For many years, shrink wrap has proven to be a useful tool for protecting people’s items in shipping and storage. However, naysayers still argue against its effectiveness and have misconceptions about shrink wrapping. Here are five myths about shrink wrapping that are easily debunked.
One incorrect belief is that you cannot recycle shrink wrap after you use it. In fact, you can recycle the wraps and use them to make other products. This diverts the material from ending up in a landfill.
Another misconception about shrink wrapping is that it can’t protect objects because it is too weak. On the contrary, you can purchase shrink wrap in different levels of thickness that add to its strength. It also provides users with a seal strong enough to prevent pests from entering and damaging their property.
Some also believe it is too hard to open shrink wrap to remove an item from the packaging. You can do it easily with the help of a utility knife or a box cutter. Clear shrink wrap even gives you an advantage over corrugated packaging in this process by showing you where you should cut so that you can avoid damaging the contents inside.
You may also think that if you shrink-wrap an item, you will always trap in moisture that will lead to mold or mildew forming. You can easily prevent this by using vents that eliminate moisture and ventilate your wrap. After wrapping your product, you can attach vents on the outside to prevent damage.
Although you may use a shrink-wrap heat gunto apply the wrap to your item, you will not have to worry about inadvertently damaging it. The wrap does not require a large amount of heat to shrink, and other wrapping processes can help eliminate any worries you have about harming your product.
When you package your items with shrink wrap, you will have peace of mind. Visit Buffalo Shrink Wrap’s website to find the best wrap products to protect your possessions.
As the end of the winter gets closer, it will soon be spring, and you will be ready to take your boat out of storage. As part of this process, you must check on your boat and its condition after being in storage. Here are some spring checkup tips not to miss for boat owners to ensure your vessel is in good condition.
If you used shrink wrap on your boat before putting it in storage, remember to remove the cover carefully. Make your first cut on the bottom edge of the wrap that is parallel to the ground. Keep your cut close to the cockpit of your stern so that you do not scratch any paint.
After pulling away the wrap from the boat, cut the inside layer. This allows you to remove layers from the boat instead of cutting toward it and making scratches. Angle the knife away from yourself to avoid injuries.
If you did not use shrink wrap on your boat, you might have unwanted pests who made their way aboard. These can include rodents who used your boat as a temporary shelter to protect themselves from the winter weather. After cleaning up their mess, consider using shrink wrap before storing your boat this year to keep animals from intruding on your property.
Another spring checkup tip not to miss is to look for mold or mildew that may have formed. Even if you used shrink wrap, you might not have prevented moisture from building inside, leading to such problems. However, there is a solution to prevent this from happening in the future.
After wrapping, you can apply a vent that breathes for your wrap and eliminates moisture. You can use a plastic vent, which you insert after making a hole in the wrap and securing it with adhesive. A stealth vent slides over the wrapping; secure it with shrink wrap tape on the outside.
These products will allow you to do a better job of storing your vessel for the winter. Visit Buffalo Shrink Wrap’s website and let us help you keep your boat safe and secure.
Can you shrink wrap a camper, RV, or travel trailer? Whenever you put something into storage, you want to protect it from any harm, particularly your RV. One way to do that is with shrink wrap. Although you may associate the protective wrap with products shipped in bulk, the material is an effective tool to keep your trailer safe. Here are some of the benefits of shrink wrap for your RV or travel trailer.
When looking at options for storing your RV, you might have considered using a tarp or a cover you can buy from a retailer. Although those can protect your trailer from some elements, they don’t provide as tight of a seal as shrink wrap. The wrap provides a seal that’s stronger and more durable than a tarp and doesn’t move around.
Additionally, shrink wrapping your RV for the winter, or any season, can ensure that rodents or other pests don’t invade your RV and use it as a temporary shelter. The product will prevent them from sneaking in and leaving damage or a mess you must clean up when you take it out of storage.
Another benefit of shrink wrap for your RV or travel trailer is that it can accommodate any shape. There’s a good chance that you’ve added custom features to the exterior of your RV throughout its life.
Instead of worrying about finding a tarp with the right size to cover it all, you can use shrink wrap rolls on your trailer, and they’ll conform to any shape or size. Their ability will eliminate any worries you might have had about a tarp not being able to stretch far enough to protect portions of your trailer.
The shrink wrap can also alleviate any concerns about your trailer experiencing damage from moisture. After you apply the shrink wrap to your RV's roof and other areas, you can install special vents that’ll control moisture and do the breathing for the wrap. You can walk away from your trailer with confidence that it won’t develop mildew or mold while you have it in storage.
Repairing damage to your RV can be expensive, so make sure you take care of it with shrink wrap. Visit our website to find the best products to keep your trailer safe and sealed.
When people wrap items in shrink wrap, they want to create a tight, cost-effective seal around their belongings that will protect them from the elements. But sometimes, the wrap needs some extra enhancements to provide total protection. Discover below how to stop moisture buildup within shrink wrap.
Although the shrink wrap helps create a protective barrier from outside elements, it does not prevent moisture from forming inside. If you wrap up an item while it’s still wet, it can lead to such problems as mold and mildew since the moisture does not have a way to escape. If you can, dry the item off before you encase it in the wrap.
If you are in a situation where you cannot fully dry the item before you wrap it up, do not fear. Thankfully, you can stop moisture buildup within shrink wrap by using a vent applied after the wrapping process. The product does the breathing for the wrap and eliminates the moisture so that your product will not suffer damage from mildew or mold.
If you are having trouble deciding which vent to use, a plastic vent is one of the most common items. You can add this onto the wrap after cutting out an appropriately sized opening. With the help of the product’s adhesive, you should be able to put the vent over the hole and make it stick.
Another option is to use a stealth vent, which saves you the trouble of making a hole or using adhesive. Instead, the stealth vents feature a pointed end that allows you to slide the product into and over the wrapping. All you will need to do afterward is ensure you secure the vent with tape on the outside.
With these products, you can do a better job of storing and preserving your possessions. If you’re looking for shrink wrap wholesale suppliers that can also provide quality vents, browse the products at Buffalo Shrink Wrap. We have the right products for you.
What are you currently using to cover your boat or car when you’re not using it? The debate about whether to use a tarp or shrink wrap is not difficult at all once you look at the facts. If you’re struggling to find a solution, look at each material’s properties below to determine which is superior.
Whether you’re covering a boat, car, or any other object, some might gravitate toward using a tarp because they think that shrink wrap is not recyclable. While you can reuse a tarp many times, you can also recycle your old shrink wrap. Buffalo Shrink Wrap products are 100 percent made from virgin resins that you can recycle into other products. If the environment is a concern for you, you can dispose of this material safely and cleanly!
When you compare these two materials, you will find that shrink wrap offers better strength and durability. The longer a tarp spends outside under the sun, the more likely it will become brittle and unable to protect the object you’re covering. As for shrink wrap, you can use a shrink wrap heat gun to conform the plastic to the object for an airtight fit that is less likely to be damaged by the elements. Plus, shrink wrap won’t move around, but a tarp could become loose or fly away if you do not secure it well.
Now that you understand the strength and durability of tarps and shrink wrap, which do you think will offer the best protection? Obviously, the one with the most durability, of course! A tarp doesn’t create a seal, so water, pests, and debris will make their way onto the object you’re covering. Shrink wrap, however, creates a seal that helps prevent any debris or pests from entering and ruining your property. Note that freak incidents can happen, and the plastic could still tear from time to time, depending on how you handle the material.
In general, purchasing one tarp compared to a reel of shrink wrap is likely more affordable, but it won’t be cost-effective. If you accidentally create a hole in the wrap, you can easily repair it with tape and heat so you can continue using your investment. Plastic also works well for long-term or short-term solutions with little to no maintenance, unlike tarp, which becomes brittle quickly.
So, when it comes to tarp versus shrink wrap, which one are you choosing? You should choose shrink wrap because of its properties! The decision is a no-brainer when a material is cost-effective, durable, offers great protection, and is recyclable. If you’re wrapping a boat or covering a car, consider using shrink wrap instead of that old tarp that’s been sitting in your garage for years.
What do you usually do with your patio furniture during the winter months? You might use a tarp to cover your outdoor furniture or move the heavy chairs and tables to an enclosure. Shrink-wrapping patio furniture, however, is a good idea for many reasons. Check out our reasons for using shrink-wrap below, and provide better protection for your outdoor furniture this season!
One of the best reasons you should shrink-wrap your patio furniture is to protect it and prevent damage. For example, if you live in a climate that experiences harsh winters and you own metal patio furniture, the shrink-wrap will protect the material from corroding due to the wet snow piling on top of it. Wrapping your tables and chairs will provide a barrier around the furniture to better protect them from outdoor elements.
Shrink-wrap can cover just about anything of any size, making this material convenient. It’s often a one size fits all scenario, but if you have an oversized item, you can always use shrink-film tape to attach two shrink-wrap sheets together to cover a wider surface. Plus, the wrap is super easy to remove once the winter snow melts and spring begins.
Using a material other than shrink-film, such as a tarp, won’t provide as much security because it won’t create a seal around your furniture. Shrink-wrap provides a snug fit and leaves no room for pests or rodents to make their way in to keep warm. Skip the tarp next time; shrink-wrap gives you much better protection and security.
The shrink-wrap you purchase from Buffalo Shrink Wrap is highly durable—our wraps have UV inhibitors and consist of virgin resin. These materials make the film hard to puncture or tear, so it can withstand harsh weather conditions and prevent sun damage. Shrink-wrapping your patio furniture with this material is a good idea because once you apply it, it will remain secure until you’re ready to remove it a few months later.
Patio furniture can be expensive to replace. Take better care of your outdoor seating by shrink-wrapping everything this winter! Browse the supplies on our website to find the best material for your outdoor furniture.
Measuring the thickness of your shrink film involves using gauges. Choosing the right shrink wrap gauge is essential for protecting your load and preventing wear and tear on your products. This shrink/stretch wrap guide covers the common types of gauges and the weight they are best suited to.
Different kinds of shrink wraps will have varying thickness gauges for the material. The item or product you’re wrapping with will determine how thick of a shrink film you need to apply. The gauge also plays a part in the strength, durability, and tear resistance of the wrap. Typically, the more your product weighs, the higher your gauge will be.
Starting with the thickest heat shrink wrap roll on the market, the 150-gauge wrap is helpful for many applications. Typically, you would use this thickness to cover taller or oddly shaped items. This stretch film gauge works best for sharper objects because it’s more resistant to tearing.
Coming in at a slightly smaller thickness, 90-, 100-, and 115-gauge wraps can handle excessive weight. 90-gauge films hold up to 2,600 pounds, while 100/115 gauge can support up to 3,000 pounds! This category involves shrink wrap that is more heavy-duty and resistant to wear and tear.
Right in the middle of the different gauges, 80-gauge wrap is considered the industry standard. 70-gauge film is similar to 80 and just as popular. Ideally, these two thicknesses can handle up to 2,400 pounds.
A stretch wrap with a 60-gauge thickness is true to size if you were to measure the material with a micrometer. Use this film with standard loads up to 1,800 pounds. As for a slightly higher gauge, 63-gauge wrap can actually handle much more weight, clocking in at 2,200 pounds, and does not puncture as easily.
When it comes to choosing the right shrink wrap gauge, a lower thickness, like a 47-gauge, is better at providing tighter coverage on your load while retaining the same strength as a 60-gauge film. This means a shrink roll with a 47-gauge can handle 1,800 pounds.
Lastly, a 37-gauge wrap is the most unique on this list because it’s actually a pre-stretched 80-gauge film. This wrap will be much thinner than its counterparts and best for loads no heavier than 800 pounds. Shrink wrap with a 37-gauge thickness is much easier to apply than higher gauges.
Consider the type of load you are wrapping first and how heavy it is to determine which shrink wrap is best for the application. Use the shrink wrap thickness guide above to ensure you’re choosing a suitable film for the job. Browse the wraps available at Buffalo Shrink Wrap to find the right one for you.
Before you purchase a shrink wrap to use for packaging products at your business, you must consider a few factors when choosing the correct material. Polyethylene could provide better strength and stability than polyolefin in certain scenarios and vice versa. Read on to learn five things to consider when choosing your shrink wrap.
Shrink wrap can be used to cover a multitude of products and components—anywhere from pallets to packaging to aircraft or water vessels. First, determine what you need the material for. Any food items might require a film with antifog properties to minimize the amount of moisture that accumulates inside, while a pallet may need more durable material to limit damage during transport.
Are you wrapping a product that needs protection from solar radiation? If you produce items that need these special requirements, keep this in mind when selecting a film. For example, white or blue polyethylene is excellent for outdoor protection because it contains UV inhibitors. Due to the special grade of the material, it’s also perfect for protecting marine vessels from sun and heat damage.
Another major component to consider when choosing your shrink wrap is the size and shape of your product. When your product is more cumbersome with sharp edges, you’ll likely need an industrial shrink wrap with a higher thickness gauge for better protection. However, if your items are light and smaller, you can use a thinner gauge to wrap more products per shrink roll. Remember, one size does not fit all!
What you use to wrap your product can also be a determining factor in the material you choose. When you use a machine to wrap your pallets for you, you will need a more durable film with the strength to provide the best stretch over the products without wasting excess material. However, if you’re wrapping manually, a lighter and smaller roll of shrink wrap works best.
The summer and winter months can make it difficult to store your shrink wrap because the climate could potentially damage the material. Also, if your products are temperature controlled—for example, frozen food items—they could also harm the integrity of the wrap. Consider temperature requirements when choosing a shrink wrap, and know that you may need to avoid film such as PVC because it can crack in cold conditions.
For all your shrink wrap needs, Buffalo Shrink Wrap has you covered. We offer many films to choose from that will accommodate all your stretch wrap packaging needs.
No industrial shrink wrap job will be complete without a heat gun because the film might not form properly around your package or product otherwise. Finding the appropriate heat gun temperature for shrink-wrap is crucial to ensuring the film shrinks and preventing melting or burning. Become familiar with heat guns, the ideal types for industrial applications, the correct temperatures, and safety measures to follow.
A shrink wrap heat gun is a handheld device that emits hot air for specific applications. When you cover a product with shrink wrap, you will use a heat gun to shrink the film and achieve a tight seal with no holes, gaps, or tears. If you apply shrink film without a heat gun, your product could be more susceptible to damage and wear and tear.
You may come across a few suggestions to use a hair dryer in place of a heat gun when you’re in a pinch. You should never follow this practice because a hair dryer does not emit enough heat to fuse your shrink wrap together.
The appropriate type of heat gun for industrial shrink wrap applications is either a gas or electric-powered device or one that uses a combination. Typically, these heat guns will come with a fan tail nozzle to help evenly distribute the heat along your film. You can add extensions or other components to the heat gun to make your heating and sealing process more accessible.
Generally, for industrial film jobs, the temperature for using a shrink wrap heat gun on Buffalo Shrink Wrap’s polyethylene material is around 160-350 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything less than that will not be suitable for your application because the shrink film will sag or come loose. Meanwhile, hotter temperatures will completely melt or burn the material. The thicker your film, the more heat you need to shrink it around an item correctly.
When using a device that emits a high temperature, you must use the tool appropriately. Never point the heat gun toward another coworker, yourself, or combustible material and substances. Once you are no longer utilizing the device, turn it off. If using a propane heat gun, ventilate the area to avoid inhaling gas fumes. Lastly, only trained professionals should have access to the tool, and these employees should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the safest applications.
Remember, the type of heat shrink wrap or plastic you use will determine the ideal temperature of your heat gun. Usually, the film needs to reach 300 degrees to shrink and form around an item properly. Browse Buffalo Shrink Wrap’s heat guns to find the suitable one for your application process.
Packing your products with shrink wrap is excellent for keeping debris and moisture away from the item you’re covering, but there could be reasons why this material is breaking. Nothing is more frustrating than completing a wrap job only to find the seal is broken or another area of the film has a tear. Below, we list three possible causes of this breakage and how you can troubleshoot a solution for more durable and effective packaging.
You must use a heat gun to create a seal with the shrink wrap by warming the material and fusing it together. However, excessive heat can melt it, which will cause it to break and create holes in the wrap. Luckily, you can fix this issue by applying shrink wrap tape over the hole and resealing it with more heat. Be wary of the heat gun’s settings, and take your time passing over the shrink film so you don’t damage it.
For industrial applications, you might use a machine to wrap pallets when the job is larger than a single employee. While this equipment can be more efficient in covering products, it can break in some instances. You must be mindful of this machine because any sharp corners or protrusions near the area can puncture the wrap and create large holes. Double-check your equipment before each wrap job to ensure you don’t ruin the material while applying it.
Again, when using a machine to shrink-wrap a product, you must use the correct settings to create a proper wrap job. The sealing wire may cause issues. If you notice the seal of your film splits after cooling off, it could point to problems with the wire. You can troubleshoot this reason for shrink wrap breakage in a few ways—clean the wire, adjust the temperature settings, and ensure the clamp applies even pressure to prevent the seal from splitting on the next application.
While it can be frustrating to experience breakage with your shrink film, there are ways to fix the issue. Remember to troubleshoot your equipment and understand which settings are suitable for creating the best seal and wrap job.
