Cutting Vinyl Sheets

[Royce Meritt]

I am new to laser engraving and cutting. Been slowly learning as I go. Things are going pretty well so far. I do know my engraver is capable of a lot more than I understand yet but am enjoying the learning process. I have a quick question.

I know one is not supposed to engrave or cut PVC. I am wondering if it is OK to cut the self adhesive vinyl sheets. You know, the type one would use to cut out the cute sayings, words, pictures, etc. that would be stuck to the wall.

The package says that it is vinyl but I am not sure if it is PVC or not. OK, or should I not risk it? Thanks.

[Bert Kemp]

I have read that some vinyl contains PVC and some doesn't. Not sure how to tell the difference. Maybe call the mfg of your s and ask them. Or maybe you can find a MSDS on it.

[Scott Shepherd]

That vinyl is not safe, no.

[Jerome Stanek]

You can use the flame test. heat a copper wire till it glows then use that to scrap some of the vinyl put it in a flame from a torch and see what color it burns if it is green it has chlorine and is not safe

[Keith Downing]

Most likely it is not safe. If you go with a supplier that works with engravers, they will be able to tell you if they have vinyl/plastic sheets that are laserable and which ones they are. Johnson plastics, JDS, Stahls, etc.

[Gary Hair]

I have read that some vinyl contains PVC and some doesn't. Not sure how to tell the difference. Maybe call the mfg of your s and ask them. Or maybe you can find a MSDS on it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_group

No such thing as vinyl that doesn't contain pvc - vinyl IS pvc

[Jerome Stanek]

Some one should let all those Glowforge customers know. Seen some post about all the stuff they want to cut but then again they have to have a laser to do that

[Kev Williams]

just because I checked ;)

Vinyl (#3 recycling code) is commonly used as a nickname for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (http://thesoftlanding.com/avoid-toxic-pvc-vinyl-plastic/).
It can generally be assumed that a product is made with PVC when the term “vinyl” is used to describe it.
This is a red flag so before buying, the product should be investigated further.


The Healthy Building Network (http://www.healthybuilding.net/pvc/SortingOutVinyls.html) offers an extremely informative article on PVC. They explain that in chemistry, the term “vinyl” actually has a broader meaning, encompassing a range of different thermoplastic chemical compounds. In addition to PVC, “vinyls” may also include:
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), Polyethylene Vinyl Acetate (PEVA) a copolymer of polyethylene and EVA. You'll often find EVA and PEVA used safely in baby teethers (http://thesoftlanding.com/bpa-and-phthalate-free-baby-teether-guide/), waterproof bibs, reusable food storage bags (http://amzn.to/1WzdPAI), shower curtains (http://amzn.to/1L1C75P), shock absorber in tennis shoes, padding in some shoes (like Crocs) and equipment for various sports such as ski boots, and even biomedical engineering applications as a drug delivery device used within the body.

[Keith Downing]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_group

No such thing as vinyl that doesn't contain pvc - vinyl IS pvc


This is correct for the most part I believe. The only caveat is that a lot of companies brand things as "vinyl" letters, or sheets, or covering, etc when it isn't actually true vinyl. So, you can occasionally find things marked as vinyl that are laser-able.

[vic casware]

A couple of years ago i heard 3M had a vinyl that was laser friendly but i can't find where i put the info

[Scott Shepherd]

A couple of years ago i heard 3M had a vinyl that was laser friendly but i can't find where i put the info


Sort of. It's not called "Vinyl", it's called a "Film". It's their IJ-480 product and it's called a "Wrap Film". I've used it and it's definitely not vinyl. It's some eco friendly product. I cut some with the laser once and it browned the edges quite badly.

[Gary Hair]

This is correct for the most part I believe. The only caveat is that a lot of companies brand things as "vinyl" letters, or sheets, or covering, etc when it isn't actually true vinyl. So, you can occasionally find things marked as vinyl that are laser-able.

They call it Vinyl just like people call tissues Kleenex and cotton tip swabs Q-tips. That doesn't mean that "some" vinyl doesn't contain PVC, it just means that what some people call vinyl, isn't.

[Erik Goetheer]

You can use the flame test. heat a copper wire till it glows then use that to scrap some of the vinyl put it in a flame from a torch and see what color it burns if it is green it has chlorine and is not safe


This. It's an easy test and it gives you 100% certainty.

[John Blazy]

The copper wire test is amazing. I tested this way with PVC, got green flame. Tested my EVA laminate, and got no green at all. There are suppliers that sell EVA foam for packaging and promote laser cutting with it, so EVA is ok, as far as I know.

This is an example of a laser cut EVA laminate:

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