Advice on printer/cutter please

[Robert Lambie]

the likes of mimaki, versacamm and a few others will all print onto a wide range of media including paper, canvas, banner, vinyl, tyvek, flag materials and more… though some do need to be solvent compatable media, but certainly not hard or expensive to source.

when you say you need a wider cutter, will you be scrapping the narrow cutter and running cuts and prints soley from the printer/cutter or still running on old cutter and using the wide printer/cutter as and when needing wide cut vinyl?

sorry if thats confusing… 😕 :lol1:

[Steve Underhill]

I will be keeping the GX 24 as its got a years warranty left still and its such a good machine I will use it for the T shirt vinyl and transfers, and any sign jobs that require 610mm or less, the reason I would like to print on canvas is because I’m also a photographer and would like to do large canvas prints as there is a big demand for them especially the triptych type ones.
But signs will be the main purpose of the new machine
Thanks for the reply

[Lynn Normington]

Steve we have recently bought a Mimaki it prints on to anything,vinyl, canvas, banner etc. before you make your mind up, they will all give you demo’s and sign uk is only a couple of weeks away, so go look, you have to take into account the amount of room you have for the machine, and consumables. Do lot’s of research before you do it.

Lynn

[Steve Underhill]

Thanks Lynne,
Room isn’t really a problem, I have my own shop I can rearrange, I will get the dimensions of it various models though, as I guess you can never have too much space.
Mostly I’m concerned with what it will print onto, and with that answer you have answered my question nicely, especially interesting is the banners and canvas, which model do you have out of interest?
Thanks for all the advice it really is invaluable when spending this many thousands of pounds.
Would anyone recommend lease purchasing?, what are the advantages apart from the 100% tax relief? I guess its not having to pay all at once and you keep it after 4 years, but they cost a bit more that way.

[Lynn Normington]

Steve JV3 with plotter can’t advise you how to pay for it, depends on your finance’s,

Lynn

[Chris Wool]

quote :

because I’m also a photographer and would like to do large canvas prints

you really ought to have a look at the 6 colour printers as opposed to 4 colour ones for normal sign work 4 colour printers are very very good you may look for a little more in the tones for photos

chris

[John Childs]

Steve, the 100% tax relief sounds good, but is misleading, and I’m surprised that so many accountants trot out this rubbish.

Sure, with a lease, everything you pay is deductible at 100% BUT, on a four year lease you only part with 25% of the cost of the machine in year one, therefore you only get tax relief on 25% of the total price.

On the other hand, if you buy the machine (bank loan or hire purchase) it belongs to you and you claim capital allowances of 25% of the total machine cost. The result is exactly the same as leasing. 25% of 100% is equal to 100% of 25%.

Other points to consider are:-

The comparison above works on 25% capital allowances in year one, but there are usually enhanced first year allowances available to sweeten the deal and make buying financially better than leasing.

Buying strengthens your balance sheet to the value of the machine, whereas a lease will appear on your balance sheet as a long term debt.

Buy and the machine is yours to do with as you will. Maybe you will want to upgrade in a couple of years time and ownership gives you that freedom. Lease and you are tied in to the four year sentence.

I could go on but that might give you food for thought.

[Steve Underhill]

Thanks for all the advice its been very helpful