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We recommend 3-mil film for most common applications, including posters, signs or
instructional aids. The 3-mil film provides better protection, more rigidity, and a more lustrous
appearance than 1.5-mil film. Five-mil or 10-mil film is suggested for those applications that
need the most protection and rigidity.
Lamination with 1.5-mil film can sometimes present problems because the film is so thin it
loses heat easily. It sounds backwards, but 1.5-mil film has to be run at a higher temperature
than a 3-mil film with the same adhesive. The higher temperature compensates for the faster
rate of heat loss during lamination. A standard 3-mil film is applied at approximately 240° F,
while a standard 1.5-mil film must be applied at around 260° F. Even when applied at 280° F,
a 1.5-mil film is still more likely to delaminate later.
If the item being laminated is fairly thick, it will pull heat from the film. This will lower the
temperature of the 1.5-mil film and prevent it from sticking properly. When laminating thick
items with standard 1.5-mil film, it may be necessary to raise the temperature to 280° F or
300° F. Do not use any higher temperature for any film than is needed to get an acceptable
degree of adhesion, as measured by an X-test. Remember there are low-temperature films
that should run at much lower temperatures than those cited in this example. (See Section
5-5, Recommended Temperature Settings.)
Rolls of film are sometimes spliced. Most film suppliers will mark a splice with colored tape.
This way, you can see the splice as a “dash” of color on either end of the roll. If you spot a
spliced roll in advance, you can put it on the top supply roll mandrel in order to see the splice
coming more easily and avoid putting material under the splice. Alternatively, you could put it
on the bottom roll if you plan to be laminating items that will never be seen from the back
side.
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