Big Squeegee and Opt. Clear laminate

[GXSignCo]

I have a question regarding this combination. I was reading Dale's site and he recommends a laminate with a thick liner for best results. I am using optically clear laminate which has a very thin synthetic liner. For those that have used theirs very much, is this comination going to be problematic and simply cause frustration or does it just take a little more finesse? I have a 25" and a 38" B.S., but have considered a 56" for full-size prints. Does anyone else here successfully laminate 54" prints using optically clear laminate with the B.S.? Thanks much!

[Gino]

What 54" media we used, the thinner... the harder for us. However, it is an amazing tool even with the thinner medias. :thumb:

[bob]

The thinner laminate backing won't peel off like the 70# vinyl backing does. You have to help it along and this can take more that the standard issue of two hands.

You can bias things in your favor by rolling up the laminate backwards, laminate out, backing in, that you set into the Big Squeegee's tray. It's counter-intuitive and you'll swear you're doing it backwards the first couple of times but it forces the backing to peel off much more smartly than if wound the other way, with the backing out. You still have to help it, but only trivially so.

[Master's Touch]

I find that thinner release liners do tend to want to get trapped under the squeegee....so ya gotta keep pulling the paper out with one hand, or have someone in front of you that is pulling it out for you....BUT, another big issue with the Big Squeegy, is that the dang roll of material wants to constantly fall off the curved holder while you are applying it.

I don't know why Dale didn't make the thing a little more of a complete cylinder.....

Anyway, we came up with this fix for the roll holder and it really helps when trying to keep that liner peeling off in front of you....we heated a piece of Black PVC around a Vinyl Roll core, and then just double stick taped it.

http://tasmus.hypertech.net/bigsqueegee.jpg


http://tasmus.hypertech.net/bigsqueegee2.jpg

That little piece of black pvc makes all the difference when you are trying to push the thing while keeping the liner out from under it....

[Darklight]

Received the squeegee and used it for the first time this week, and it is excellent! Thinner material has been a bit problematic for me, but squeegee makes it work.

[Jackpine]

I have used it with Lamex optically clear laminate on a perf 29"x 65" without a problem. The stuff is so thin I had a bit of a time getting it off the liner