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Can you guys give me any manufacturer sources for outdoor durable (at least 5 years) goldleaf vinyl for cutters?
American Decal is a company that makes a pretty nice looking one now....but they have terrible shipping dates...SparCal carries their product if you can find someone who has it in stock...but it tends to be extremely brittle (chips into little pieces easily, hard to weed because it tears off into it's own path etc.)
I know Sign Gold makes stuff...but it's way to expensive for what my customers would be willing to pay...probably because it's got real gold in it. One jam-up in the plotter and you can lose your butt on the job.
Just wondering if you had any other sources. I can say I know of a new goldleaf vinyl that is coming out mid-end of February....but I can't say much more than that...as it has to be announced by the manufacturer...but it's supposed to be outdoor durable and UV resistant....
Looking for a couple sources. Thanks.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI
Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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We have found that most of the imatation gold leaf is not rated for outdoor use of any significant time.
We used the Scar-Cal on a trailer and within a year (10-11 months) the edges were turning green. It was supposed to be for short term (3-4 months) so we weren't concerned with the longevity and neither was the client. it suited the need quite well.
We use the Signgold for any work that has to be somewhat permanent. It just isn't worth the savings to have to re-do something. like you said, the Spar-Cal is a bugger to get off.
The Signgold is a superior product and worth the expense. Hey, could Karen Souza be wrong? i figure if it is good enough for her to use then it sure as heck has to be good enough for us.
Hope this helps. Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter
Posts: 6464 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Todd, Gerber has a new imitation gold vinyl which I believe is outdoor rated. It is less than SignGold in cost but still expensive. You might check out gerber's website, or just call your local gerber distributor. Hope this helps. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Thanks Bruce....I think Signgold is a great product and fills a real niche where 23Kt traditional hand leafing is not suited. I've been down the "gold vinyl failure" road & believe me when you have to redo MULTPLE truck jobs to back up your reputation you pick your products CAREFULLY! Better to use a more expensive & proven product than a cheaper & new one. I don't want to be the guinea pig. Karen
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Mmmmm....SparCal has several metalized films...most of them have a short indoor life because they are actually a metalized/embossed mylar.
The GoldLeaf I'm talking about is a 5 year product. I can say this because I used to work for Spartan International (Spar-Cal being their sign vinyl brand name). It's been sold and is still being used on OEM products and warranted for 5 year durability...I have the stuff on 3 vehicles (personally) and it's been at least 4 years and it looks great. But granted, a horrific nightmare to work with...so maybe that's where SignGold is worth it...more money...less time monkeying around.
Maybe I could pitch it as an option against the other stuff the next time I get the chance. I haven't worked with it before.
I have a new cutter, and need to get comfortable with it before trashing out $40 a yard material...that could get expensive.
Karen...can you give me some detail about the SignGold? Conformability/or not? Does it mark up easily? Can you apply it with the "wet" method if desired? Any other positive characteristics you can think of? I see that the lifespan is quite impressive.
Thanks Vic, for your suggestion too. I'll research that.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI
Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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OK.. OK... I'm not Karen... she is much better looking... and nicer, too! LOL! I know she wouldn't use anything that would jeopardize her reputation and neither would we.
We use the stuff both wet and dry. It really depends on the application. I do like to use the clear Transfer-Rite to use with the Signgold. It makes the registration over outlines/shades and such so much easier.
I really like using the Signgold. It works great for us and I recommend it highly. I hope this helps you out.
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter
Posts: 6464 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
I've cut SignGold with insufficient down pressure and rendered it useless. The proper pressure and a sharp blade are a must.
I've used it wet and dry. Both work. It's nowhere as beautiful as a leaf job, but it sure is more durable.
Last weekend I was cruising through San Francisco and it's so obvious when you see a real gold job on a window and a Signgold window. They don't compare as far as brilliance and beauty.
SignGold makes us money. Gold is personnaly rewarding, and occassionally brings in some big bucks.
The other sticky back golds we've tried have failed within a couple years.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
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Was told by my supplier that it had been discontinued because it delaminated very quickly
-------------------- Ian Wilson Signmaker Retired 3 Panorama Drive Toowoomba Queensland Australia may all your troubles be little ones. The man that never make a mistake never makes anything. Posts: 656 | From: Toowoomba Queensland Australia | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Thanks guys...sounds like impressive stuff. I'll have to give it a try. Now, I want to take a closer look at the few things I've used the SparCal stuff on. I'm a bit concerned about that now.
Do you guys tell your customer's what kind of "lifespan" they should expect out of their signs? Just curious...in fact, I think I'll post that one.
Thanks again, and I'll give SignGold a test.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI
Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Todd I apply all my vinyls dry, It was how I learned and have always had a better feeling knowing I have a clean surface under it. Bruce is right, I've found a clear apptape works best not only for registration but because it's a bit thicker and less flimsy it leaves little or no bubbles in the gold. Simple contours are fine but I would'nt want to put over rivets, because when it stretches it looks bad. They say you can do rivets, but it's not for me. It doesn't need alot of pressure to cut, but like one of the guys said the blade needs to be SHARP. It' more aggresive to apply than most vinyls so it may take a little getting used to(you can't snap it up if it gets ahead of you)I use alot of Gerber's 225 white so I'm used to aggresive stuff. If you use font stlyes that have pointed serifs, slightly round them (usually your sign program will do that for you - like fillet corners in Gerber) This will keep those points from picking up if your customer washes & waxes frequently. Try Signgold's website, tell them your intersted in trying the product and if they have any free trial samples - it's worth an ask. It's the only gold vinyl product I can trust. Hope this helps! Karen
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