Hi everyone, I'm a newbie to the forum and banners for that matter so I'm looking for some no nonsense advice. I recently purchased a wide format solvent printer. Primary business is outdoor signage for commercial real estate and developers. Printer was purchased to increase production capacity - and has delivered. So recently I started marketing banners to my clients. As luck would have it my first serious request is for a mesh banner for a construction site fence - 6ft wide by approx 350 ft. I'm confident I can print it but finishing is a concern. (yes I know banner mat'l doesn't come 350' long, it will not be one continous banner)
I did my first printed banner today. Finished it with double sided tape and a hand grommet tool from Home Depot. If I get this mesh order I will purchase a grommet press.
Where I'm stuck is how to fold the edge and get it straight in some sort of efficient manner for 800+ linear feet. Also, I'm getting conflicting advice on proper finishing for mesh. Some say folding over and sewing will work. Others claim heat sealing is necessary. And yet others claim a vinyl coated mesh reinforcement strip heat sealed to the edge is necessary. Banner will be up for approx one year in downtown high rise area, low wind. I have a Consew industrial sewing machine so sewing is prefered to buying a heat sealer - that is if I can figure out how to hem it straight!
Bring on the advice!!!
TK
Tyler: Your mesh banner could be sewn, rf welded or heat welded. I agree with Aaron that the grommets will basically do much of the work holding the fabric. This is a big banner if you have to connect all the sections - can you install it in smaller sections that match?
If you don't sew much or have serious tables this would be very difficult to sew. (or weld for that matter) We sew big banners like this with a double needle chainstitch ( a Singer 300w205) that has a puller to move the material. It would be very easy to reinforce the seam with vinyl at the same time we sew the hem. Hot air/wedge welding would work well also but that equipment could run you $15,000. That's more than four times what the Singer would be. I have an informational website on banner finishing you might want to check out:
www.digitalbannersewing.com
or call me and we can discuss how you can do this - We train people how to select sewing machines, set up sewing areas and sew banners with commercial machines (including your consew which is fine for most work)
good luck, Terry Sheban/Super Stitches 800-566-3231
Hi,
There's a lot of way of doing seaming. Try finding a uses twin needle machine with 1/2" or more between the needles. If you can find 1" that would be great. A chain Stitch is the suggested method, but used machines tend to have many problems and seldom work properly... go for a good lock stitch machine. At least, they can be repaired by most sewing teck. If your having trouble sewing, use any double sided tape and tape down your hem, it will hold long enough for sewing, plus the tape will seal your sewing holes from the weather. IF you have a long banner ... over 12 feet, roll up the banner and set up a steel or wood bar in front of the sewing machine. As the machine sews, it will unroll the banner. IF you want a straight line, the person on the other end collecting the banner will controls how straight the seam is. SO if you have a line on your table, when it comes out of the machine, and the person collecting the banner stays on that line, you'll get a perfect seam.
Method 2 - Use a product called Vinyl Bond. In Canada, it's sold by J. Ennis. 1.800.663.6647. This stuff is so strong it will melt through the banner if you use too much. We lays two rows of masking tape, and spread the glue in between. The tickness of the tape is the perfect amount for a perfect seam. We use this method when doing banner display and need to come down 4-5 inches for a roll top. If done properly, you can't see the seam. Whereas, with sewing you'd see the tread. A gallon cost about $70.00 and will last the average sign shop 5 years.
Method 3 - Hot seaming. This is where a hot iron or heat gun type machine will apply heat to both surfaces and a set of rollers will push the surfaces togheter. This is a fast method of seaming.... and no cost for thread. But to work these seamers you need a long table or a couple of boards on the floor to keep the machine going in a straight line. I sell the units for $650.00 US. If your doing 20 banners or more, you may want to consider a machine and set up a table for the job. I've seamed up to 300 feet x 10' tall using this method
Every method has an advantage.... the quantity of banners will determine what method to use. Hope the information helps
Check out my web site iiss.ca or my e-store cemedia.ca. We have the lowest price in Canada on equipment and displays. A new shipment of seamer will arrive in Dec
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When you print the banner print a guide line to mark your hem, if there is no image to follow. We use a rf welder and have no problems. The hem will be held in place with grommets also so it should not be a concern. And if you are off a little bit nobody will ever notice.