3M Vinyls Smell Really Bad

[Chicken Quasar]

Hi Community,

Is it just me, or do 3M vinyls stink up the shop way more than others? Lately I’ve been running IJ35, IJ480, IJ175, and IJ40. Even with solid ventilation, the whole shop smells like a chemical factory.

When I switch over to Avery materials I have no problem at all. Practically no smell.

So I’m curious:

• Are you all noticing the same thing with 3M?
• Is this just “part of the process,” or should I be worried?

Would love to hear if I’m the only one walking around smelling like IJ35 cologne, or if this is just part of the 3M experience.

Im mostly worried for my health. Something feels off.

 

[GAC05]

With IJ40 and IJ35, one smells like stinky feet and the other, wet gym shoes even before printing. Just rolling out a few yards and I get flashbacks to my high school days.

 

[Bobby H]

Back in the 1990's there was a certain brand of red translucent vinyl, I think made by Universal, that smelled a little like cat piss.

 

[victor bogdanov]

I rarely use 3m but when I do I'm blown away with the smell

 

[Mike Paul]

Yes,
The laminate on the clear liner
Smells like skunk when it comes off / applied

 

[GAC05]

"3M Scotchcal and Controltac films - You can smell the quality in every roll."

 

[Patentagosse]

Yes,
The laminate on the clear liner
Smells like skunk when it comes off / applied

exactly... or a li'l like cannabis (pot). 8418 / 8518 especially

 

[Patentagosse]

I also miss the old High Performance Automotive Grade from 3M. The adhesive smelled like apple juice (kinda). My van was full of striping rolls when I was doing dealerships back in the days. Adhesive was also visually recognizable by the tint: a li'l darker than usual. Never understood why they dropped that line. It was especially made for automotive clearcoat. They also had some amazing colors, never seen in regular sign films.

But that smell...

 

[Patentagosse]

BTW, for me Avery is by far the worst chemical smell. Hexis also has a deep solvant perfume.