Laminating HASL Maps

[McFinn]

Hello all,

How have you laminated HASL Maps?

Per a suggestion in the "getting new player for ASL: thread I would like to have some full size HASL laminated maps to hang up on the wall as a poster at our montly ASL meet in Albuquerque. (to attrach new players)

I have laminated all my unmounted maps 1-50+ on a home laminator.

I'm hoping there is a way to laminate one of the HASL maps without cutting them (I just can't bear to do it)

Do any of you ASL'ers out there have a suggestion how to do this?

 

[Count Belisarius]

Hi,

I went to a local printshop that specialised in encapsulation. I got the Berlin:Red Vengeance, both Tarawa maps, Primasole Bridge and the one from Annual '97 that I can never spell done for just over £50 GBP. It cost more as I went for a matt finish. They came out very well and I'll be getting the rest done as soon as I can get my credit card back from my wife.

The only issue is storage. I'll be picking up a large art portfolio for them. It's also a slight hassle if you're playing a scenario that only uses a portion of the map but you still need a big table to fit it on. It might be worth getting some A3 copies of the relevent map areas for small scenarios and laminating those as well - whcih you may be able to do yourself if your laminator takes A3?

So, anyway. It's good to do. Not too expensive if you're not bothered about a matt finish (I hate the glare off gloss) and only requiring a steady nerve as you hand over your only Red Barricades maps and hope the laminator doesn't screw up :crosseye:

Cheers

Andy

 

[morrigu]

Hi.

The idea of laminating (== protecting) my preciousssss HASL Maps appeals to me.
I searched the web for a while and found some shop that laminate stuff. However they offer different thicknesses for laminating like 80, 125, 250 or 500 mic (whichever unit "mic" is).
Does anybody have any experience on how thick the layup should be?

Regards ... ollo

 

[SamB]

In the US of A, they talk about the laminate thickness in "mills" - which is actually a thousanth of an inch... I suspect that the 80 to 125 "mic" is about a mill??? who knows?

At any rate, the heavier the laminate, the heavier the final map, the stiffer the map will be, etc. Personally, I don't see any problem with using one of the thiner laminates. I'm just going to push cardboard around on it, not scuff it with a wire brush!

Sam

 

[asler]

Roll Laminating

I've taken several of my historical maps to Kinko's and had them roll laminate them. I think that it is a 3 mill thickness. I know there is a risk that they will mess it up, but so far I've been lucky - and if I do it while the map is still in print I can simply just replace a messed up lamination. I store them in a map/poster shipping tube. The thin lamination is great for that since I simply roll them up and slip them in the tube. Since I play with plexiglass placed over the playing area, the "curling" doesn't come into play.

CG

 

[cujo8-1]

I have also taken them to Kinko's. They laminate for $1.50 a square foot. My maps have cost me anywhere from $6.00 to about $8.00 each.

I also bought an enormous portfolio for storage. Curling at the corners is minimal. I tape them down.

 

[olli]

Hi I have all my Historical maps laminated, and when it comes to playing on a smaller area of the map - I bought extra maps and , Here's the th heretic in me , cut them up and laminated the play areas, so one historical map and x amount of smaller ones. Have now done that for most historical modules now.
Go for the kinko option of hot laminating, recently seen cold laminations on several maps, all folded back up after laminating and , well thge folds just make playing on them a complete waste of effort and time.

 

[Pitman]

Cold lamination: bad.

Hot lamination: gooooood.

Just take 'em to Kinko's. I have had every single official and third party historical map laminated by Kinko's without any problem whatsoever.

 

[Pitman]

I should note that I had them cut Operation Watchtower into two maps and Onslaught to Orsha into three maps to make them manageable.

 

[thunderdrake]

I am in the process of laminating my HASL maps. The thing I like about it is you can use waterbased markers to draw scenario boundries, VP locations etc. on the map with no trouble and setting beverages on the maps won't destroy it (pieces are another story). But I have had some horror stories, my local Kinko's made an air bubble seem that ran through the middle of two geomorphic boards - clerk created bubble by laminating maps side by side too closely to save plastic I guess.

I also had someone else at the same Kinkos laminate a HASL map while it was still folded in half! They were able to cut it open pretty cleanly but the map was laminated on only one side and there was a three inch cut along the map where it was separated. So I don't go to that kinko's any more. :angry:

Also, print stores seem to vary a lot by size of map they can do. Eventually, I found that Staples can do up to 25" x 35" but they need to send them to their own print shop and it takes about a week. So far good jobs on two maps. I think it is around $2 per square foot but it really does increase their durability.

 

[Special K9]

I should note that I had them cut Operation Watchtower into two maps and Onslaught to Orsha into three maps to make them manageable.

I don't know if I would like to have my maps cut. But I guess depending on your local laminator you may limited options.

Kevin

 

[Pitman]

Those two maps beg to be cut, lamination or no lamination. They are far too large for a single map.

 

[M.Koch]

I have (hot)laminated 13 maps ( all historicalls, Annual 97, Journal 2, Veritable) in 125 mic(ron) and matt finish...perfect!
I paid 234€ for this pack...a lot of money...but it was worth every cent :cheeky:

MK

 

['Ol Fezziwig]

I should note that I had them cut Operation Watchtower into two maps and Onslaught to Orsha into three maps to make them manageable.

Is there some sort of size limit to what they will do? Or is it just a personal preference?

 

[SamB]

This is Mr Pitcavage's preference. I laminated all my HASL maps in one piece.

That said, once they are laminated, taping them together to play is no big deal.

There are limits to how large they can laminate, but 36" wide is the "usual" size limit.

Sam

 

[Doc Ozzie]

There are limits to how large they can laminate, but 36" wide is the "usual" size limit.

Sam

Name the below Movie's dialog: (of course altered for this conversation)

Pitman: We'll make Historical ASL map laminations, for long maps. Twice as long as a man.

SamB: That long?

Pitman: Aye

SamB: Some men are longer than others.

Pitman: Has your mother been telling you stories about me again boy?!"

 

[Psycho]

Name the below Movie's dialog: (of course altered for this conversation)

Pitman: We'll make Historical ASL map laminations, for long maps. Twice as long as a man.

SamB: That long?

Pitman: Aye

SamB: Some men are longer than others.

Pitman: Has your mother been telling you stories about me again boy?!"

Easy! Braveheart

 

[Pitman]

The largest artist portfolio I've seen, which is the one I own to store my ASL HASL maps in, is not large enough for Watchtower or OtO.

 

[McFinn]

Thanks for all the info fellas,

I guess I'm off to Kinkos for the lamination (hot, not cold).

I'll try to make sure the folks doing it know the maps unfold, to avoid problems others had.

I will not be cutting the maps (I just can't do it) and don't use an artist portfolio anyway (to big, the whole ASL kit needs to fit on the motorcycle don't ya know). I think I'll test out a plans/poster tube and see how that works.

Thanks again all for the info.

(Now I just need to make a poster sized IIFT to indoctrinate the new guys )

 

[Legion]

My University has a laminator that can handle up to A1 width and any length, so that is perfect for my beloved maps...

They are pretty much all done, at A$10 a pop (that is about 1.50euro, US$2 and NZ$100 :laugh: ) and they look sweet and will last a LONG time...

The only question i have is what is the best texta to use on them?