-
General advice on sign making equipment for start-up?
Hi everybody.
I am looking to expand into the area of signage, window graphics etc. Our plan is to set everything up by around September and between now and then purchase the required equipment and develop skills, source supplies, etc..
In return for advice here I would be happy to advise other members on web design, web optimisation, multimedia generally, and to a lesser extent photoshop (i’m guessing most of you already know photoshop though?)
I am hoping some of you could give advice on recommending the following which we think are prerequisites and I’d be happy to hear any ideas on things we might have forgotten
1) plotter cutter… It looks like the Roland mentioned has this built in but we think a separate one would be useful too…
2) cnc router cutter. We wonder what sort of bed size would be suitable and if any of you could recommend a particular make or model?
3) cutting table of some sort?
-
11 Replies
-
I wouldn’t bother Gordon, love the work but I doubt it is ever going to make me that rich (financially).
Printer, actually I would look at spending a bit more. Yes you need a solvent printer if you are serious about doing signage but the 300 is a bit limited size wise. Few weeks after buying it you may well find you wish you had bought a wider machine.
Many people use them for canvas prints so no problem there.Plotter, buy a decent make like Graphtec, Roland or Suma. These are workhorses and will last you many many years.
Workbench/table build your own, easy to do & you can make it the size that suits your workspace best. Think there is a tutorial on the boards.
CNC sorry can’t help with that but there are quite a few members who can.
Supplier links, if you download the signmakers toolbar it has all the links you will need.
Something else worth considering is taking out a membership to the forum, different levels depending on what you want but it would be worth you taking out a membership that allows you access to the tutorials at least. You will learn pretty much all you need to know to set you on your way.
-
Hi Gordon
So you are a web designer wanting to get into sign making? It looks like you want to get all the gear but no-idea… sorry :lol1: that sounds worse than I meant.
What I mean is don’t buy all the gear like that up-front, especially the CNC.
You can buy in CNC cut letters at first as you establish the business.
You can buy prints in at first as well.
Martin is spot on. Build your own workbench 8′ x 4′ sheet size. Buy Phil Fenton’s book. Get Gold membership here. Buy a decent cutter (with optical eye option for cutting prints later). Buy Mike Stevens book, Mastering Layout. Buy some rolls of vinyl etc and practice.
You have only spent a couple of grand then while you get a feel of sign making.
One golden rule, don’t design your signs like web sites 😀
-
Wot David said – solid advice, nothing to add other than dont price low or youll be out of the business before you start buy the sign it price guide and dont go lower than the guide till you know whats involved.
John
-
Thanks folks, & Martin in particular. That’s the sort of information I like.
David, I’m a bit of a jack of all trades design-wise, we do a lot of print design, web design is something I’m good at but don’t particularly enjoy any more, and I’ve also worked in video, animation, SEO, and various other areas.
I’ve actually always been driven by my interest in things, never by the prospect of making money. I believe if you do things you enjoy then you can’t fail. It just so happens the things I am interested in have made me a living.
I will not be rushing into anything but I am looking to figure out how much money we will need to invest to get up and running. I hate sending stuff out to get done elsewhere, but I take on board the thrust of your suggestion.
The CNC is something we have been messing around with for a while. My friend already has one so he is going to be useful.
Thanks for now.
-
Got Fenton’s book on the iPad… perfect, starts with the basics and has a great chapter on building a cutting table.
Thanks for that recommendation, David.
-
quote Gordon Connelly:Got Fenton’s book on the iPad… perfect, starts with the basics and has a great chapter on building a cutting table.
Thanks for that recommendation, David.
No probs, just waiting on the commission now from Phil :lol1:
edit: Wow, just checked it on Amazon, only £7.20 to download onto Kindle for iPad, bargain.
-
quote David-Foster-:No probs, just waiting on the commission now from Phil :lol1:You’ll be waiting! 🙁
He was supposed to send me my commission…. 🙄 …I ended having to nick his bin! (say nothing!) 😀 -
quote Harry Cleary:quote David-Foster-:No probs, just waiting on the commission now from Phil :lol1:You’ll be waiting! 🙁
He was supposed to send me my commission…. 🙄 …I ended having to nick his bin! (say nothing!) 😀Feckin brilliant Harry 😀 😀 😀
-
quote Nigel Pugh:quote Harry Cleary:quote David-Foster-:No probs, just waiting on the commission now from Phil :lol1:You’ll be waiting! 🙁
He was supposed to send me my commission…. 🙄 …I ended having to nick his bin! (say nothing!) 😀Feckin brilliant Harry 😀 😀 😀
He ain’t slow that Harry geezer!!!
-
Maintaining a diginified silence here 😕
-
ching ching 😉
Log in to reply.
