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Howdy!

Backing up what Joe said about protecting the gold…

During my first experience with gold leaf (raised letters on an outdoor sign sandblasted from sign foam), the supply house that I bought the gold from suggested that I apply a clear. I observed that on my test piece, the clear dulled the brilliance of the gold. So, I called the manufacturer of the leaf itself. Straight from the manufacturer: Only cover the gold if it is going to be vulnerable to excessive touching or some other kind of unusual wear.

I’ve used gold leaf 5 times or so – you just can’t beat the brilliance!

Hedge

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Hi Rebecca –

I’ve had a few postings here lately trying to find information on the Summa DC3. I had lots of good input.

I do 2 different things. I work full time for a municipality doing road signs, vehicle graphics and banners. Also, I own a company on the side that focuses on vehicle graphics (vinyl only – I can’t afford digital yet!). The municipality I work for is about to take the “digital plunge” and I’ve been the one left with the job of deciding which machine to recommend. I was just about to commit to the Summa when along came a Mimaki sales person. I must say, I’m pretty impressed with the JV3.

Mimaki is claiming 3 to 5 years on their inks outdoors. We all know that this data is subjective, but have they shown you in any convincing way that their inks are apt to last as long as thermal transfer?

Also. do you have the mimiaki plotter for contour cutting? We are considering buying both as a bundle and would be interested in feedback on the quality of their vinyl plotters.

I’ll be paying close attention to your post in the near future. The versatility of the JV3 really has my interest (as well as the lower cost of operation compared to the DC3). If I could be convinced that the durability were comperable, I’d be sold!

Hedge

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Great info, guys! Keep feeding my head!

We’ve talked about the Summa DC3, the Nautilus and the Gerber. Who else makes thermal transfer?

Hedge

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Great input. Dave… thanks.

Are you familiar with the Nautilus? It is similarly priced. Claims to have inexpensive ribbons, takes media from 5.5 inches to 39 inches, is a print/ cut, and can have media reinserted.

If this machine has any kind of a reputaion and has positive feedback, it would seem that Nautilus has solved the …… few, but significant………drawbacks of the DC3.

I’m starving for information!!! FEED ME!

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Hedge here!

I’ve never heard of Victory – who are they and what are they all about?

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by the way….

that funny looking word in the posting above would be “testimonies”

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Hey guys – thanks for the input. This is exactly the type of advice I need. Keep it coming!

My research also has me curious about the Nautilus however I have the same support and reliability questions. Anybody out there seen one?

As far as your prints being good for three years, Summa claims five. I’d also be curious to hear tesrimonies to these claims! (and do they really back up what they say?)

Hedge

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Thanks for the input and advice!

Our budget is in the area of $20,000. The DC3 is priced right there and seems to have all the right answers except for being limited on types of media and the inability to use narrower rolls. Are there other thermal transfer machines in this price range that solve these issues?

So far, my research tells me that I want to go the route of thermal transfer because of longer lasting outdoor prints, less maintenance if the machine is not used for a while and ventalation issues. Does this seem like a valid conclusion?

Hedge

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According to sales reps, with the DC3, you could not reinsert the media for cutting once it was removed (for laminating for instance). Supposedly the DC3 plus allows this.

I’m looking for other thermal transfer options – I’m just not familiar with what is available in this price range ($20,000). I like what the Summa seems to offer but I am scared of the cost of foils and the cost of vinyl (since it won’t take smaller rolls and recommends high priced media). Our primary uses would be vehicle graphics and outdoor banners. Much of my fleet graphics are for a local municipality therfore I would like to be able to print on reflective as well. The reviews of earlier models said there were problems printing on the “orange peel” texture of a quality 3M reflective.

This is a very new market for me and I need help comparing apples to apples.