For those of you that foil

[ericheartsu]

How do you store the rolls? we have so many, and i'm looking for a better and easier way to display/access them!

[ABuffington]

I liked using a system similar to mesh.  Doweling on a rack on the wall to roll off and cut.
The easiest way to cut foil we found was making thick chipboard boards 1" bigger than the image and cut parallel. (Save all boards and mark them for size).
Attach foil to card, flip 50 times, use a utility knife and place on board and slice from the inside of the wrapping at an angle on both sides.

Al

[ericheartsu]

I liked using a system similar to mesh.  Doweling on a rack on the wall to roll off and cut.
The easiest way to cut foil we found was making thick chipboard boards 1" bigger than the image and cut parallel. (Save all boards and mark them for size).
Attach foil to card, flip 50 times, use a utility knife and place on board and slice from the inside of the wrapping at an angle on both sides.

Al

al this is amazing advice

thank you so much!

[ebscreen]

That is a stellar piece of advice. Beats the hell out of the paper cutter and one at a time!

[mimosatexas]

seriously great idea.  I actually have used exactly the same method to cut string for hand tags and a handful of other projects, but never though about doing it with foil.  I am running 1 or 2 foil jobs a week right now for whatever reason.  I got two clients completely hooked on it, and have been using it for lots of one offs too.  People don't seem to mind spending way more for something shiny

[ABuffington]

Since some of you are into foil, here is a newsletter on how to do puff foil.  This process was 90% of my production when my shop was open.  This is seriously the best use of foil we ever found.  The reason is foil is mirror like.  When it is flat, the reflection has to be viewed dead on.  With this puff foil/texture technique you create thousands of facets in the print for added bling.  We used this technique to land Disney and did hundreds of thousands of Little Mermaid puff foil prints along with casinos and lots of big box clothing lines.
The key is Wilflex Nu Puff for the puff ink.  Others may work as well, but this puff with IC foil glue on top, could be sent back through the oven and it would re-puff the design.  Best on keylines and areas less than 1/2 inch.  Covering big broad areas is a pain.

http://murakamiscreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/3D-Puff-foils.pdf

Al

[tonypep]

Al funny I was thinking about getting into that again. BTW search for serrated gift wrap dispensers. Sorry having some heath issues can't post much.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

I make these gizmos from 2x4 lumber and short pieces of 1/2" thinwall conduit (EMT) cut with a tubing cutter. 

I. AM. CHEAP.

I usually use a paddle bit on a drill press, but I have to grind them narrower just a skoshe for a better conduit to "socket" fit. I forget which size of paddle bit, but if you have the motivation and skill to make one, you'll easily be able to figure out which size to modify. The last set I made, my drill press was 60 miles away and a drill motor seemed to work okay. A drill press just makes straighter holes. This rack is beside the heat press and cutter, so it has some vinyl on it too. Note the helter-skelter organization, a hallmark of our business model. 

I screw them to a scrap piece of MDO or plywood and mount the whole thing to a wall. Pretty heavy though, you'll need a hand. I keep the sign vinyl in a different room close to a different plotter.

Tony, I hope you get feeling better soon! Your years of experience makes this a better place to hang out!
Stan

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

I pulled up the PDF that Alan Buffington included and ordered some Wilflex Nu Puff.

I hate to hijack this particular thread, but foiled over puff is a worthy special effect. Pretty neat, actually!

I've just got to dial it in, adjusting for time and pressure on the heat press, Photoshop Textures to use, mesh choice, tunnel temps etc. 

But we do print some bling, and I think this is going to work out.

Thanks Alan!