 

All vinyl must be applied at surface temps of around 62* or more, from what I understand.

The exception to this is when using RapidTac II application fluid.

 

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I use High Tack paper most of the time. Oracal/Orafol 651 is a great product and far superior to the GS material. There are a few peculiarities that you have to get used to but once you do it's as easy as you can find. Probably the biggest issue people who aren't used to run into with 651 is that it tends to be a little harder to get up off the carrier than some other products. This makes for easier cut and weed (in my opinion) but can be trickier sometimes with med tack app tape. You don't need special app tape for it like you do with the 631 indoor but I recommend high tack. There are some video's out there that also have some hints of other techniques (lift the carrier up off the back with the vinyl face down or run the vinyl over a sharp edged shelve just before application) that also help but are not always something you can do in every situation. I use a LOT of 651 and it is a real nice product for flat applications and hold up fantastic. If I do vehicles I step up to the 751 cast vinyl. If it has a lot of uneven surface or tons of rivets then you might even want to go clear up to 951 but I rarely have needed to.  

 

I also cut a decent amount of GS vinyl but the quality just isn't there for things I am selling to people. There are specific applications that I am ok with using it on but they are limited. The cost difference between GS and 651 just isn't enough of a savings to justify it to for my customers. I did two or three signs with GS early on for some friends and was surprised by the amount of shrink that happened after they had been up a while in the sun. 651 is a little stiffer and thinner and doesn't seem to shrink as bad. 

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I always use 651 for indoor use and 751 for outdoor use.  In the 8 years I have been in business I have never had to replace a sign.  I have been so happy with it that I have never shopped around.

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==== IS IT JUST ME OR GREENSTAR VINYL =====

I've cut and used over 950 yards of greenstar calendered vinyl.....

all signs have held up very well on all type of surfaces from rough

latex painted plywood and every surface that vinyl can be applied to.

BUT ( and there's always a but )  the last shipment I received

did not stick and released from metal and wood signs.

after a few short months or less !!!

I was wondering if the unusually cold weather caused failure.

but older signs seemed to be holding up quite well..

may add they looked as fresh as day one..

any suggestions about my problem ??

thinking about trying oracal 651 ( I think this is the exterior number )

but what I've read is other people are using a different type of apt tape

I've used the cheap low tack lay flat paper with great success and

want to know if it will work on oracal and if not why?

all input will be appreciated because I getting ready to place order

for this years stock...

thanks, singman

 

Surprised no one caught this.  

So the last roll of your year's stock didn't work too well.   Is it possible that it was too old?  

Vinyl does have a shelf life.  

 

Maybe you should think about ordering twice a year so that your stock doesn't get old.  

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Surprised no one caught this.  

So the last roll of your year's stock didn't work too well.   Is it possible that it was too old?  

Vinyl does have a shelf life.  

 

Maybe you should think about ordering twice a year so that your stock doesn't get old.  

sorry, I didn't say what month vinyl was purchased in 2014.... and yes the older vinyl ( 2yrs or more ) worked fine

quess I did't explain well enough...no cold weather problems.. 

the main question is .. has anyone else experienced the cold weather failure..

thanks. singman

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I dunno, but in my order I placed last week to start my stock of vinyl getting back into this i ordered white and black in greenstar to try em out. Just did something in black last night and that stuff weeded like crap, lifts from the backing super super easy. I will pay the extra few bucks and stick with my tried and true oracal 651

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