Gator®

HEAVY-DUTY FOAM BOARDS

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• Here you you will learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions about this material.

  
  

• These questions refer to general Gator fabrication techniques; more information can be found in the Gator fabrication manual online at www.GatorfoamUSA.com.

• Gator® products are for jobs requiring tougher surfaces. Gator products range from veneer facers, plastic facers and no facers.

  
  

• Product names include

  
  

  • Gatorfoam also Known as Gator Board®

    
    

  • Gatorplast®

    
    

  • Gatorblanks®

    
    

    

• Please refer to the Gator® Fabrication Guide as we build the grid over our next few slides

  
  

  

• Can Gator® products be mounted?

  • Gatorfoam®

    
    

  • Gatorplast®

    
    

  • Gatorblanks®

    
    

    

• Can you reposition vinyl over Gator® products?

  • On Gatorplast® only

    
    

  • If you make a mistake while mounting vinyl on Gatorplast, you can remove it and reposition the graphics a second time without harming the substrate’s surface

    
    

    

• Is direct digital printing recommended over Gator® products?

  
  

  • Yes, direct digital printing is recommended over Gatorfoam® and Gatorplast®, but not Gatorblanks®

    
    

    

• Can Gator® products be screenprinted?

  
  

  • Yes, all Gator products except Gatorblanks® can be screenprinted

    
    

• Do the facers of Gator products have to be primed or pre-coated prior to screen or digital printing operations?

  
  

  • No, the surfaces can be printed or screened directly.

    
    

    

• What kinds of inks can I paint Gator® products with?

  
  

  • All types of paints, including latex, oil-based or acrylic paints can be used, but special care must be taken so that solvent- based inks do not touch the core of any of the Gator products

    
    

    

• Can all Gator® products be cut with a knife?

  • Gatorfoam® cannot be cut with a knife, but Gatorblanks® and Gatorplast® can.

    
    

• All Gator products can be cut with a saw

  
  

  

• Can Gator® products be routed?

  
  

  • Detailed shapes and contours can be made on all Gator products using a router, both hand router or CNC.

    
    

    

• Can Gator® products be die cut?

  • Gatorplast® can be die cut in all gauges

    
    

  • Die cutting is not recommended on Gatorfoam® or Gatorblanks®

    
    

    

• Gator® products cannot be embossed due to its tough facers

  
  

• Curves cannot be formed

  
  

• Framing is recommended for all products except Gatorplast®

  
  

• Can Gator® Products be used outdoors?

  

  • Gatorplast® – No

  • Gatorblanks® - Yes

  • Gatorfoam®

    
    

    • White – Yes

      
      

    • Natural – Yes

      
      

    • Black – Yes

• Gatorfoam® is the original heavy-duty foam board for Graphic Arts

  
  

• Gatorfoam performs very well, and has an excellent product reputation

  
  

• New bright white Gatorfoam is well liked for direct printing

  
  

• Large format capabilities on Gatorfoam of up to 5’ x 10’

  
  

• It will not deform, delaminate, or warp

  
  

• Excellent for free-standing signage