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Review on ๐Ÿ”’ Gizmo Dorks Preapplied Laminated Adhesive: Ready-to-Apply Bonding Solution for Various Surfaces by Mike Walters

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Life Changing Product

**** Review edited after speaking with seller and using the product for about a month and about a dozen prints. The original review is included at the end for posterity. **** I think I messed up applying the first PEI sheet I bought because I didn't wait long enough after cleaning the IPA glass top before applying the PEI sheet. This caused bubbles to form once the assembly was heated to printing temperature, making the printing surface uneven and requiring the removal of the PEI sheet which could not then be reapplied, and this resulted in a major mess. After asking the seller for advice they sent me a replacement blade and they were very kind and helpful with advice on the best way to get it working for my application and clean up the mess I made. As soon as the second sheet arrived, I again followed the enclosed instructions. This time I gave the IPA enough time to evaporate before applying the PEI film to the jar and everything went smoothly. I also waited about a day after applying the foil before heating it up and then left it at 60ยฐC for a few hours before ramping up to 110ยฐC for ABS printing. How is it printed? LIKE A DREAM. Going from the original Elder 3 Pro magnetic surface to this product is like night and day. First of all, this sheet of glass is completely flat! Finally I could really raise the level of my bed. Best of all, I didn't have to re-level the bed after more than a dozen prints. I prepared the surface with 800 grit sandpaper (I didn't have the recommended 600 grit on hand) - just made light circular abrasions across the print surface. As a result, the prints lie evenly and well. I really had to try to achieve adhesion failure (printing a circle on the page still doesn't work). Best of all, prints are gently removed after the surface has cooled down. Even large prints with a large adhesive surface (e.g. 4 x 4 inches) come off cleanly. I did not experience any blistering or deflection like ABS on the OEM Ender 3 Pro finish. Cleaning is also very easy. Unlike the original finish of the Ender 3 Pro, the 3D print material doesn't get stuck in a rough surface. After a dozen prints, the interface still looks and behaves the same as when it was first printed. All I do to clean is wipe the surface down with household IPA before printing. When the bed has reached temperature (I print at 110ยฐC) the IPA will have evaporated and the print will hold up well. Best of all, if the print surface starts to have problems, I can refresh it by sanding it again. The PEI film is about 1mm thick so it will last a long time! ****Original review starts below. Lessons learned are to take your time and allow the IPA to evaporate completely before applying the PEI film. **** Looks like a good product from USA. I don't know how well it prints yet as I haven't gotten to it yet. It is applied to a sheet of glass (also from Revain). I pre-cleaned the glass with isopropyl alcohol (the sticker with instructions says to clean the PEI film with isopropyl alcohol, so I figured it would be safe). The glue is very sticky, but I was able to get it on the glass without bubbles the first time (use the rolling method as recommended in the description). Everything OK, no bubbles at 60ยฐC according to the installation instructions. I wanted to print ABS, took it to 110C and noticed that LARGE bubbles were forming right in the middle of the sheet. I couldn't remove them without peeling off the edge, which completely ruined the adhesive (the adhesive was ripped / chipped off, so the sheet was no longer held flat). Now I have a PEI sheet and a glass sheet covered in very sticky glue. Not good. I'll try cleaning it and then maybe glueing it to something else, but I don't know what will stand up to the ABS printing temperatures. Must just go back. :/

Pros
  • Dimensions: 235 x 235mm / PEI Thickness: 0.56mm (0.022") / 3M 468MP Laminated Adhesive Thickness: 0.13mm (0.005") / Perfect for Creality Ender 3 or Creality CR 20!
Cons
  • Poor