The Letterville BullBoard: Differences between brands of vinyl?

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Posted by Laurie Pfaff (Member # 1349) on :

I would just like to get opinions on differences between brands of vinyls. The two I am looking at are both 2 mil high performance films. One is made by Oracal, the other by Arlon. Only differences I can see so far are the price. The Arlon is $40 a roll more expensive for a 20" x 50 yard roll. Thanks!!

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paintchick
Laurie Pfaff
Pittsburgh, PA 15229
www.paintchick.com

Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :

I share my driveway with a neighbor whos son tends to drive too fast around a blind corner, some close calls prompted me to put a sign up. I didn't want to be "overbearing" so the sign is red octagon, (like a stop sign) but says "make your own decision" !!
You have the products in front of you,maybe theres a reason for the 40.00 difference ?
Roger

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Roger Bailey
Rapid Tac Incorporated
Merlin, OR

Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :

Laurie, great work girl!
Checked out your site.
Loved the wildlife portraits.

I have used only 3 types of vinyl in my experience in this trade, and have been pleased with them.
Arlon is the one most available to me, and so I use it most. But I like Sparcal and Gerber as well.
I don't have any experience with Oracal.

Keep up the great stuff!
Nettie

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"When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"

Janette Balogh
Sign Studio
in Sunny Florida
jbalogh@earthlink.net
Current Pet Profile - Please send us yours!
http://www.markfair.com/nettie

Start packing and move in! It's just too easy to be a Resident!
Location, Location, Location! It's all right here!
http://www.letterhead.com/supporters

Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :

hehehehe a fellow pissburgher....hahahahi lived 36 miles south of there, out past tonidale, BURGETTSTOWN, area....got out in 81, went to fla. i use sparcal(which was bought by arlon recently)i use the promo plus mostly and its real good, oracalis strange stuff to me....the calendared is like heavy plastic..and it eats blades...i use AMERIBAN HI-PER...and its great stuff and great price....
old paint
joe

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joe pribish-A SIGN MINT
6050 mobile hwy
pensacola, fl 32526
850-944-5060

Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :

I thought Sparcal was bought out by Avery.

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"When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"

Janette Balogh
Sign Studio
in Sunny Florida
jbalogh@earthlink.net
Current Pet Profile - Please send us yours!
http://www.markfair.com/nettie

Start packing and move in! It's just too easy to be a Resident!
Location, Location, Location! It's all right here!
http://www.letterhead.com/supporters

Posted by Brad Farha (Member # 931) on :

Laurie, I have had the same experience as Nettie and use those three brands as well, primarily Arlon. I have used their films for over seven years with good results.

Being in Pittsburgh, I would recommend Pioneer Supply, but I'm sure you already know that.

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Brad Farha, owner
Farha Signs
Beckley, WV
304-252-3778
farhasigns@citynet.net

Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :

I strictly use Arlon for High Performance, although Sparcal is an excellent product. I've tried a sample of Oracal, but found it does not conform (stretch around rivets, etc.) as well. Arlon and Sparcal both have a great range of colors, too. I suggest you do a sample job with both. Is that an extra $40.00 per 50yds.? The savings is only .80 a yard.... I can make $140.00 sale with a yard of HP vinyl.

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Tim Whitcher
Quality Signs & Design
107 E Adrian St
Blissfield, MI 49228
qualitysigns@hotmail.com

Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :

Same subject, different brands.

I haven't tried any of the brands listed in this thread. Am I missing out on a great vinyl?

I started with Gregory and 3M. I have never had a failure or performance problem with either one. My first vinyl sign on MDO was Gregory vinyl installed 8+ years ago. Red and white vinyl facing west and they still look like they did the day I put them up. Does anyone have anything bad to say about either one? I'd like to know if there is something better out there.

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Dave Sherby
"Sandman"
SherWood Sign & Graphic Design
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
906-875-6201
ICQ: 21604027
sherwood@up.net

Posted by Robert Cook (Member # 1214) on :

Laurie,
I have used both. Depending on what your doing, I would recommend the arlon. Oracal
doesn't conform as good or weed as easy.
Arlon is alot easier to work with all around.

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Robert Cook
Signs of the Time
977 5th. Ave.
New Kensington, PA. 15068
(724) 335-3133

$$$Proud Supporter!$$$

Posted by Barry Branscum (Member # 445) on :

I have just started using oracal...and I love the stuff. I think I would save the cash, and go with the new product. NOW< I bet they'd send you a sample of each, if you asked....test them for yourself.

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Master's Touch Signs & Screenprinting
Clinton AR
5017456246
ICQ 17430008
Signs of Excellence!!!

Posted by Ian Wilson (Member # 177) on :

I use Arlon and Avery and find them better than any others I have tried and they have a great range of colours I like them better than 3m Oracle is to thick

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Ian Wilson
Signmaker Toowoomba City Council
Cnr Anzac Ave & Stephen st
Toowoomba Queensland Australia
may all your toubles be little ones
The man that never make a mistake never makes anything

Posted by Laurie Pfaff (Member # 1349) on :

Thank you all for responding. I am going to try both to see which I like better. The Oracal seems to be stiffer for some reason. I have a feeling I will like the Arlon better (of course, isn't that the way it always is? If it's more expensive we prefer it!) I will be installing over rivets on this one, so we'll just see which conforms better for me.

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paintchick
Laurie Pfaff
Pittsburgh, PA 15229
www.paintchick.com

Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :

Not only is the Arlon good stuff, available, and the reps are always at alot of the letterhead gatherings to find out what we like and want, but if I buy enough of the stuff from my supplier then Arlon sends them on a cruise!

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The SignShop
Mendocino, California
"Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"

Posted by Dana Aaron on :

I have been using nothing but Arlon since I started my shop. Unfortunately, when you try out different things, in our biz it takes several years sometimes to see the difference. That's why it's go great to have all these folks here to be the guinea pigs ahead of time for us!!

Once I got some Gerber instead of Arlon. I found it to be kinda flimsy and too stretchy, and the white just didn't have the same coverage, opacity, whatever you call it.

One tip I did learn... if you are applying bright red vinyl, and use a blue stabilo to mark where it goes, mark it ABOVE the vinyl, so that when the vinyl is applied, the marks are NOT covered... they show thru the red for some reason!!

Geez, reds can be such a pain sometimes...

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Dana Aaron
Sign-A-Saurus
Nevis, MN
(218)652-3839
ICQ# 37949659

Thought for the day: The more you cry, the less you have to pee.

Posted by John Deaton (Member # 925) on :

I just ordered, and received,some rolls of Sign Warehouse's Endura Gloss vinyl. It's a five year vinyl, and has gloss as good as any premium. I used some today, and it weeds better than some premiums I have used. It's a little more price wise than the vinyl I had been using, but the weeding qualities alone have sold me.

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John Deaton III
Deaton Signs&Grafix
400 May St. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-573-9101
"Grab an ol'cold tater and wait"
johnd3rd@kih.net
http://www.angelfire.com/ky2/dsigns

Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :

John,
I hope you're not using this for your long term signage. I need to get at least 7 years out of my long term signs. Five years can come pretty quick, and come back and bite you in the A$$!

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Tim Whitcher
Quality Signs & Design
107 E Adrian St
Blissfield, MI 49228
qualitysigns@hotmail.com

Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :

Here's my experience for anyone that is interested...

Arlon

Pros - 2mil great stuff, easy to work with, this is my choice for 3mil if I use it at all, have had failure with the reflectives.

Cons - the silver metallic is less glittery than others on the market, low choice of metallics

Sparcal

Pros - Great to work with, no failures, excellent choice of metallics, some translucent type colors come with a white adhesive so they're more opaque, such as yellow, the gold/gold 1 mil foil is excellent for outdoors, pretty good chrome.

Cons - the texture of the 3mil is abit brittle to work with.

Avery

Pros - very aggressive glue, excellent for vehicle applications, comes with non perforated rolls

Cons - aggressive glue bad for temporary signs, have had failure on compound curves, less metallic choices, the chromes are garbage; the chrome warps the roll if not wound very tightly before any installs, vinyl has high plasticiser risk running to surface; this helps extend the life of the vinyl, however risky to layer with another brand of product for a multi color effect.

Pros - customers like the name, reflective product is the best.

Cons - some colors way too translucent, low color choices, normally too pricey

Sharpline

Pros - awesome metallic choices, the best choice of pinstripes.

Cons - way too expensive if you aren't a francise, I believe this is 3M in disguise.

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Graphic Impact
located in BC Canada
gisigns@sprint.ca

[This message has been edited by Donna in BC (edited March 02, 2000).]

Posted by B Daniel (Member # 11) on :

I've been using Oracal for over two years now and have been nothing but pleased. Yes it feels slightly differant, but we all feel it's easier to weed. When I cut some Gerber or Universal H.P. the weeders complain! I've had no failures either with the intermediate or H.P. Good consistent glossy look. For you Edge users it works well on the Edge too. the vinyl goes all the way to the edge of the paper.

On another note, it was mentioned several times about franchises getting a discount. Maybe they do, but sometimes you may be able to get one too if you only just ask! I worked for a sign supply place for a year and a half and realized sometimes all it takes is for you to ask your salesman. Even now I get a discount from my supplier for certain items, Gerber included. I pay the list price for Oracal, but it is good price to start with to start with. Some places may require a minimum monthly purchase, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask!

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Beth Daniel
Murfreesboro, TN

Posted by Graham Hodge (Member # 168) on :

If it's a choice between Arlon and Oracal I would choose Arlon. I tried Oracal and the biggest problem I had was getting it off the release liner, it really hangs on. I will not be using it again.
Here down under 3M have a nice cast vinyl with a plastic liner, nice but expensive.

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Gray Hodge camriver@southcom.com.au
Cam River Signs
Somerset, Tasmania,
Down Under

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