[Fat Bob]

Yea its that time of year again to take a day off and go up to brum and meet a few faces how will we recognise each other all wear a kilt or something what do you think Rob. ? is there a shed dwellers tartan or do they wear dresses made from that fablon stuff. Give us some info nearer the time

[Fat Bob]

No Phil

I dont think your Wrong Most people get a feeling that somethings not right or sounds wrong or in your case if you analised it ,you will probably
find that it was not just the sound of his voice you did not like but a whole lot of little things put them all together and your instinct tells you no.

The Difference is you took notice of it and made a decision threfore the piece of mind that you achived should far outway the thought that you may have had a nice little earner if you had not been so instictive.

For a Man of your caliber I commend the fact that when he told you who he worked for you did not say “Oh are you the one who sells cheap houses”

Catcha soon …..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Rebecca

Welcome to the information zone

yours for the taking and giving hope you find this site as helpful and entertaining as I have done

……FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Health and safety point under no circumstances should you have altered the scaffolding if it was put up buy a scaffold company. if it was put up by the site operators you should instruct them to move it. or they should arrange for a scaffold erector to move it. If one of your guys had an accident or a plasterer falls off say next week sometime you would most certainly have to carry the responsibility even if the site operators told you its ok.

[Fat Bob]

Yeah I agree with this Rob But What are the plans about the Overseas people how are you going to vet them Specialy if they are only taking and not giving.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Lorraine

Nice sight moves fast

looks profesional and easy to find information Im afraid I have to agree with some of the others and that is the text may need to be a tad bigger as not to make people strain to read the info.

Other than that I think a site to be proud of well done

[Fat Bob]

Nice One Phil

Got to Go and put clean pants on know 😆 😆

[Fat Bob]

HI Rob

Yea exactly the same down here

now I just walk in and ask if the vehicles are inside and have they been valeted if the answer is no. I ask who is the person responsible can I have all the details and which department do they want the bill sent to for the time I have to wait for them to achive this( that usually gets a result ) if they start bickering I tell them that they will both have to pay.

When told to move the cars I just politly tell them that the insurance we hold only covers damage from signwriting and we arent covered to drive them. failing that walk out and when your customer wants to know whats wrong tell him. and ask could the garage please deliver them to your premises in the future to avoid a repition of the problem.

Worked for me

[Fat Bob]

obviously did not do a mountain leadership course 😎

[Fat Bob]

hi
Doro Tape Do A good One

[Fat Bob]

Hi Don Further to your post

CSCS Limited
PO Box
Bircham Newton
Kings Lynn
Norfolk
pe31 6xd

http://www.cscs.uk.com

Tel.01485 578777

Please note that the web site has not been updated with new catorgories yet

[Fat Bob]

hi guys ok here we go

The clasification is sign installer

The Qualifications are Trainee / Blue card / Gold Card

You only need a few things to comply to get your card first you have to have or take a health and safty test.

The central Registration tel no for this is 0870 6004020

They will then arange for you to take the test at a local driving theory centre near you It will cost £35 ( vat ?)

They will send you all the paperwork that will also contain a booklet that has about 1500 Questions and answers the test which is of the multiple choice of which will be 35 questions randomly selected from the 1500.
JOB Done

Applying for the card which costs £20 (vat ?) Depending on your experience you can up until 18-02-05 Have some one you have worked for
or sub contracted to vouch as to your qualifications and that is all you need to obtain a card.

There is another route this will cost you in the region of £485 – 550 To Be assesed in the work place for nvq level 2/3 which is the route you will have to take after 18-02-05 if you are working or subbing on a regular basis to a contractor who is citb registered they can apply for a grant which covers a fair chunk of this cost.

If you need more information on this contact your local CITB office
Who should be able to put you in to your local cscs person

Local CITB office nos

Scotland North 01463 222893

Scotland East 0131 443 8893

Scotland West 0141 810 3044

North East & Cumbria 0191 5163900

North West 01744 616 004

Yorkshire & the Humber 0113 252 1966

Midlands 01509 610 266

Wales 01656 655 226

East 01582 727 462

Greater London 01732 467 300

Southern Counties 023 8062 0505

South West 01392 444 900

Hope this helps you to unravel what you need.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Lads

Forget bsga forget cictb or what ever go direct to cscs which is in fact a company which is administering the card program

will be in touch later.

[Fat Bob]

Martin think about what we are writing here

dont take Anybodys word or Associations do some leg work of your own
and find out what it costs for a one man band you will be quite happy.

Or would you like me to send you a pm and explain I know phil has already twigged have a word with him.

Love ……FB

[Fat Bob]

😆

[Fat Bob]

Hi

Dont Know whats the matter with you lot I always stop for at least an hour for lunch I mean What are you thinking your body needs food to survive So every day I get up have a cup of coffee a pint of milk 4 shreded wheat and out in the vehicle at 4 am this keeps me going till lunch at about 1 pm– 2 pm back for a little graft till 9 pm then home for tea. lok at the old comp for 2 hours do some designs 2 hours down stairs bit of supper whatch a bit of telly write a few letters pay some bills ah 3.30 am time for breakfast.no work to day off for an audition for fray bentos………..I will eat all the pies. before lunch 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

[Fat Bob]

Hi Phil

Sorry to hear the news good thing they left empty handed and your right we dont think of the agro or the work being lost through not backing up,

Perhaps A rather large steel box custom made and bolted to the floor might help keep them from your computer and berhaps a large girder to slide across the roller door at just above bumber height.

Oh And about half a kilo of semtex wrapped inside a box of six inch nails
and wired to a suitable trip wire. Dont forget to disarm when you have a hangover from drinking to much from worrying about it all

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Yes martin your right But imagine this..

Please can we have a sign …. Yes Sir Where would you like it fitted.
Oh Thats ok well fit our selves could you deliver it to this adress ..thank you.

You make it throw it in the van get to this building site and guess what you cant even deliver it because you havent got a delivery drivers or regular visitors cscs card.

Or how about nipping down the road to a wimpey housing estate to put up an estate agents board but you cant cause their still building down the other end ofthe street and the road has not been adopted by the council yet and its still a building site officially no card….

Now the + side you see some guys putting up some arcitectural arcitecture
Thats designer….. for a metal sign that looks naff and cost more than we earn in a yearand you casualy inquire and find out that thier just a couple of site operatives and are not holding a cscs card as A SIGNFITTER well you could cause a riot could you not or even offer to help that poor site manager from breaking the law by giving you 40 Quid an hour to prvent him using someone who is not qualified.

add to this that one famous high street retailer alledgedly will not let you even stick window graphics on without one. go a stage further and assume in a few years time the insurance companys might not insure you
without one (Maybe) and do you still think this will not affect you in
anyway……………… Dont Bury your head in the sand face it head on and do it and be the only one or the first in your area so you can stand in the front of the que when they find that they have to give the job to a Qualified man and smile as you give them the bill and ask them for a check up front. cause you can. 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Adobe Illustrator Dont make me laugh one of the most unfriendly expensive programs that most designers like to buy to show thier designers. Most of them never heard of vecter graphics in thier lives
it is only the industry standard along with Quark because years ago thier was nothing else like wise macs.

How many times have you been given a piece of ready to cut Art work
that needs nothing doing to it old chap just cut it 😆 😆

Yes I Know it is easily done if you know how but if youve had the same number of conversations ive had then thier must be thosands of pepole who buy these programs just because it THE thing to do cause they cant drive them very well. and how someone can spend hours on a job that takes minutes on the right software to produced something that takes hours on the wrong one beats me.

So Which program is the best…. Well the one you know how to drive of course. Forget how much it costs. Can you get it to do what you want.
Have you spent a vast amount of man hours learning how it works or to achive this i need to do this and that and weld it ….. Bingo

Thats the program thats best for you dont worry cause the blokes down the road makes him a cup of tea and tells him that he has now been working for 3 hours 4 minutes and 22 seconds.

Cause bye the time hes having his cup of tea you will have made your customers sign and be sitting in a pub having a nice beer or two.

And if any person From cadlink or any of the other software houses are browsing just take a moment to ponder……. Get back to basics stop stickiing all these stupid and mostly usless toys and please try improving the basic programe to do things better or fix the odd bug that youve always left till the next time improve the import/export filters make them at least compatible with other programs that we use not the ones we have never heard of never mind use. And stop the programs from going on line every 5 minutes to use a facility that is only x amount a year xtra cause we dont want them. concentrate on things being done in easier ways instead of bringing out a program that will kiss your customers donkey
and give him a cup of tea if only I Knew where you have move the bl00dy
control to turn it on it was always under edit before…… 😉 😉

Ring Any Bells………..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi John

Actualy its sort of in Force alreadyBut dont Worry if your self employed and DONT employ any body you can sort it out for a couple of Quid.

When they sort out a coding for our trade you have to take a health and safty test this is a Multple choice on a computer at a location near you takes about 30 min tops and will cost you £15 approx.

I then belive there will be a choice of 3 cards to chose from something along the lines of say – trainee – Work experienced to nvq level 2 – work experienced to Nvq level 3

I belive but dont know for sure but if you can get an employer to vouch for your experience you may be able to be assesed in the work place
Am Trying to find out more will keep you posted.

The Bsga have been beavering away on thier MEMBERS behalf and will let it be Known soon how instumental they have been in sorting out if they can run training courses for thier MEMBERS which of Course you may join
🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄

But By doing some leg work yourself it will be realativly easy and not Quite as hard as it may seem will try to keep you posted when I have
more information.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Kev

Give these a blast

Planet-innovation.co.uk
mpclabs.co.uk

[Fat Bob]

Hi guys

I see where your coming from Rob as When doing most of the work that I do I would not dream of trying it wet.

But enough of the banter Gav have you done the job yet as you should have read these posts and dived in and done it by now if you mess it up itll only cost you £150 in materials that might sound like a lot but if you went on a course to teach you how to do it itll be twice as much. 😆 😆 😆

[Fat Bob]

The recomended is 6 weeks martin but I have done them 4 days after if they have been oven baked.

Watch out for really bad preperation work on paint jobs hard to detect until you have to remove anything and the paint comes off down to the primer cause they never keyed it properly before they put the primer on.

I try not to over any sort of Guarantee if the customer is pushing you to put graphics on a vehicle that has just been painted and they wont wait.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Rob

I was not having a dig at you personally its just i noticed some of the other guys seem to have spent thier money on this product and they now what they wanted it for but they seem to treat it as normall vinyl which it aint.

After applying it with the wet method on one side of the vehicle which took about an hour in all I started the other side only to realise I had messed up with the spacing of one part of a design so deciced as I had a spare to strip one part off and replacet in a different possition the piece was a triangle shape cut out of a 750mm sq piece

I went back to the other side to strip it and it was a total sod to get off and it had only been on an hour on a typical january day and thier was no sun and the vehicle was done out in the open.

It really is a weird vinyl if you clean or have brand new curtains it seems almost waxy or greasy to the touch and if you put some of this vinyl down
dry it does not seem to want to stick, put the meths & water on sqeegee out as normal remove application tape carefully wipe away excess water with tissue and pow it just seems to go off after using it you will get a feel for it you dont have to use a lot of pressure either or this causes wrinkles.

Anyway back to the main point if you got a problem or want to use a vinyl for something your not sure about nag your supplier for spec sheets or fitting advice notes. It may save you hours of heartache as well as your cash. A typical example we all use 5-7 year vinyl on our signs and are quite happy stickin down that lovely metalic silver that is in the same range we are using and telling the customer itl last for 5-7 years or longer if he’s lucky 😆 😆 Read the spec not all but some of you depending
what material your using might be suprised

Till the next time

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Come on Now Youre Quite Happy To Throw your Money AT Expensive Products like Avery Sign flex Which is a great product for this type of work. And you are Obviously not Reading the product application Guides

It is supposed to be applied wet with a water meths mix of 6 to 1 the adesive is made to react to the meths to set it off.

I Know we think we know it all but we often get caught out when using materials like these ask for the information sheets And Read them.

[Fat Bob]

Nice one

I now what you mean we have just hit street banner time and its 14 hour days for the next week.

till the next time

[Fat Bob]

well Terry another fabby job

When you going to do a little number on what inks or paints you use
as I would like to have a play with the air brush

Please

[Fat Bob]

Hi Terry

Yeah it could be done in vinyl

I would have Streched the letering slightly Then laid it down as you would if you were going on a flat panel and just stick the high points down first then peel the backing or cut it between the letters and lay into the grooves
Sure some of the spacing is not 100% right but when viewed side on and back a bit it usually passes the customer test.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Steve

Thats the nads that is…… apriciate the way you kept off the corners with the digi stuff. well done very professional not like some pepole who slap a bit of vinyl on a tailgate and call it a wrap 😆 I want to see him do it all over all 500 of them 😆 😆 😆

Thought you would have let him have it cheaper than that if he’s that much of a friend

[Fat Bob]

Hi Trigger I Mean Martin

Did i or did i not just see you on only fools And Horses 😆 😆 😆

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

If It was Contravision which I doubt he would have a hell of a time whenit rains as the holes will hold the water and even if he uses wipers he would have next to no vision unless they do a white sticky side and it was on the inside.
Martin I cant remeber the exact facts but you are allowed to tint the front windows so long as thier is a set percentage of light allowed in Ihave seen a window totaly blacked out ecept for a letterbox shape on the drivers side how legal that is i dont know but very dodgy I would have thought…Cheers

[Fat Bob]

Hi Jill

A very Big Thanks for Getting me out of the mire recently I have been going to send you a post but you now how it can be sometimes.

Try getting a 1 mt steel rule from B&Q and sticking it to some magnetic
tape then you can put it on the side of the van. Move it around till it looks right then take your measurements from it or use it as a guide.

Once again thanks and regards to Steve.

…………..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys
Is so long since I run a roland One of 2 things the one most people have mentioned (the most obvious) the second if the corners are not square or circles are a fraction out there is a thing called blade offset I now how to do it on mine but you would have to have a manual for a roland.

What it is , is the diference from the centre axis of the blade to the cutting point of the blade.

Another way of putting it is your blade does not cut in the middle it cuts to one side(the pointy bit) the distance from that point to the actual centre of the blade is called the offset which is usually shown as a percetage
and is usually close to 5%

Hope this helps someone one day…………FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Tony

Tar & Glue remover available in gallon cans from any good automotive
suppliers about £16

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Yes there is a set formula for thi sort of thing which also tells you how big a hole to dig and how many cubic mtrs of concreate to fill it Etc.
ItRetails for about 195 sterling and I think its Don you need to speak to if not Then there was an a piece about in in the sign update mag about 3/4 issues ago You can browse back copys on line.

Regards….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Kev

Henry has covered the models for you edge 1 & 2, The 1 would be about 7/8 years from release now and is still being sold at present last time I enquired spandex were doing a bit of an offer thing at about 9 k all in the mk 2 slightly different dpi and reported to be quite faster and quite a bit dearer at about 17 k the best thing is to look on the spandex site for specifications I dont now what the cost of foil is but they qoute (from memory) about £1.70 a meter this then would take you up to a round 6.80 for full colour & black.

This as you probably know is 380mm wide. I have seen a luton van done all over the side
in strips (horizontal) and it was quite impessive I did take a piccy Ill see if i can find it later and post it what impessed me most was the colour match was quite good fom strip to strip.

Of course the only problem with a s/h one is finding one in the first place

[Fat Bob]

There used to be a plotter on the market which advertised that it could right through I cant remeber whos it was and if i remeber ioline used to do an attachement to enable one of thiers to do it.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Steve

Yes mate I am of the same opinion as you. It has a years guarantee any way if its new
so from day one if you but the money they say they want per month in a rainy day account and pay for the repairs from that, Unless you are extremely unlucky I would
bet you would have anice little holiday on it. 😆

Perhabs Rob could start up a contingency fund and we all put in a couple of quid by size and equipment. So if someone is in dire staights to pay a repair bill they could have a interest free loan. or start our own leasing coperative.

….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

In deed john Iam greatful for some of the comments you have made and I am waiting on
Phil to check with his broker on what his position is if he confirms what you say then I will be going to have a serious word with our Broker.

On the Heat comment this is the case with the policy which I have picked but the way they are worded does not state this fact and I had this clarified in Writing but 2 of the policy of the 12 we looked at and checked stated no heat source. On enquiring further with them they stated it meant no heat source including A heat gun.you can imagin what my thoughts are. The point being most of them are worded the same way and even they make different judgements so what chance have we got.

…FB

[Fat Bob]

hi john

Yes it it can be rolled dont use those cheap foam ones though as the thinners melt them

…fb

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Only just seen this post nice to see your sorted I have got an idea but its hard to explain
must learn to post piccys

till the next time……………….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi guys

Nasty one this im afraid to say first off Phil You Better get a letter of confirmation from your brokers as I think youll find that a motor traders policy Does not cover you cause you aint a motor trader. If thats the policy he sold you then shift the liability on to him cause if you have a good claim the insurance company aint going to pay (TRUST ME)

We have just managed to get a specialist policy to cover movment of customers vehicles and cover when on the premises £2500 and thres not enough room to write down all the restictions and we only managed to get this as the main mans brother is a broker.

Talking of restictions have any of you bothered to check your public liability latly. The cheap end of the market will not cover you on heights between 6 – 10 mtrs on the Quotes Ive been looking at. Not allowed any heat Sources. No chemicals of any kind
and wont cover any body but you.(how often do you get someone to help)
A lot of them £500 Excess and guess what if you dont have a health and safty tickrt with some of them you aint covered to work in public. Not allowed to touch road signs
and a shed full of places you cant work like museums, docks, crown properties,chemical factories…………………the lists on some of these policys are frightening and seriously
useless for what we do and its going to get worse and so are the prices.

So the morel of this my friends is please check what you are being sold dont just settle for a price or what a broker gives you as in the end its your donkey thats on the line

Any body got tax problems ?

[Fat Bob]

Hi

How about painting with screen printers inks they seem to bite Into the survace a bit
but youll have to do a bit of homework on which one.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

To give you some Idea of what you can get for your money a 5 mtr X 1.5 mtr full colour banner printed ont fine mesh (to reduce the wind loading) minimum charge To the customer £200 +vat supply only thats complete with eyeletts and everything + artwork charges on top if your lucky. That price includes a 55% mark up for you sounds cheap for what you get ? no top Quality….. Why?

Because the price is coming down all the time cause some pepole think they can make thousands out of these big printers so theyre all buying them . Now they got to find work for them.

So Shop around you will be supprised the deals youll be offered if you do your homework
before you speak to them.( So you at least sound like you Know all about it )

Happy sales time….Fb

[Fat Bob]

Hi Joe

Remeber It aint over till the fat lady puts the sign on the wall

I bet hell be back 🙄

[Fat Bob]

Hi Terry

same as you hourly rate + fuel I think about 32p a mile is the going rate

What Are you Happy With

[Fat Bob]

Hi Tony

You canget full colour printed banners up yourway 16 – 18 quid sq mtrshout if you need more info.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Terry

Got to have a go at this

Could you do a little item on what inks you use, Whats there expected life is do you need to thin them down what sort of product you need to clean the airbrush after Ect. what pressure do you need and all the techie stuff

please Please PLEASE (!) (!) (!) (!)

Im sure im not the only one who wants to Know Perhaps you could get together with Mike and do a day at sign school

Regards…………..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Exllent job Dude

[Fat Bob]

Hi Steve

We have dealt with spandex in the past. and have the odd bits when you find you cannot get them else where.

Thier sevice is second to none. the quality on the whole is good but is let down by silly little things. For instance the plastic fittings on the ends of directry systems.

Thier biggest stumbling Block is thier prices For instace cost the plotter that goes with the Edge I cant recall the exact price without going to paperwork but its pants.

Thier vinyl product prices well …But at least in the last two years they seem to be adressing these things and are now trying to be competitive.

………..FB There are better products out there at a better price.

[Fat Bob]

Hi John

Yes I’m with you I was just putting it that way to see if martin could see the point of using a laser (he said he had one ….bet hes out there now playing with it )

Recently a warehouse near me has been doing a kit including the spinning one like the false ceiling fixers use for about £40 Iwas thinking of getting one as we do put in quite a few suspended wire kits in a year which would justify the cost.

Then I had this idea that if you lined it up at an angle to a main line on the car
(like the sill or swage line) that by keeping it at the same level and moving it up and down you would have that angle anywere on the side if you get my drift.

I would not want to use ground level as in the past I have done this then the guy fills the van up with junk and the back came down far enough to make the sign look well drunk. Also on a new vans the springs are slightly stronger based on the thought that thier is only the driver in 90% of the time so if the van was slightly high on one side and you done the bonnet it might not look right later, so would have thought that you would be better setting a laser to a body point.

What are your considerations on those points as I would like to learn more on this
subject .

Regards for now

[Fat Bob]

Nice one Officer.

Iwas going to say its the Dogs B****ks but he apears to have none 😆

[Fat Bob]

Hi Rob

Just a quickie Re whitening thier was a few years back quite a few pepole selling etched or crystal like material which did this when wet and was a sod to cut unless you give lots of preassure or a very sharp blade. After doing some homework I found that what they were selling as window vinyl was a product known as mark ressist which was used in the photographic trade and now the digital market a very good product but the wrong glue on for windows hence white marks when wet.

………FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Martin

I can see what your getting at and I can see the boys point of view if you thik of it in very basic terms i think youll under stand.

measure down a bonnet say 20″ on the right 20″ on the left put a string line across ping it = straight line. Now instead of putting a line of text down put it on one letter at a time
with the bottom or the top lined up to your chalk line when the whole line is on should look straighter than putting awhole line down in one go… yeah

Know take away your chalk line…and have red light line whats the difference?

……FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Martin

Tell me more about inspire its not one ihave heard of before.

….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys Martins Right

But ay why get your your nickers in a twist Im sure one of the other Essex Lads will fit it on a Barter Deal …they put on the vinyl your wife does thier wifes Hair Job Done.

Or Bye a roll of Oracle etched vinyl from your nearest sign man has to go on wet (Water only ) Dont get the Backing paper …wet once its off the backing paper you can drowed it if you have to.

Hope this helps ….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Martin

You asked how to I get to the price.

I work on the rough guide for 610 vinyl cut weeded and aplication paper of £20 per a linear meter and round up to nearest £5 for simple graphics. design work at 25 an hour
Travel 15 a hour + fuel Fitting £25 an hour Answering your Questions Free 😆

materials Work out the sq meterage or inches and apply some of the following markups

foam board 100% perspex 55% Illuminated signboxes 65% ally trim 55%

Ally metal signs and posts (Road Signs) 155 % How much he says? Seen how much it costs for your personal liability insurance to do Road signs (every thing can be reated to cost)

So there you have a few ways of working out a price lads, obviously you can apply other factors like market forces (look at all the foam that fell of the back of that lorry)
Or but the bloke down the road only charges…… or im in the sticks your in the city….Thats up to you but the formulas above put you in the ball park of what you should charge before you discount or load a qoute.

One for phil I think as he puts things more eleqent than what I doesfor the new boys.

Question: Whats the Difference Qoute or an Estimate..?

Cheers for now….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Again Just seen Martins post.

Health & safty Regs state that ladders are only to be used for acess anything over 2 mtrs its a scaffold tower im afraid.
I dont Know if the law is different with you martin
But the days of the customer not wanting these costs is going to be very short lived I’m afraid. And I Know that someone whos willing to take short cuts can underprice you, so let them do it cause you dont bounce far if you fall and your insurance wont pay if you didn’t follow the rules.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guy

I came out at 455 +

So werel in the same ball park

Dont forget your safty harness 😆

Cheers …..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Just Jack the front of the car up till the sills are level 😆 😆 😆 😆

……….F 😛 B

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

Mike, Dont Worry about The Macbeth persons

Have you seen the members boards lately we have an influx of Essex Boys.

Cant Wait to see what they get up to for entertainment

Still waiting for Questions Tony

[Fat Bob]

Hi Leroy

Hope this is what you need

---

Attachments:

mb006.ai

[Fat Bob]

A big Hello to Toni

From the fat lad

Questions ask away

[Fat Bob]

hi there big guy

Ican only find mb 100 models in my collection

If you tell me more Ill post it it may be the same shape

swb /swb hi roof lwb / lwb hi roof

..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi

Nice one Rob Mike s was good but this definatly rings my Bell

You got to give your customer a butchers at this one Gav. What they say about your machine have they found the problem yet. Please keep us posted. Have a word with your customer Im sure he would wait a short while for somthing that sexy.
Regards….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Kev/Guys

The correct way is what Gav said but me being the nice sort of guy I am and dont lose me temper till someone actually hits me prefer Phils approach.

I once had a guy who we had dealt with as you on a few occasions. We then fitted a sign for him on a fasion shop nothing special about £400 worth. well after a month of calling and all the excuses under the sun. I called at his shop 6 am one morning removed the sign and replaced it with a new one saying “Sign removed due to Non Payment” stuck very neatly on the facia. 😆

You Can imagine my bosses delight (He did not Know I had Done this) when at 10am that morning he had a phone call asking could we please come staight away and fix the sign and the cash would be waiting for us. When I called back I told him it was going to be an extra £20 for my trouble which I got. I still do Work for him now and sometimes we have a good laugh about it.

It was sometime later he told me what had happened and how he got into a cash flow problem and had had to duck and dive just to feed his family. The One thing this taught me is to find out why they tried to Knock you this can sometimes help you get your money. For instance if they are genuine offer to give them more time to pay or split the payment into say 4 smaller payments but for you to be able to do this favour for him you want one payment in cash now (Dont give him his check back If it ends up with the police youll need evidence of intent) this way you may gain back some or all of the money and may be keep a customer in happier times.

Ask your customer if he has a complaint about the job if he says he is unhappy with your work offer to put it right for him ( you Know if you done a good or bad job and usually they would moan or say something about it) . Now if its vehicle graphics and he uses the excuse that he is not happy with the job to stall for more time you have the opertunity to remove them with his permission if you get my drift , this of course will waste another hour or so removing them but its better than letting the b*****d ride around with them on his vehicle to wind you up every time you happen to see it.

How to get your Money Back from a larger company that messes you about. after threating them with county court proceedings and the likes and they still refuse to give you whats due for about £100 mark you can go to your solicitor and institute bankruptcy
proceedings agaist them this usually makes most companys pay up pretty dam Quick or they chance loosing the whole lot and they cant stand thier and say we acknowledge our debt we offer you £50 a month or what ever because if they aint got the money to pay thier insolvent and to knowingly trade like this is illegal. So if if the big boys want to give you a hard time it will cost you a little for a lot of satisfaction.

Then we come to the worst type of all and thats the person who is out to steal your goods or labour come what may. This type of person of which Im glad to say are not many but are on the increase, will manage to dodge even the most dogged debt collection methods and ecepts a wallop with a base ball bat as an occupational risk. These then are the ones that you must instictivly reconise or place a deposit of cash upfront to guard yourself from and if you do get caught do what you canin damage limitation.

Yo….So endeth the lesson….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Rich

I would charge about £65 for the 2×3 cols
£55 2X2 Cols + £25 artwork So in the region of £145 + Delivery all in

Hope this helps…..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Gav

Have seen your post as martin said signwizard top side of leeds is the man for you i have dealt with him and found him to be a basic but very ok guy I did not find him condesending he just tells it like it is he gets lots of tyre kickers so I supose hes bound to have an off day. But if you ask his advise he normally gives it willingly. He also does really good deals on new and second hand kit. but aye why am i going on look at he site speak to paul and make your own mind up.

…FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Joe/ Guys

Were a bit Slow in Wales as you Know is that the Device that all these ” Mike Brown
Sucks” T shirts are about.

..FB

Ps You in on Wed Next (15) might have to go to Bridgewater Could pop in on the way Back.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Steve

is This it

…FB

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Attachments:

opel van.ai

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys

I think you have come up with the best soloution so far But we must assume that Teri is having to pay for this out of his own pocket and does not wish to spend serious money
maybe. What do you think Teri.

.FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Terry

You are on about the panels being 5 mm youll be supprised the difference 6mm would make put strips top and bottom I dont think youll lose it.

As for the supply only great idea if you get away with it I would lay odds on my chance if it were me…….Best of Luck mate.

FB

[Fat Bob]

Hello Peter

Welcome hope you have as much fun as I do and get to learn all sorts of interesting stuff.

Regards FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Rob

Roger That

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Attachments:

ford468.ai

[Fat Bob]

Hi Steve

Tried to e-mail you keeps coming back.

Do you want … Long/med/ short wheelbase……..normal/ semi/ high top

…FB

[Fat Bob]

hi gav

just been surfing just type in oce g 1900 loads of drivers you can download

cant find an aprox age for you but its not a current model
if it dont cut vinyl theres a guy on IT mart .co.uk in the wanted coloum looking for an a0
plotter There is some one else on there looking for pens for the same model as yours

regards fb

[Fat Bob]

Hi Gav.

boy OH boy you love throwing your money around dont ya.

oce is a digitall supply company down south near london way I think You should be able to get some info off them.

The problem you might have trouble getting a driver for it to cut vinyl.

…………….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Phil

Iam not a scientist but i agree with you 100% me old china

.FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Terri

I have overcome this problem in the past by putting a hanging rail top and bottom
and on one occasion the sides. the other thing is to make sure the joints dont drift apart
(you can by little perspex locks which hook over each other) once you have bought a couple you have a pattern to make your own.

On one flexi face we done we had so much trouble with the wind getting behind we backed the whole frame off like the back of a light box.

The panel Be careful…. Some clowns who put up this cladding stuff have fixing it to absolutley sod all off to a fine art. If thier are going to be a lot of dark ares then it will catch the heat more than white and it may Buckle this of course is no where as bad as 5mm.

Hope this is of some help Regards…FB

[Fat Bob]

hi Gav

Not got the machineyou have put have seen a few. I would say that from the way you
describe the fault that it is the machine at fault and not software. it sounds that the
machine is jamming and the scream is the belt slipping. these machines are usually running stepping motors so they just reset themselves hence the diferent registration point. This is proberly a cartridge jamming as its changed. Your recourse is with victory
as they supplied it. I have dealt direct with roland in the past and found them ever so
helpful but then thier only 30 miles away from here and I have gone to them and placed things on the counter and asked them to sort things out before now.

If you can do without the machine for a while box it up and send it back for repair and tell victory that any jobs that come in while its out of service will be outsourced to them and you will only pay material cost see what they say. Im sure they would not want bad publicity. I wonder if one of THE signmags want to start doing a consumers page.

Or would they not be very happy slagging off their advertisers 😆

Hope your problem gets sorted let us Know Cause WE care….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Rich

Are you looking for an outline or a photo

…FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Lads

No probs here I live on top of a ruddy great hill 😀 😆 😆

“Happy New Year” To all

…FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi guys

Same as Becky I use work top to weed and tape on.

But in the Garage where I make the signs I am pushed for room so I built a 24′ X 5’6″

Easel for want of a better discription with with adjustable brackets along the legth.
I just put my boards on and work as if im working on a van side and if i have to do banners i have some nifty little clamps to hold them on the only downside in 3 years is I use more masking tape than normal but this is a small price to pay for the room I gain.

…FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Becky

We use a mutoh and can get the same problem are you using a stand or did you not get one with the machine.?

If you do slow the acceleration and cutting speed down in the move menu (S.lab)
and stand by the machine when cutting and roll the vinyl over the back of the roll till it touches the floor this helps. We also have the area back and front of the machine covered in a short pile carpet this stops the vinyl scratching on the floor( you have to keep them clean thoughor you get dust sticking with static)

One other thing how old is your machine? if its old it might pay to have the rom chips changed as the ones for the last 3 years feed the vinyl in bits.

…FB

[Fat Bob]

hi Rich

My method may be the answer until you buy a dispenser or learn a differnt method.

You will need a flat clean table and a ruler and a elastic band. when you have finnished
weeding roll up the material graphics facing out not to tight place on elastic band so it does not unroll.

I am right handed and I find this suits me, starting on the left of your table un roll your application tape to the right side with the glue side facing up when you get to the end of the table or the length you require stop. Now put the ruler under the roll to stop it rolling back on itself. If your on the edge you may require something to stop the roll going off the table.

Go to the far left pickup your vinyl remove elastic now unroll about 24 ” to 36 ” now comes the tricky bit but once you master this bit youll find this quite a quick way of working on your own. Holding your work so that the top of the roll is at an angle to the flat surface (so you are standing as if you were holding open a news paperbut near to the bottom edge) put your left hand down first about aninch or two in so that your Knucklesrest onthe application tape and line up the bottom edge as you bring your right hand down pull the aplication tape just a little to the left (THIS IS IMPORTANT) you dont pull to much to move the roll just enough to tension the application tape.

Once you have it tensioned line up the bottom with your right hand still keeping it at a reasonable angle so that the top does not touch tillyou have it aligned, You should only need to move your right hant toward or away from you to achive this. (the more
accurate you do this the longer run you can do without it running off 10 mts no probs.)
once aligned lay the top down. keeping tension with left han flick or unroll the roll toward the left of the table and use your felt pad to rub it down firm.

It is possible to do quite long legths this way when the vinyl roll hits the apliction roll remove the rulerslde the whole thing to the left of the table and start again, rolling up the left as you go.

If you find this hard to understand I did see another method I use which is in the tips forum I think posted with a little diagram buy Andy this also works very well.

hope this is of use regards …FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Dawn

Never used sign go so dont now its ins & outs but if you look in a font like wingdings
you should find one but you might have to use an ANC code to get at it .

Regrads …FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Henry

The Vinyls I used were intercoat range 9600 5-7 year this is an American product that I have used for past 11 years and found to be realiable stuff. When I first encountered this problem I was refered back to the speck sheet which does state that the mettalics in this range were not to be expected to have a life of more than 3 years.

Pity the Salesman Does not tell you things like that. But this Bugged me as the rest of the vinyl metalic silver in this case, was fine. So I Stripped the whole job and did it again
its been on there for 32 months and its starting to break down again but only on the bonnet.

Since this we have had 2 digi prints comeback through loss of colour 1 had a uv sheet on 1 did not again the same design on other parts of the vehicles are fine.

This added to a small problem we are getting around a rear vent on a smart car( the vent is directly over an exhaust and the engine Leads us to Belive that the constant heat from the bonnet or other sources combined with the cooling off overnight has possibly cotributed to the break down of these vinyls. This would probably be compounded by a vehicle with a dark paint fiinish as this would absorb more heat.

I have not yet tried avery vinyls for normal application but would advice close scrutinny of the specification sheets of all vinyls you use.

Regards..FB

[Fat Bob]

hi boys

Sorry to mislead you when I reffered to metalics I was referring to vinyl metalics and not metalic polyester or foil films. Most makers usually do them in gold – silver gunmetal or charcoal as partof thier range. and we did have a uv screen on the digi but it was not overlapped as you suggest ( I will give it a try next time thanks)

…FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi guys
I am not a gerber user but have had problems with digi prints on bonnets and metalic vinyls after a lot of disscusions with various people we decided that it was probably the heat of the engine.

This seems to be bourne out as one we are having a look at now which is a silver metalic which has been on a vehicle fo 32 months is looking really dogeared and has funny marks in the vinyl on the bonnet which we thought might have been induced by bird poo or the owners rabid cleaning, while part of the design on the roof is still in good condition
so this may be down to heat over a period of time.

….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi

I would like to second the other guys statements..and add

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

and a big thanks for shoowing me the only place to be in 2003

Fat Bob.

[Fat Bob]

Hi Don

As I have said in a past post I respect you and look foward to your articles and advice

But as far as BSGA are concerned from me on this board good or bad my opinon will be " No Comment"

But on a personal level if you want me to air my thoughts Im sure Rob will supply you with my Tel: should you wish.

Without malice Regards….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Paul

Re. BSGA

I have read many of the posts on this site and have not noticed in any that you
"Slaged off Any organisations". After all we as individuals surely have the right to discuss all Types of issues that involve our trade or life.

As long as we do not directly Slander or libel anybody, I would hope in a place like this we can voice an opinion, After all we are quick enough to praise someone for a good idea, deed or job. So if i think some thing is bad, wrong or injust are we going to say nothing are we hell.

As long as the moderators and the powers that control this site pull the article and tell the person if they over step the mark, I for one can see no harm in discussing…….." Your Opinion ".

The other side of the coin is if people are switched on its up to them to take notes and
and if most people agree on a certain subject it might help them in thier market reaserch
and help them in turn to make or tailor thier product to make it better to the consumer.

I for one will not be saying anything about the BSGA because the moderators would have to remove it and remove me from the site. But if they want my opinion on them they may contact me direct.

……..FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys just a Quckie
Paul Being a man who works on electrical sign you should now that you are not supposed to use metal ladders when working on electrical fittings of any kind.
and if you start to read the health and safety legislations that will be out shortly you
will be really shocked. LOL.

FB

[Fat Bob]

Its down loading now ok looks very good to me.
fb

[Fat Bob]

Do I take it then that these were designers then or company men
If it was designers dont take no stick of them cause they cant do what you do thats why
they come to you. If it was the men in suits you just got to do it this way to impress.

I understand…… I must get off my back side and do an article on designers cause there is a whole market opurtunity if you can put up with messing about and they pay good money and if you bend alittle bit and do them silly favours like…. can you screw it on the wall we havent got any tools… Nor ave I mate but I got some double sided tape.

The daft beggars keep goming back for more.

Got to go now will look later to see how you got on…..FB

[Fat Bob]

Yeah I Know what you mean.
I was Hoping that if I could have downloaded it I could have e-mailed it to you direct

I bet he posted emty files cause he forgot to do the job for you anyway 😀

Have you not got a sniff of the name of this font yet I was wondering were you got the sample from to start with.

…FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Guys
downloaded both files ok
but there appears to be nothing in them tried witrh photshop and SL
…FB

[Fat Bob]

Yeah I Know what your egging on about youll get me Check after Xmas

That is if you want me 🙁

….FB

[Fat Bob]

Hi Becky only a thought have you tried reseting your pallet under options

Regards …FB

[Fat Bob]

Yeap I can see it today the jobs a goodun

I wish I could make things like that out of good material never mind scrap bits.

Hi Rob I run Broadband but I was not getting Steves piccy but I was getting the others he posted ok Tried today there stright away. I have notticed also if your not logged in you dont see piccys but I assume that is how its supposed to be

soon ….FB