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I'm new to the Edge (got it 4 months ago). Anyone experienced with one I have a few questions. Do you notice longevity problems printing on other than Gerber vinyls or using Zeronine foils other than Gerber foils? My main supplier says you can print on MacTac just fine and Zeronine foils are just as good. Is he right or just trying to sell me what he sells. I did a race car a few weeks ago with graphics on the bottom of his car. I printed black on flo orange. He says after just two nights of racing the black is sandblasted off-dirt track racing . Does the abrasion guard help much or would it help in this case. I'm nervous 'cause I have done several other cars using this method and am afraid I will wind up redoing them with layered vinyl like pre-edge era for me? I would appreciate any input!
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Posts: 11 | From: Alexandria, MN, USA | Registered: Aug 1999
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Flouresent vinyls don't have quite the same surface as most cast and calendared vinyls. You could try to clearcoat with FrogJuice as a "self-sacrificing" coat after the printing is done. That will provide more protection than Abrasion Guard.
When clearcoating, print the image first, then cut, then spray a coat of FrogJuice, allow to dry, then weed. Because the clearcoat will bridge the cuts, extra care must be taken while weeding. Then apply as you normally would.
As to a brand being "as good as another", sometimes that true, sometimes its not. As a general rule, if the print must last 3 to 5 years, I only use Gerber vinyls and foils. If it isn't that important, I use Oracal 651 and ZeroNine or Duracoat foils.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the warranties of all of the brands. At this time (to my knowledge), Gerber is the only one to offer a "Minimum" durability rating on their foils. The others only offer "Up To" 3-5 years. The difference is that one is warranted to last at least a specific amount of time. The other, by using "up to" really doesn't offer a warranty except whatever the distributor or manufacturer wants to do.
This is not to say that one particular brand is good or bad. Basically, you get what you pay for.
I use all three brands. Each brand has its own "personallity", so to speak.
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I use mostly Zeronine, I like some Gerber Colors better & Some Zeronine Colors Better, I'm not a big fan of Oracal & MacTac, nor am I happy with Quantium 2000, for Intermediate I use either Avery A5 or Kapco K5000, as for fluorescent, Gerber is expensive but it seems to work better. I use zeronine clearcoat on about every print I do. I have had a couple failures on race cars this year, but we figured it out sunday night at the track, the guys spray WD-40 or Mud-Off on the cars before each race then wipe it off after each race, the chemicals are working on the foils, we fixed the problem by clear coating them with 1shot 4005. For HP I only use 225 Gerber the clear liner is worth the extra $$$
------------------ Gary Wiant Vinyl Graphics Unlimited Shippenville, PA
Posts: 66 | From: Shippenville, PA U.S.A. | Registered: Mar 2000
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Bear in mind that Gerber vinyls and foils were engineered to work with the Edge and vice versa. I've used everything that is available and day in and day out I believe you will have less problems with Gerber materials. As far as the sandblasting effect of a dirt racetrack...I'm afraid any material will not last as well as your customer thinks it should. The spinning wheels kicking up sand and dirt is exactly like sandblasting...and that's the problem...not the materials you are using. All you can do is put some kind of protective coating on your lettering and hope for the best. I would think your customer would see what the dirt has done to the rest of his car and get the idea himself.
------------------ Louis A. Lazarus Milt's Sign Service, Inc. 20 So. Linden Ave. #5B 650-588-0490 fontking1a@aol.com
Posts: 560 | From: El Granada, CA | Registered: Apr 1999
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. Does the abrasion guard help much or would it help in this case. I'm nervous 'cause I have done several other cars using this method and am afraid I will wind up redoing them with layered vinyl like pre-edge era for me? I would appreciate any input!
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