posted
I have a heavy duty sewing machine just for banners, but haven't sewn digitally printed ones yet, has anyone had problems sewing banner hems with full bleed prints (scratching prints, etc.)?
posted
Doug, how it goes will depend on the banner material, but yes, they can get scratched easily- that's not too hard to overcome, but the thing to watch is that they don't get creased into a fold in the centre as you try to pull or push the material along. A crease ending in a point can cop a scratch & lose its ink easily.
I've found the safest way was to roll the banner up & hem the short end, unroll it to the other end & hem that, then rotate it 90 degrees and feed it under the foot, unrolling it from the roll behind you, and rerolling it up just after it's been sewn. You can keep the line fairly straight that way, and move along quickly.
I also sew them with the print on TOP, hem folded underneath. That way there isn't the tendency to scratch them as you drag them along.
If you have help, it's easier, but I've handled 4 x 10 ft ones OK, and 8 x 16 ft ones, though the bigger ones really do need a helper when you do the long edges.
I find the hems crease easily & sort of stay put, compared with ordinary heavy banner vinyl which often wants to flatten out. With ordinary banners, I hem them with the good side down underneath.
That's just the way I do it- I'm no expert though. Often it's easier & cheaper to buy ready made banners freighted up in 2 days, but that's for blank ones. I still like the convenience of doing it yourself. With digital ones, the time delay is often different. On a couple of interior ones, 3' x 7' , I found I could eyelet them in the corners, and omit a seam or hem altogether.
What model is your sewing machine- is it a compound feed unit, or a walking foot one, or a plain straight sewer?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7017 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ian, I like your "rolling" technique. I've built an extra chunk of table on mine kind of like an "L" and it helps keep things going straight. Still requires a bit of attention and a subtle touch on the pedal.
Last year I got the machine of my dreams. A Consew walking foot 1/2 HP. It's a sewing machine that would make Tim the Toolman proud. It'll stitch two layers of full grain cowhide without missing a beat. I have yet to even break a needle.
By the way, for you fishermen out there, old banners make great sea anchors, You just need some nylon strapping,. . . and a sewing machine.
-------------------- Bill Modzel Mod-Zel screen Printing Traverse city, MI modzel@sbcglobal.net Posts: 1359 | From: Traverse City, MI | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic