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Working with: .035" polyethylene

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

Moderators: Ron Percell, Mike Jackson, Danny Baronian

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Mike Jackson
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Posts: 1705
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:02 pm
Location: Jackson Hole, WY
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Working with: .035" polyethylene

Post by Mike Jackson »

Hello all,
I have a quote request from a designer specifying .035" polyethylene panels for some snowmobile trail signs.

First, .035" seems awfully thin, especially knowing .125" is only 1/8" thick.

Second, will vinyl stick to this material reliably. They are also asking for red, blue, lime green, yellow, purple, and orange backgrounds.

One place I found on line only sells down to a thickness of .06", but it is all white and still fairly expensive: 6" x 18" = $19.32 each.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Mike Jackson
Mike Jackson / co-administrator
Golden Era Studios
Vintage Ornamental Clip art
Jackson Hole, WY

Photography site:
Teton Images
Jackson Hole photography blog:
Best of the Tetons
erik winkler
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Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:48 pm
Location: Amsterdam Netherlands
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Re: Working with: .035" polyethylene

Post by erik winkler »

Mike,

We sometimes use this material. It is thin but very tough and strong. The price is exspensive, but there should be a cheaper supplier which also has different colours.
It is a very common product in the screen world for making promotional portfolio bags etc.
Here are some manufactores:
http://www.ides.com/info/generics/27/10 ... ufacturers

Maybe one you alteady know or deal with.
Erik
Realizing we are in the 2nd renaissance of the arts.
Learn, copy and trying to improve...
Still in the learning phase ;-)
Amsterdam Netherlands
www.ferrywinkler.nl
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Danny Baronian
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Re: Working with: .035" polyethylene

Post by Danny Baronian »

Hi Mike,

this place carries polyethlyine: http://www.grafixplastics.com/polyethyl ... hwodUB5NAw

Nothing sticks to polyethylene, at least not for long. Grafix states you can screen print on the film, but it must be coated to accept the screen ink.

As for a stock material, .06 pvc comes in 4 x 8 sheets. Last time I ordered I think it was roughly $ 20 a sheet. With either material you'd need a backer, .032 would be blowing in the wind.

Danny
Danny Baronian
Baronian Mfg.
CNC Routing & Fabrication
http://www.baronian.com
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