Choices – Which one would you go for?

[Martin Pearson]

Colin, just something to consider before shelling out on a machine. Do you already have a customer base for this sort of work if your new to the industry. I know you said you were a printer but wasn’t sure if that was working for yourself or someone else.

Solvent printers in general need to be kept working unlike dye/pigment machines that you can turn off & leave for a while when there is no work for them to do.
I don’t have the volume of work required to run a machine myself so just buy it in as & when required from a trade printer.
Might be worth your while starting out like that & building the digital print side of the business up a bit before committing yourself to buying your own machine.

[Alan Drury]

I am a full time signmaker and I don’t think its worth getting a machine of my own yet. Buying print from the trade is easy and relatively cheap and hassle free PROVIDING you supply files that are ready to go. Concentrate on getting files spot on and then sub to others, when you’re doing several hundred pounds worth a week every week go for it then.
The problem is a chicken and egg situation ie would I do more if the machine was in my own workshop? make sure you are not spending on a part used machine just for the convenience.
Alan D

[Colin Crabb]

Thanks Guys , This is the dilemma that I’m having at the moment, I keep getting as for outdoor graphic, stickers, signage & ‘pictures’ on vehicles (I already do cut vinyl work).
I’ve sent away for banners before, this isn’t a problem and so far I’ve had good banners back and been able to place a small markup on them.

It the other items what concern me, EG I’ve got a van to quote, standard vinyl cut on sides, but the rear doors my customer requires them to have graphics that can’t be reproduced unless printed. – I can do the cut vinyl but the doors I’d need to place with someone or turn down the job.

Its a issue I’ve been thinking about for a few weeks, as said ‘chicken and egg situation’ one that’s driving me mad 😮

Cheers for the help both

[Will Plane]

Simple answer, none.

Buy a Mimaki,

:police: Please take a moment to look over our Board Rules.

[Martin Pearson]

Colin, if you have found someone to supply banners & you are happy with the quality why can’t you use them for other printed work such as vehicle graphics??

As I said above I buy in all my external digital print, doesn’t matter what it is for just need to make sure you know what media needs to be used & prepare the artwork properly.

If I need something in a hurry or something very small then I use a local company. Don’t really make any money from work I have to do that with as this company won’t give me a trade price but at least I am not turning customers away.

[Jon Marshall]

Remember, you will also need a laminator.

[Daniel Warren]

Martin raises some very good points.

When you consider maintenance, consumables and outlay, is it worth buying your own at this stage?

Take the work on rather than turn it away, buy digital prints from outside and cut vinyl alongside it and what not and keep the work coming in. OK, you are giving someone else a profit where you could be taking it all yourself, but you aren’t shelling out a huge amount of money before you need to.

Do this for a while and as someone else said, when you have a huge volume to do and it is blatently obvious you can earn more back than it will cost you to invest after a shorter period, then go for it then.

Otherwise I can see you spending out several thousand now and taking a while to get it back in which time you’ll have ruined catridges that have been left dorment inbetween the machine being required.

[Colin Crabb]

Thanks all,

Think I’ll take your advice and look for some one I can buy in the digital print at a trade rate – Its great to get a fresh angle at this!
Cheers all!

[NeilFox]

Colin,

The advice above is good. If you are requiring small amounts of digital print, sub it out. The thing to remember is that many companies charge a premium for less than 3 sq meters, at least here in Ireland.

I have a digital printer myself and enough work through it each day. Another local sign company gets me to print the small amounts of digital work they need. I don’t charge them the earth and we have a good working relationship.

If you can find a reliable local company that does not charge the earth, see if you can build a good working relationship with them.

Especially in the current economic climate, it is not worth purchasing a printer on what might be.

[Karl Williams]

If you buy a new machine and you don’t have the work for it you’ll want to sell it, and the loss will be far more than you paid. It’s not cheap keeping one going. Not trying to be a killjoy mate, just giving my opinion. 😉