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agfajet sherpa 43…
Hi all! I’m back with a few ideas…
Im looking at an agfa sherpa 43. I understand that it uses dye based aqueous inks. Now Im no expert on this, so can some one please shine a light for me!
I need the printer to produce poster style images onto sticky back clear vinyl, not really photographs… more like flags and writing, logos etc. pretty simple stuff. My only concern is that what Im producing will be sat in the sun(when it finally comes out) but will be behind window glass. it may get the odd drop of water on it too from rain droplets/people passing by. Does anyone know if this printer and ink combo will do the job? I need these prints to last about 2 years.
Any help will be greatly appreciatedSorry for being a bit slow on the uptake, but ive got so much stuff whizzing around my head at the moment and I just want to make sure what I buy is the correct one.
many thanks
Paul -
8 Replies
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I don’t think this is the right printer for jobs like you describe. The dye based inks will not last for your application even with lamination. As this printer is really a mutoh (IIRC) there may be options to convert it to pigmented inks which would give you a better life span but it would never be something I would be confident in using.
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okay…
can anyone suggest the correct printer and ink combo I may need to use??
Its such a minefield at the moment… -
Lots of people might suggesting something like a Roland Versacam to do something like this. Certainly won’t be as inexpensive as a used Sherpa. If money is really tight you may find a dealer selling something like an older Roland ESX-52 (happens in my part of the world).
I suppose if the images aren’t too big you could look at the Edge options. I guess it all boils down to how much money you have to spend and how large your images might be. There are lots of options out there.
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well, I kinda wanted a 54″ printer, but a 36 will just about do the job.
I want to spend up to £1000 on a used printer… -
quote paologray:well, I kinda wanted a 54″ printer, but a 36 will just about do the job.
I want to spend up to £1000 on a used printer…Hmmm… my version of cheap would have been $10K Cdn which would be circa £5000. Perhaps somebody else will chime in but I can’t possibly imagine your being able to pick up a suitable 36″ printer for that type of money and certainly not a 54″.
I guess your only option would be a aqueous based unit with pigmented inks which will require coated media and lamination. You could probably find a used Encad or an older HP2500 which could fit into your budget. But you’d have to be prepared for costly operation and you’d have to track down a manufacturer of coated for thermal pigmented aqueous adhesive vinyl in a clear… something I’ve never seen (but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any). However, with this option I do not think you will come close to the 2 years you require.
I could be full of it, but I think your expectations are a bit too grand for the money you have to spend.
Rob
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okay… lets start again…
I need a printer, used preferably, that can print onto glossy clear vinyl. I plan to then lay the printed vinyl onto HIPS (plastic sheet) using that lovely new EZ thing.
my requirements are…
It has to be able to print onto clear vinyl
It has to last a minimum of 1.5 years behind glass
it has to look good from a minimum of 2 feet away…Is this too much to ask???????
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In my opinion it is too much to ask. But I have already indicated as such.
If digital printers with 2-year ink life spans on adhesive vinyl at 54″ widths were 1000 pounds steerling then we’d all get them in our Christmas socks 🙂
Best of luck.
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quote :Is this too much to ask???????yes.
thats why a lot of people have spent £10,000 to £20,000 on there printers.
main problems with the water based inks are the availability of suitable materials at reasonable costs thats why i run both solvent and water based pigmentd ink machines horses for courses.
chris
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