INSTRUCTIONS:

If you have experience foiling by hand, you probably will use this machine for 15 minutes and feel that you want to give up and go back to hand wrapping. If, on the other hand, you will use the Glastar Foiler for a minimum of 2 hours, we know your speed will increase way above what you presently can do by hand. Give the Glastar Foiler a fair test, and we're sure it will save you a lot of time.

How to Set Up and Use the Glastar Foiler

Upon opening this box, you should find two packages of parts as well as the housing. One package contains three large tape reels (approximately 5" in diameter). Each reel is marked according to the size foil it is to be used with (either 3/16" , 7/32" , or 1/4"). In the other package, there are three front rollers; and again, each is marked according to the foil size, and there is also miscellaneous hardware.

Step 1:
Secure the machine to some type of base. There are four screws provided so that you can secure it directly to your workbench or to a plywood platform. The latter is preferable so that it can be moved readily. Because of the length of the screws, the platform must be at least 1/2" thick and should be no smaller than 12" square - preferably larger. Two other possibilities might be to use double-back mirror tape; or, clamp the foiler to the table with a large spring clamp similar to those used on jumper cables.

Step 2:
Select the front roller that corresponds to the size foil you want to use, and place it on the front axle (either side). Then put a nylon locking nut on the screw that extends out of the axle. you will find a tool in with the hardware that looks very similar to a wing nut. Use it to tighten the nylon locknuts. The nut should be tightened just enough so that the roller does not roll on the axle completely free. There should be a very slight drag.

Step 3:
To thread the machine, select the tape reel that corresponds to the size foil you want to use. In placing the spool of foil on the reel, you may find that it is slightly too small to fit over the reel. If so, peel out one of the layers of cardboard that the foil is wrapped on. Place the foil and reel on the same side of the foiler as the corresponding size front roller. Install a nut on the screw that extends out of the axle to hold the reel in place. Be certain that you have oriented the foil on the reel so that it unwinds as shown in the diagram (from the bottom). Peel the backing from the foil and feed the foil through the splitter and over the front roller. Now, lower the glass guide on the roller. This guide keeps the foil in the track on the roller and also helps to center the glass over the foil. If you have threaded the foil correctly, the adhesive side of the foil is facing up.

Step 4:
There are three different adjustments to make on your foiler. The drag or tension on the rear tape reel and the front roller. Also, the tightness of the screw on the glass guide so that it stays down on the roller. You must experiment with all three and tighten or loosen them until the machine works best for you.

Step 5:
To apply the foil, start on the straightest edge of the glass and insert it into the guide against the roller. Move the glass downward; and as you do so, the roller revolves applying the foil to the edge. Maintain a steady speed. When you come to a corner or point, stop and rotate the glass and continue the downward motion until the piece is complete. Cut the foil with a pair of scissors so that the foil overlaps 1/4" or so. Roll the rear tape reel backwards to pull the end of the tape under the guide before starting the next piece. For best results, the edges of the glass should be ground lightly. This will prevent the glass from cutting through the foil and also provides a better surface for the foil to stick to. As you work with the machine, you will become more adept at keeping the glass centered over the foil, and your speed will increase tremendously.

Step 6:
After applying the foil to the glass, note that the machine has only partially folded the edge of the foil around the sides of the glass. You will have to go back and flatten the foil on each side. You can drag an instrument such as a lathkin over the foil, but we recommend a small roller such as a wallpaper seam roller. it is faster and less likely to tear the foil.

Note: you cannot use this machine to foil inside curves that are smaller than the diameter of the front roller.