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This stuff is complicated…
Now that I have a printer, cutter, laminator, etc, I thought it might be an idea to make a few observations about this sign-making malarky and maybe ask a couple of questions…
First thing: it’s all a lot more complicated than I thought it would be. The idea that it’s all down to having the equipment and basically pressing the print button is complete quack…
You guys, sign-makers generally, don’t get the credit they deserve — the half-assed morons on ebay don’t do the industry any favours and I would like to formally declare war on them.
That all said, I think this stuff is brilliant. I’ve noticed when things go wrong you produce a lot of waste though, and that’s depressing… I think I now have a carbon footprint bigger than the whole of Wales but as I learn and things get easier, the amount of waste is diminishing and should diminish further. Fingers crossed eh…
Speaking of fingers, laminating (something you all talk about as if it’s nothing) is quite tricky for me… I have a second hand laminator and I suspect it’s a bit crap so maybe that makes things difficult. On my first attempt at laminating, I squashed my fingers and ended up with it all mangled around the rolllers and everywhere.
The laminate I’m using is 100 microns and I was thinking that’s a bit thick in that it affects the flexibility of the print — this came with the laminator. Should I be looking to get thinner stuff?
How thick should laminate be if you are putting an image on say a van or something?
Anyway, wouldn’t mind showing you all my first sign and banner so I will take a picture and give you a laugh later on…
Respect!
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18 Replies
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quote Gordon Connelly:and ended up with it all mangled around the rolllers and everywhere.😮
Your fingers?????? UGH!!!I think the waste generated in vinyl cutting in general is almost crimminal!
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:lol1: :lol1:
good post Gordon and i couldnt agree more mate…
the whole sign thing is an ongoing learning curve. it does get much easier and waste will reduce allot as a result but you will never know everything, which just adds to keeping your interest in what you do…
as harry said in another post, seeing what other come up with and share on the boards is inspiring in many ways. gets your own thoughts ticking for your next job to come along.look forward to seeing anything you may post. as for the banner, your NOT laminating that are you? 😉
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I enjoy reading your posts.
I’m glad you’ve realized it takes more than just pushing a button.
I wish our customers realized this too.
Love….Jill -
I often use the phrase "all the gear and no idea" 🙄
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Nuke the Ebayers.
More serious comments later!!!
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No, Rob, I didn’t laminate the banner I made… I don’t have a solvent printer though, I’m using an HP designjet 5500 with UV/pigment inks, so if I do anything for outdoors at all (including banners) I will need to laminate… I have liquid laminate and was advised to use that.
It’s my plan to buy a solvent printer in February… I think the BN-20 looks appropriate for us… I love the HP I got and it seems to be dead cheap to run so despite its limitations I think it’ll be handy for indoor stuff over the longer term.
I’m not in any rush to start selling this stuff but I have already done a few bits and bobs (t-shirts, vinyl signs, posters). In the background I’m working on the website optimisation etc so when that kicks in I expect I’ll need to take things more seriously.
I didn’t realise there would be so much physical kinda DIY type work involved, cutting boards, drilling, going up ladders, etc… I’ve always been useless at stuff like that. Even loading a roll of scrim or something on to the printer is quite a challenge for me.
The saga continues…
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quote Jill Marie Welsh:I enjoy reading your posts.
I’m glad you’ve realized it takes more than just pushing a button.In reference to the enjoying my posts part, Thanks! That’s a very nice thing to say. In reference to the bit about pushing buttons, you’re not the first women to say that sort of thing to me 😉
Leader of Wimps,
Gortch
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quote Gordon Connelly:quote Jill Marie Welsh:I enjoy reading your posts.
I’m glad you’ve realized it takes more than just pushing a button.In reference to the enjoying my posts part, Thanks! That’s a very nice thing to say. In reference to the bit about pushing buttons, you’re not the first women to say that sort of thing to me 😉
Leader of Wimps,
Gortch
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Please, Harry, no pictures of childhood heroes… every time a picture of one goes on a website people start saying the most terrible things. All I’m left with is Cliff Richard… if they start saying Cliff was involved in anything weird involving masons, kids, lizards, or any other sort of animals, I’m off…
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quote Mike Grant:I often use the phrase “all the gear and no idea” 🙄I always say a toolbox does not make a mechanic, or a scalpel does not make a surgeon… 😀
The sign trade is like getting married: Looks good from the outside with other people doing it, but hellsbells, dont think it will be like it looks if YOU do it :lol1:
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Intergalactic time-traveling space-craft, doesn’t make a… bugger, I forget the rest.
I get it though, I get the idea. Just because you have all the things you need to do a job… ummmmm
Fool me once, shame on you… Fool me twice, master of none.
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Hi Mate thickest we use is 70u but go down to 50u, 100u is too thick, look up Drytac site and ask advice they are very good, they will advise for your machine and applications, they are also best value for money
As for waste, we have a skip in car park and a double compactor in workshop, we get skip emptied once a month, council is not interested in recycling as it s mixed waste
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quote Adrian Hewson:Hi Mate thickest we use is 70u but go down to 50u, 100u is too thick, look up Drytac site and ask advice they are very good, they will advise for your machine and applications, they are also best value for money
As for waste, we have a skip in car park and a double compactor in workshop, we get skip emptied once a month, council is not interested in recycling as it s mixed waste
Thanks, Adrian, appreciated…
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I agree, most can’t find the button let alone push it.
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quote :I agree, most can’t find the button let alone push it.I think thats because the fairer sex keep moving it so its not where we left it 😕
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We are talking TV remote control right?
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quote Phill Fenton:We are talking TV remote control right?:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: 😉
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quote Phill Fenton:We are talking TV remote control right?Might as well be…. we can never find that either :lol1:
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