The Letterville BullBoard: Finding Clear Mask for Plotter

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Posted by Chuck Gallagher (Member # 69) on :

Does anyone know where to buy a clear cuttable mask.

Sure would be handy.

Thanks,

Chuck Gallagher
stikrz@pcis.net

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[This message has been edited by Chuck Gallagher (edited March 14, 2001).]

Posted by captain ken (Member # 742) on :

sure would Chuck!
I have thought of putting a roll of clear shelfpaper in the plotter, but never tried it. I'm not sure about the backing paper.

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"A wise man once said that, or was it a wise guy?"

Ken McTague
The Witch city
Salem, MA

Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :

MacTac makes a translucent mask. It has a dark green tint but you can see through it easy enough with a clear premask.

I was using it on multi color basketball floor graphics. Registration was a breeze but it wasn't very good for that application.

Advantages:
Easy registration, stretches similar to HP vinyl, low tack (very similar to fineline tape. This was a disadvantage on the basketball courts. For most sign work I find most paint masks to be too agressive for easy removal.)

Disadvantages:
The adhesive seems to leach slightly from the edge and after plotting a couple 50 yard rolls (friction plotter) I would have gummy green adhesive skid marks on the plotter bed.
The low tack makes it a joy to remove but you need to use a low tack premask.
The main problem I had on basketball floors with this stuff was that before I would paint the graphics, they put down the sanding sealer with large lambswool applicators and sealer would run down into any gaps and outgas for some time. The outgassing solvent dissolves the adhesive slightly. When the mask was removed it would leave alot of the adhesive on the floor, so your substrate has to be cured well before applying mask.

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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 Glenn Hall (Member # 1877) on :

Hey Chuck,

Check out Exac-Tac.com .

this product is actualy a clear transfer tape.

It has a backing paper on it that has to be removed before applying as transfer tape .

Just leave the backer on and feed it through the cutter like vinyl.

works for me

Glenn Hall

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Glenn Hall
Hall of Graphics
Toledo, Il

Posted by Gavin Chachere (Member # 1443) on :

www.dixieart.com sells rolls of clear acetate for airbrush masking..cheap and i've purchased the stuff a coupla times and fed it thru the plotter...need alotta downforce and it does eat a blade like mylar or reflective but the advantage is you pretty much have a permanent stencil when you're done

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Gavin Chachere
aka Zeeman
Miller Supply Co./Ozone Signs & Grafix
New Orleans La.
www.millersupply.net
www.ozonegrafix.com

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