At our shop, we have a 3M air release tool (basically a retractable pin) that punctures the vinyl to release air bubbles to allow better adhesion to substrates. I'd like to obtain one in Canada for my own use. BUT they are expensive here...like almost $50.These tools are a MUST for every vinyl pusher out there (signs, car wraps, etc).
Anyone know of a better price (including shipping to Calgary)?
I have come across 3M and Avery air release tools.
I've tried eBay and searched many websites online but a lot of them require you to log in to check prices. Long story short, they are expensive little things for a simple concept...
The Avery air release tool is MUCH less expensive ($8.95-15.00) and they are retractable too but the shipping is what kills this deal for me here in Canada Those guys want like @$22 for shipping. So the total would be $31.08 USD (still have to convert that price to Canadian Dollars too....)
If I have to, I was thinking of buying one of these combos from USCUTTERS in the USA. It's a combo Xacto style knife with pin inserts. Not exactly what I had in mind but would work since I have a separate and real Xacto knife.
I have also hacked together a pen with a cut down pin glued to the pen shaft. It works but is kind of ghetto...would like the real meal deal if possible. I'm brand agnostic. Just want something reliable.
Thanks!
Hello Drew: For the last 20 + years we mainly use X-Aox knifes, but you can use any sharp pointed object works just fine. ( straight pin, ect.) you can make a fancy one by driving a pin into a small piece of wood. If you have two or three day before the client picks up his sign you can just sit it in a worm place and the air will evaporate on it's on, that doesn't work on the outer layer of a laminate ( one piece of vinyl on another ). And one other thing those holes that you poke to let the air out get bigger with age.
George
Lots of good ideas here thus far, thanks very much to all.
George I didn't realize the holes get bigger with age, hmmm, have to research that some more.
Though we all try to apply perfect vinyl (and I'm pretty good at it), sometimes (well inevitably) an air bubble is going to happen.
Drew, Some of the stuff I put down looks like it was laid on small rocks, but they will be gone in less than a week, if the bubble is the size of a nickle or bigger I'll let the air out. I tell our clients that they can have there vech. the same day and if there are any air bubbles in a week to bring it back, Hard signs we keep a week to allow the air out. For a pin there isn't anything I've found better than a Dr. mixing needle.
This is a 2-1 Grifhold combo unit that looks promising but they don't ship to Canada (of course). Price is $7.95 (USD).
Update: Oh, they DO ship to Canada since I went through the shopping cart ordeal, but get this....$27.16 UPS Standard to Canada for just the shipping!!! Are you NUTS?
Drew That thing looks dangerous to me those plastic covers never stay on for very long. You could get a scribe for metal and sharpen the point, they work like a pen with a retractable point. They look almost like the picture in your first post. If you find something that doesn't ship up north I'd be glad to pick it up and ship it to you, I don't know what the shipping charge would be, but you could get it for what ever the cost is.