-
will i hand cut letters or buy them in?
hi everyone, just need a wee bit of advice please. Ive just been asked to price for a job using letters on locators. As ive just started out on my own I was just gonna jig saw or band saw them out. In my last job we had a cnc router to do all the hardwork, so im not sure what to use for the cleanest cut, the jig or the band. Im gonna make them out of dibond (cos i have loads of off cuts) and the letters are 300mm high. should i use the saw or approach a company with a router to do it for me, tho this is probably gonna be espensive.
-
7 Replies
-
I think to cut them manually is going to take a bit of time, if you have to, use a band saw,you will be able to get a more accurate cut.
But there are now lots of companies that supply flat cut letters, at very reasonable rates, its hardly worth the effort to make them yourself.
Lynn -
i agree with lynn that you maybe better off getting them in mate, its not that bad now for flat cut letter… in the past we had a guy continually cutting letters by hand, band saw and jigsaw was used. i used to jigsaw up the basic shapes of the letter then went in nice and close with the band saw.
we would first cut the letters on offcuts of stencil vinyl, cheap as hell…
stick them onto offcuts of dibond, whatever… then proceed to cut round.
the downside to this is it takes ages and it is never perfect. multiply the time you take and the material cost, compare it with buying in the letters then way up the cost and if there is anything it it, decide by the finish you are giving your customer on a professional service. i think the trade service will win… having said that, if you have plenty time to spare, scrap vinyl etc then go for it. 😉 -
thanx people, thats my main problem, finding the time. I cut a few out and they arent too bad, but as you say they arent anywhere near the quality of a routered letter. think ill give my old work a call, see what they will charge me.
-
David, try giving David Hogg of Cutting Edge Designs a call – 07834852722. I installed a 3×2 Tekcel router in his place last year, he’s supplying a full trade cutting service, you either supply your own materials or he’ll get in what u need, big advantage is he’s not a competitor. Based in Newry but worth the drive.
-
YOU COULD HAVE JUST RANG ME SIMON. HAHA, OK CHEERS MATE
-
I’ve spent the last hour looking 4 ur card – looking at my call history does your number end 1222?
-
yes mate, 07890861222
Log in to reply.