For years I have been getting Gerber HP vinyl. On the liner back it says Scotchcal 220 film, custom formulated by 3M for Gerber Scientific. My local vendor(sole employee) quit her job, so I have changed vendors. I ordered 1 roll of 3M 7125 HP vinyl. The box says FDC 3M. The label on the cardboard core says FDC 3M 7125 Series. The back of the liner says Scotchcal Marking Film. I am confused. Can anyone explain this to me.? The vendor said it is made by 3M but FDC is a converter and cuts it down, punches the edge and rolls it. Does anyone know if it is the same vinyl as the Scotchcal 220.? Thanks in advance.
Diane
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
That's interesting. Mine still has the "custom" statement.
Posted by Bill Cosharek (Member # 1274) on :
I don't have any charts with me right now, but the 7125 might be the same as 3m's electrocut series of vinyl; which are very similar (if not the same) to the 220 series. There used to be quite a few color choices with the electrocuts (don't have any new charts to compare) & as far as workability, think they're equal in comparison to 220's.
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
gerber has a special patent on their adhesive so 3m makes that especially for gerber. fdc is a converter so what you are getting is 3m...but not gerber's 3m...with its oh-so special adhesive. its still 3m dont worry. just don't get calender fdc...thats not 3m.
[ January 14, 2009, 09:36 AM: Message edited by: KARYN BUSH ]
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Diane, Karen and Bill are correct about 3M/Gerber/FDC relation and not all FDC products are of 3M origins. However, from what I was lead to believe, FDC's relationship with 3M is like Gerber's. FDC's products are 3M vinyl that is processed with custom formulated adhesive. If the FDC color codes match 3M's, it should be safe to assume the colors are the same. If the color codes don't match, you may be getting a product from a different manufacturer. Personally, if I ordered 3M, I would expect to get 3M and nothing less. However, if the savings on the FDC was substantial enough, I would entertain using it on some projects or if I was in a pinch.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Nikki Goral (Member # 7844) on :
Diane,
I was leary of this at first too. So I tried some "destructive" testing with FDC 3M converted, straight up 3M/Gerber 3M, and FDC's HP lines.
I used the FDC 3M on my own shop truck and kept up the with 40% pricier 3M on my projects. After a year of no difference, I switched to the FDC 3M converted.
Then the larger shops in the area started using JUST the FDC HP line...which again, being a little cautious, tried out on my truck.
First, the FDC HP weeded 1000 times better than the 3M...either version. The adhesive is VERY smooth and ALOT tackier than either 3M, without creep or residue left after removal of 1 year.
So now, unless I can't get a color in the FDC HP line, I use the FDC for CUT VINYL.
For wraps & prints I am a Comply v3 believer.
I have a friend who is a line manager at MacTac. His knowledge of the USES for the materials they produce is limited, but of the product itself, very wide ranging. He mentioned to me one day that all the face stock for HP vinyls (for all manufacturers)-the colored "plastic" part, is actually manufactured by (1) company in Belgium, then distributed to all of the manufacturers to APPLY THEIR OWN ADHESIVE, thus making it "proprietary". So it isn't necessarily the HP face stock that you are buying, it is the adhesive.
Calendared vinyls are a different animal all together...different face stock and adhesive application methods.
