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.

 

[JustynaM]

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.

I noticed with the gloss laminate 8518 when I was laminating yesterday it smelled like a skunk

 

[Solventinkjet]

I love the smell of phthalates in the morning!

 

[Proofread People]

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.

We don't seem to find it particularly offensive with the digital vinyls however, the 3M 8509 lamination is just terrible, it smells like sour milk.

 

[Proofread People]

I noticed with the gloss laminate 8518 when I was laminating yesterday it smelled like a skunk

hahahahaha my boss loves the smell of 180CV3

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...

is this bad or what, I have to admit I like the smell of Rapid Tac, smells like vanilla, lol

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

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

I agree, Avery smells like crude oil. I agree that one is the worst. 3m is strong, but not completely unpleasant.

 

[JBurton]

I like the smell of rapidtac myself, but it reacts so badly with my contacts, if I have any residue on my hands, I compulsively head straight for a sink to wash twice or my eyes end up super dry and scratchy.
3m ij35 smells like profit. Ya know, not great in the moment, but the end result is always nice.
Arlon and substance have very low smell, its there, but it doesn't quite fill the room like 180/35 being baked away on the latex.
Now mill aluminum, that's a fine almost musky scent that has always stuck with me.
Bondo... smells like its ready for paint. I always know something exceptional is rolling out of the shop if I catch a whiff of bondo.

 

[Proofread People]

I like the smell of rapidtac myself, but it reacts so badly with my contacts, if I have any residue on my hands, I compulsively head straight for a sink to wash twice or my eyes end up super dry and scratchy.
3m ij35 smells like profit. Ya know, not great in the moment, but the end result is always nice.
Arlon and substance have very low smell, its there, but it doesn't quite fill the room like 180/35 being baked away on the latex.
Now mill aluminum, that's a fine almost musky scent that has always stuck with me.
Bondo... smells like its ready for paint. I always know something exceptional is rolling out of the shop if I catch a whiff of bondo.

you know what really smells bad, when you cut acrylic sheets on the panel saw, instant headache.

Changing subjects: Has anyone noticed near the end (last 20-25 feet) of lamination rolls, a "modeling or hazy effect" especially with 8518. It looks terrible on dark color backgrounds of vehicle wraps. What do you all do, just waste it.

 

[JBurton]

What do you all do

For 8518 spec'd stuff, I sub arlon 3270 gloss for partial wraps or flat surfaces, and 3220 gloss for complex curves. For me, it was random throughout the roll where it would look hazy and awful.
Acrylic on the router has its own smell that isn't as bad as a saw blade, I kinda like it.

 

[Proofread People]

For 8518 spec'd stuff, I sub arlon 3270 gloss for partial wraps or flat surfaces, and 3220 gloss for complex curves. For me, it was random throughout the roll where it would look hazy and awful.
Acrylic on the router has its own smell that isn't as bad as a saw blade, I kinda like it.

 

[Proofread People]

thank you JB, will look into 3220. Had a couple of rolls with random hazing, mostly on the ends