-
Looking for advice on a printer please.
hi guys, things are moving along nicely, business is steadily building up.
i would like to add a printer to my workshop, nothing fancy or major, to produce printed vinyl for vehicles, banners and garment vinyls. repeatedly getting asked for this kinda thing.
cheapest options, i have a graphtec CE6000-60 fopr cutting so i dont need print – cut facility .
many thanks in advance.
-
7 Replies
-
Try ringing around a few of the dealers to see if they have any used machines available. A used machine, if PROPERLY refurbished by a reputable company can prove very cost effective. However, cheap eBay printers are often poorly maintained and can cost the same again in parts and labour.
If it were me, I would look at an entry level Roland machine as they’re cheaper to buy initially and the warranty on them is likely to be better than the equivalent Mimaki and probably even Mutoh from what I hear.
I’d also say it’s worth getting a printer no small than a 1370mm wide. You’ll most likely outgrow it way before you plan.
Best of luck.
Stafford -
Hi David,
Great to hear things are going well for you!
I’m inclined to agree with Stafford. A good, refurbished entry level printer will do you well, you get dealer support, often manufacturer if it’s been properly refurbished and that added support (which you’re unlikely to get from ebay etc) offers peace of mind.
If it’s been refurbished to a good standard you’ll not need anything else until you look for something larger. Cheapest without compromising on reliability option is likely to be a Roland VersaCAMM SPv, but worth doing a google search or calling to see what’s in stock… you never know!
Good luck with the research, let me know if I can help at all!
Cat.
-
thanks stafford for your reply.
space is a premium as i work from home, and would like to keep it that way for as long as possible, i understand the width issue you have raised, but as my plotter is 600mm buying a printer only as im sure they are cheaper than print & cut machines?? it therefore would have to fit through the plotter for cuttings sake,.
really just looking to see if there is a <£1000 option just to keep things moving, as the option is there to get trade supplier on bigger jobs, mainly for garment vinyls and banners, small stickers etc.
-
thanks cat , much appreciated .
-
Sorry, you wont get anything for that money. Anything going on vans needs to be laminated aswell. Stick to a trade supplier until you can justify a 1370mm printer + laminator.
-
Actually, I agree. Anything you can get for less than £1000 will be either non-solvent or in such a state you’ll wish you hadn’t bothered. Trust me, I repair the things for a living and they can be very expensive to repair. You’d be far better off either getting a loan and looking for a Roland VP/SP300 as Cat says or keep putting the work out.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Stafford
-
would yous have a solution to the garment vinyl issue ? as sub out isnt appropriate for smaller runs ?
Log in to reply.
