3 1/8 Thermal Paper Rolls

Thermal paper is available in a wide array of size and color combinations, but one of the most popular sizes is the 3 1/8 thermal roll. The size 3 1/8 refers to the width of the roll, and has nothing to do with the length. 3 1/8 thermal rolls are utilized in quite a few machine types and combinations such as credit card, point of sale, bar code terminals, and a variety of other uses.

When shopping for 3 1/8 thermal rolls, it is best to consider a few of the following options.

First, consider the end use of your product. If you need to put your 3 1/8 thermal roll into the backroom of a restaurant, then look for specially coated rolls which are grease and water resistant. There a number of chemical compounds which have been developed to preserve the print image even when it comes in direct contact with either grease or water.

Cheaper is not always better when it comes to buying 3 1/8 thermal rolls. Certain thermal rolls are specially designed to reduce wear and tear on your thermal print heads. If you save a few pennies today, it may end up costing you hundreds of dollars in new equipment tomorrow. Please review your manufacturer recommendation on replacement paper rolls before buying your replacement 3 1/8 thermal rolls.

There are a variety of colors that are available for the print image on most 3 1/8 thermal rolls. Although black is predominant, you can also find red, blue, green, and other specialty colors. Take into account how you want the image to look for your customer or end user. Although all thermal rolls are activated by heat, it is the chemical compound within the paper that determines the print color.

Look for BPA free thermal paper. Recent studies have shown that Bisphenol A (more commonly known as BPA) can cause any of a large number of health related issues. There are certain manufacturers who are still producing 3 1/8 thermal rolls that are heavily coated in BPA. A quick review of the packaging will help you determine if your thermal rolls are BPA free.

Finally, you should beware of trying to store long term data retention on 3 1/8 thermal rolls. In reality, any thermal rolls make a poor choice for long term data retention due to the high risk of degradation when they come in contact with sunlight, UV radiation, water, heat, or other environmental factors. If you do need to attempt to store your 3 1/8 thermal rolls for a period of time, make sure it is in a cool, climate controlled environment.