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What is calendared vinyl as opposed to cast? For what are each best suited? Thanks!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Catherine, Put simply. Calandered is the good stuff. Cast is the best stuff. On a cost per square foot basis, there is only a slight difference between the two. Go with the cast. Usually cuts/weeds better overall. I'm sure someone will come back with a more technical and complete explanation.
-------------------- William "Irish" Holohan Resting...Read "Between Jobs." Marlboro, MA 01752 email: firemap1@aol.com Posts: 1110 | From: Marlboro, MA | Registered: Dec 2001
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-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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In a very crude summary Catherine, Cast vinyl starts out as molten goo which is poured out into a big thin puddle and allowed to set. Calendered vinyl is squashed & stretched & squashed & stretched & then put away.
Cast vinyl tends to stay put & has supposedly no or negligible shrinkage. Calendered vinyl has a tendency to want to shrink back a bit to it's pre squashed nature.
Calendered is the cheaper stuff to buy, but often enough the sign is cheaper in the long run if the dearer better cast vinyl is used, as labour costs don't change, but longevity is increased, giving a cheaper $ price per year for the customer. That's for exterior usage I mean.
Then there are exterior colour fastness & durability & flexibility & UV stability & thickness & adhesive issues, as well as different chemical compositions... that was just a crude explanation
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Cat, This is my simple understanding, and I could be wrong. CAST: Poured out wet when manufactured, thinner, easier to work with and longer-lasting. Better for long-term jobs and vehicles. CALANDERED: Rolled out when made with a BIG rolling pin. Remembers being smaller and shrinks accordingly. Thicker than cast. Good for Coro and Windshield stickers. Ta Da! Love....Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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That was one of those things that they drummed into us at college. The trouble is I could never remember which way round they were. Thanks for helping to clear that one up. The easier to spell is the best one to use!
-------------------- Barbara Murrell 4 Elements (Global)Ltd Ware Herts England barbara@4elementsglobal.com Posts: 87 | From: England | Registered: May 2003
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