Karl Williams
Forum Replies Created
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Try Amari. Notts No. is 0115 9425110. They may be able to help.
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Was it taken outside a bank?
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If Shane can’t afford to come I think it would be good to have a whip-round chaps! Lets get his ar$e on that plane! I want to see peter give him a cuddle! 😀 😀 😀 😀
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Looks more like a P****d off farmer!
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Look at this site. http://www.cardellmedia.co.uk It’s a marketing website and I think it’s spot on for advice. I’ve followed many of his tips and suggestions
and can say he’s got it right.Good luck matey.
Karl. -
:lol1: :lol1: Are you planning on getting a 2nd job delivering pizzas?
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Ive got every faith in you young man!
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😀 😀 😀 Don’t ask him to explain over a pint. You’ll be P****d by the time he’s finished! The results are great though.
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Warren,
Are you trying to get your young one to follow in his dads footsteps. At 6 months old it may be a bit young to get him operating a sign system! :baby: :baby: :baby: -
Marcella,
Have you any idea who made this? It really is very impressive! -
Hope your dads ok soon!!!!!!!!
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Nightmare! :nag4: :headbang2:
I am crying for you!
This may be a long shot, But try putting this drive into another PC. there may be a slim chance this will give you access to your jobs. My laptop drive threw a wobbly before xmas, hard drive was not responding. A guy up the road managed to transfer the work onto a caddy drive. I was s******g myself. -
OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH! 😳
Is all your work on the P.C? -
See you all there!
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The wifes maiden name is Lamb. There’s nothing like a farmyard scene!
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I think you will find many people will get out of their beds for £225 on a sunday. Plus the shop is open 7 days a week. And regarding peters comments on subbing out he is incorrect in his statements.
I appreciate his comments but why such a negative attitude? -
John,
That is like saying because one product makes money why sell other products that don’t make as much profit. We have many products. Some sell well, some don’t. Just because we are making a decent profit on 1 van wrap doesn’t mean we will stop selling magnetics or site boards.
I wouldn’t call making £22 on a set of plates piddling about for a couple of minutes work. Would you? -
On flexi-sign there should be a button to get the page size from the cutter. If you have been cutting on 500 mm then put 610 in it still thinks you have 500mm in.
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Hi John,
I agree on the 30 year thing, less competition then. People think I’m a millionaire but obviously they are mistaken.
As for comments to peter, as I said he should read the threads. No one has mentioned anything about subbing work out.
This thread has had very informative replies and are appreciated. But I think he needs to read the previous threads before making comments on them. I just think his opinion shows a very negative approach. -
Lee,
This aint an easy game to get started in and I wish you all the luck.
I employ one telesales girl here. I pay her the minimum wage + commission. She does well and has a great phone manner. I was worried at first in case she was crap, but she proved me wrong. I started by stopping people with vans in petrol stations and giving them a card, Parking the car up in B&Q and talking to people. At first you have to really push yourself even when you are knackered, but honestly it is worth it in the end. I’ve tried yellow pages but wasn’t impressed. Try this website: http://www.cardellmedia.com -
Hi Marcella,
I had a guy come into the shop about a fortnight ago and he was telling me about a friend of his who started doing plates about 30 years ago. His friend has retired early after a long career doing plates and making a considerable amount of money. This is what started me thinking about plate manufacture. The motordealer we do signs for has asked us to do their plates for them when their guy is off, so hopefully this chap will be off quite alot! -
I was asking those who had experience. You also haven’t read the previous threads either. I have asked if the others think in their opinion do well. One has said their plate making has overtaken their sign making.
I have replied and stated Today has been a good day for trading for us.mod-edit
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Peter, read the threads mate.
The fitting on the sprinter is being fitted by one of our guys who started recently. This wasn’t farmed out but was printed by us.
The plates aren’t being farmed out either. We have the kit ourselves.
These plates are going out on tuesday by which time the licence will be here. What thread have you been reading?????????? -
The DVLA do send inspectors around quite frequently so i’ve heard. So yes I agree with you on this.
Phil is refering to a recent topic on vehicle wrapping. I managed to get £3800 for a van wrap on a LWB sprinter. -
Hi Richard,
The software supplied keeps a record of all the details on a data base, so all the paper work is kept to a minimum. I photocopy proof of i.d and their logbook. -
The only firm around here that do plates are a large motor dealer and Halfords. They both charge around £20 per plate. Like I said in a earlier post, I have not even got my DVLA licence yet, But today with the banner up on a sunday I have had 9 orders already. 9 pairs @ £25 a pair = £225.
I am lucky in the sense that my shop is in a very busy location 7 days a week and my overheads are low. Peter, I just think the negative veiw may put some people off the idea. I just don’t believe in the Phrase "too much competition." If you market a product correctly and wisely you can’t go wrong.
The toner used is £85, and should, if i’m correct print at least 2000 plates.
My HP laserprinter prints around 3500 to 4000 a4 sheets of paper, so I would pressume this would be about right.
I did also ask if anyone who did plates thought it was a good line to be in, and from your response I don’t think it was the voice of experience. Sorry if this offends you, but I think maybe you should ring the supplier of the kit and find out the kind of money you can make. -
Nice one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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My printer is black only. Brother HL-50. As for the last 2 comments I find them very negative. I’m a believer in moving forward. The response we have had here just by putting a banner up has been great. If I had listened to everyone’s negative views years ago about the sign game I wouldn’t have started. If you market the product right, and with the minimal start up costs, where is the risk? Firms go bust every day but it doesn’t stop others starting up and and make millions. And as for Peters comments about car boot traders doing them this is illegal. Your DVLA licence number only lets you make and sell plates from one fixed address. Selling on a market will land you with a fine or prison, as stated by the DVLA this week.
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Crazy!
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Amari are doing a board similar to diabond. It’s called 1 Bond. Diabond normally costs around £70 a sheet. This new stuff only costs about £40 and it looks and feels identical.
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I once did a van for a bloke called Hugh Hunt. When he told me his name I couldn’t stop laughing. Like a prat I asked him if his parents hated him.
He was not amused! Could’ve been worse, he could have been called Mike Hunt. :you: -
NNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEE! :appl: :thumbup2:
Whats the difference between Saddam and a Tampax?
Ones got string that hangs from a C***, and the other is a c*** that hangs from string! -
Jolly Good!
When you see their brochure you’ll be gobsmacked at what they can do for you! -
I have just rang Jon, and told him many of you are interested. You can ring him now if you want. Let me know how you go on.
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Hi Lee,
Sandhurst Autoprint. The guy I deal with is Jon Nixon. 07979 506656. He is the area manager for Nottingham and Derby. Give him a buzz.
They can also set you up with storage and they also train you on the ins and outs. I have got to say I have never come across a cheaper business to set up in and I am quite excited about getting it moving. It costs around £1.70 to do one standard plate. I time myself making one and it is very easy to make one in under a minute. -
Shane,
My collegue came into work after a call-out and was very distressed. He had the job of picking up the girl that got shot in St.Anns in Nottingham. She was on her way back from the Goose fair. -
Hi Andrew,
Yes mate. You have to pay a one off fee to DVLA of £40 per site that will produce the plates. I recieved yesterday 1 Brother laser printer, 1 PC, 1 roller, plus a full stock. the stock came with an invoice of £250 odd quid, but that is for the stock only. The deal is that you buy all your consumables from these guys and they supply the kit for £50 a quarter. there is a cheaper system for £25 a quarter, but you can only do standard plates with this. The £50 deal lets you do any plate. As of yet I have not seen any other strings attached. You also get the first month free as a trial. -
Listening to the sound it sounds like his he lasted long enough to say "s**t"! I have worked for the coroners office in the funeral game, and I can tell you, Never leave home on a bad note. This business shows you that you really don’t know when you are going to go. The Human body aint as tough as you think! We had a RTA once when an entire family was wiped out. when we attended accidents like these you knew there were kids involved without asking. The Firemen were silent. Very sad.
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Hi Johan,
I’m not familiar with the Lego thing, but I would presume these would be mass produced and screen printed. -
I have applied with DVLA for the licence, just waiting for that to come through. I came across a supplier that rents the machinery, the whole kit for £50 a quarter. So really it’s costing nowt to set it up. I agree its better to print them. I am hoping this overtakes the signs as this looks like it could be easy money.
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do you find its a good business to be in?
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You dutty bugger! Bit I like you!
John Have you ever lived in Nottingham? -
Hi Richard,
I think I’m Gonna let this one go. No point in falling out with someone if you can just walk away and keep your reputation. Wouldn’t it be a perfect world if the clients actually took our advice for once and agreed to believe in our experience. -
Sorry John,
I’m half asleep. City link. Don’t know why I said Interlink??????????? -
Interlink.
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Hello John,
Was the vinyl green? -
Thanks for that. The proof is already there on the older vans. When I say older I am talking about van with a 56 reg. It is like talking to a brick wall when you talk to this guy.
1.) He can see it’s Crap.
2.) He no longer wants to use the last guy.
3.) But he wants to change nothing.
Is it me or could it be a drug problem?
He’s told me he called the last signchap in and had words on his quality of fitting and gave him a warning. Talking straight, he won’t get as far as a warning with me if I take the job on. -
The material is no good for the recesses, and there is as for as I can see no exact colour match. I know how to fit vinyl and can say I know what I’m doing! This material is not popular with anyone I know.
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I had this same problem before christmas, then the laptop went down. I allowed the windows upgrade to ugrade windows and then knakered up internet explorer and sent the computer on a bender. ended up putting a new hard drive in and reinstalling windows. Does this only happen when you are online? Spyware software can also cause this.
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Most dealers have second hand kit, but you may pay a refurb price.
I have a d610 going for £600. It has had hammer but never let me down and is still in use now. It does need a new cutting strip and roll holder though. you might even find one on ebay. my machine is good but I can’t say it’s the best because of the work it’s done. You can operate this from coral 12 or 13 by downloading wincut for free from the summa website. This is what I use on both my summas and have no problems. -
If you want a good make and are short of funds, a second hand summa might be a good option. they aren’t that bad at tracking. Roland sell cheaper new cutters, but are not good at tracking.
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Are you using original ribbons or copies? I know on the edge copy ribbons are no way near as good as the originals.
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I got all excited and had to nip to the loo! 😀
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Thats not mark up. that’s a right royal rip off!
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At that size 130 is far to high. It’s not a large image so it might be safe to alter the dpi to around 72dpi. if this damages it I would print it out onto photo paper and scan it, again at 72 dpi. If you don’t keep this low you will find before long you’ll have no space on your hard drive left!
If the file needs decal cutting after and this need to be exported to an EPS. you will be there forever trying to get the job done. -
You hear all kinds of stupid prices flying around in this game. Ive heard firms doing them at £200 each, and some one-man-bands working from their back bedrooms doing them for as little as £70. I normally charge around £160. You have to remember you are running a business and not a charity.
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Thanks Chaps!
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Hello Chris,
Any idea what price this sage costs? I could do with something thats quick and easy to use. Time is always short and could do with a programme that saves time. -
George, I couldn’t agree more!
John, looked at the site. Fantastic! -
The worst customer I have is my very own sweet brother! Always in a rush to get job done, but paying? More like paying in the nether regions!
They do say business and family don’t go well together! -
Regarding mags on a bonnet! DEFINATE NO NO! Five years ago I had a break from the sign game, and went to work at an undertakers for a while. we had a call to a road traffic accident. a van involved had been speeding and had a mag on the bonnet. this came off, went through the screen. not a pretty sight!
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At the start it was supposed to be : Get the invoice in on monday, and the cheque will be with you thursday. Then without being informed, : We now pay on thirty days. Yes of course I make sure I ask about payment terms, It would be stupid not to. the dealers seem to change the rules every so often and don’t inform the suppliers. Ive not come across a company like this before. I understand totally where john is coming from, but I just think this is taking the P!**!
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And expect you to pay for their bone-idleness!
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I know 2 weeks sounds daft to start getting peeved off. but when you’ve given them 30 days already, plus more work being financed for them while still waiting, and the other late payers, no one is laughing john. Don’t get me wrong I’m not gunning for a moan, just wondered what systems others put in place. The late payment fee does sound the best.
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We do a large amount of work for the motor trade and for some reason they always pay upto 2 weeks late. Getting tough with them doesn’t go anywhere. They just delay even longer. If you get too hard their reply is "well if you no longer want to do business with us……..!" Need to avoid this because they are worth a tidy sum.
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Totally agree with you. The customer thinks this is a cop-out from me, and says I didn’t warn him of this. I can’t warn someone if I didn’t know about it myself. I replaced these to try and keep face with customer, but supplier would not budge. If this was the case then there should have been a warning in the box.Sounds like utter b******s to me!
We supply most of the taxi firms around here, around 25 sets aweek. kids keep nicking them! -
Ive had this problem twice. Supplier told me the glue from the white face goes through the mag and if left on all the time will bond to the vehicle.
Been supplying mags for 16 years and this has only happened twice.
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Looks like phil’s gonna start the new year by robbing a bank!
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Happy New Year to everyone Lets hope 2007 is the year for making loads of Lolly!
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Delivery times are something we struggle with somtimes when we are busy which is most days. We also get customers that come in and slag of other local firms for taking there time. I get on well with the other firms around here, and most of the time you find the customer that slags of the competition is a very poor payer, therefore the competition cant be bothered with them.
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On many occasions, when I have quoted the client has said "Christ, I didn’t realise it would be that much!" Then you tell them what goes into the job they relax a little. They aren’t just buying the sign, they are buying our time and our experience. They are also given my mobile number in case anything goes wrong at anytime. I don’t operate a 9 to 5 business, and I am always contactable. Many also watch the prep process from start to finish. I can guarantee every time they always say "I had no idea just what went into every job." I think part of the problem is they expect at first the job to be ready to take with them there and then. when they realise this does not happen and the effort that goes into the job, they are more prepared to go with us.
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Valid point Phil. I suppose when it’s put into that context no one could argue with you. I would like to know where you get your matts from matey! Sounds like a good deal. Thats where my charge is higher. I don’t as of yet buy large volumes of the wrap matts, so i would obviously pay more.
Karl. :headbang2:
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Hello Phil,
I think your price, no offence, of £1100.00 is a seriouse undercharge.
As I said before, I am a virgin to this side of the business, and maybe my pricing is a bit rocky. But if you think about the cost ie: vinyl around £400, and then your laminate, around £365, where is the profit after your labour and designing time? I’m not telling you to suck eggs on this mate!
If some p**t down the road is undercutting they must be using crap or just happy to take business from you to hold you back. Sounds to me this other guy is just a busy idiot.
I signed my Kia Sedona a few months ago, not wrapped but plenty of photos, including a picture of me on both sides and back. the shop I rent is in a busy location and stands out like a sore thumb as well. This does make it easy to charge more because everyone can see the quality. Most of the time the jobs sold before it’s quoted. Not trying to sound big headed but we are good at what we do and the people round here know it
and are very willing when it comes to parting with the reddies! -
Thanks John.
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Good morning Martin,
I have shown him a mactac colour chart, this also states the materials conformability. Also demonstrated the Arlon film i had in stock. Because we can’t fit this film as of yet, i have contracted an outside source to fit until we are ready to fit the film ourselves. I agreed to lower the price after he started to make my heart bleed! -
No. Client doesn’t require the roof doing. what are you still doing up at this time of night. glad to see I am not the only sad git still at work!
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Hello Peter,
You are correct in what you say. If I’m unsure of a price charge you have to test to see what you can get and also try and gain advice off people in the game like yourself. The good thing is though the client came into the shop about an hour ago and we both agreed on £3800. Half up front and I’m a happy chappy! -
Hi Rob,
In an earlier post I told you about the guy who would do it for £1200.
Ive just spoken to client and he’s had me in stitches. He told me the materials being used are MacTac 9800. I don’t know if you use mactac on a daily basis but this is 5 year cadcam vinyl. Told him this is not wrap vinyl and will come away after a short time.
It’s hard when you are up against other signmakers who will do the job at a fraction of the cost and then print on to any old crap. -
Hello Rob,
Is there anywhere on the net that can offer a price guide on charges for most vehicles? I would presume this is a regular question for anyone starting out in this field.Karl.
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Hi Luke,
I presume you are referring to the £1200 price tag. What would you charge?regards
Karl. -
I have only wrapped cars in Macfleet. Years ago and not printed!
I tried the Arlon and found it to be not the easiest material to use.
I now have received some samples from KPMF of which I was going to tryout on my own car. After reading some pointers from the others from their experience it does not appear that this would be the best way forward on some vehicles.The macfleet is a nice vinyl to use. The Arlon was not the easiest to use, and yes, using this for the first time is not the easiest to pick for a first attempt for wrapping.
There are 4 of us here, and as virgins to wrapping struggled. But as someone else pointed out wrapping for the first time is not an easy task when using digital media.
I am printing using a Rocky 38. Ultra Eco solvent inks! -
The Arlon is a Biartch as you put it! From what the others say on here I think I’ll reconsider the KPMF!
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MARCELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHANGE THE PICTURE! YOU’RE DOING THINGS TO ME!
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Hi Guys,
Sorry I’ve not replied, Laptop went down and lost connection!
I have received samples from KPMF and am looking forward to testing over chrimbo! They have also sent some printed and laminated sheets through. Tried spandex and couldn’t get any samples from them at all! -
Anyone tried the Arlon film? I spoke to kpmf a few days ago, and they are offering a film @ £5 a metre! Caution?
Karl.
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Ive only ever wrapped macfleet onto cars.Not printed. Tried Arlon from A.d.s in Nottiingham. Ended up slitting wrists!
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Ive always been told a dog is for life and not just Friday night!
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Try the cutter language. it may be accessible on your control panel on the machine. if yours is on DMPL try HPGL. there may be another language.
Another thing, sometimes in your plotter driver menu in the software the correct name for the printer may be different to your machine. Try Summacut, and make sure the page sizes are correct. Hope this helps.Good Luck.
Karl. -
Be careful chaps. One of us may say the wrong thing and incriminating anyone wont do us any favours. It’s just handy to know I’m not by myself on this! One day the supplier may bite off more than they can chew and screw a big fish! Maybe a supplier would like to comment?Or maybe they are to embarrased!
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Very True! (:)
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Cheers for that John.
To give you an idea of the problems were as follows:- On the days free training I had as you can appreciate many questions. I’m stood there all excited about the new purchase and waiting for blast off! Every question I asked the guy was met with "I’m not sure". or "I’ll find out". To make matters worse the cutter that was delivered was badly damaged. I was told "Put some matt black vinyl over it!" You can imagine my reply.
The cutter did not work either and the printer did not want to know.
The supplier did eventually swap the cutter of which I am more than pleased with. But much material was wasted. I refused to pay them for the materials because of faulty machinery supplied by them. They took me to court and offered no compo on my losses. Just came out and said its obviouse Mr. Williams has no experience and we can’t be held for his inexperience. Damn right I had no experience. I needed someone to show me and sort the kit out. Ended up with a ccj and the two fingers! Nearly went bust and the supplier did not give a damn! I understand the comment about 2 sides to a story but surely this can’t be right. -
In most cases I would agree 100% with you. But when you spend good money with a supplier and they know you are a virgin to the world of wide format printing, and lets be right it is a whole new ball game to normal vinyls, you don’t expect to be told "We are not an educational facility!". It would just be nice to have the back-up and feel the supplier has some respect for you! No doubt most signmakers get good service from their suppliers. the supplier we now use are true stars.
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When I bought my Rocky 38 last year, I started having problems straight away. This went on for a very long time. and guess what!!!! The supplier kept saying "we’ve not come across this problem before!" and oh yes, "It must be your computer causing the problem!" when suppliers make comments like above "You wouldn’t be in business if it was not for suppliers like us!" I see that as a complacent attitude. you might as well say "like it or lump it, we’re big enough and bad enough not to give a toss!
In the end their supplier exchanged the machine. I’ll keep buying the brand but I won’t use that supplier of the kit again! My father once said, "Never belittle the little man, look after him!" Shame the big boys don’t do this. -
Is that better boss?
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DAMN RIGHT. PROBABLY A NEW BOY WHO THINKS HE KNOWS IT ALL!
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I FIND THE BIG BOYS OUT THERE SEE SIGNMAKERS AS THE LOWER CLASS AND THINK WE WILL ALL COME BEGGING. TELL THEM TO BALLS.
NEVER EVER TEACH THE COMPETITION YOUR SECRETS. THIS KIND OF SITUATION MAKES ME SICK. -
IN ONYX TRY SETTING THE PRINTER MARKS TO DARKER. ON SOME MEDIAS THESE DON’T WORK WELL. CHANGING THIS RESOLVES THE PROBLEM!
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TRY THE PIPES ALONG THE TOP OF THE MACHINE. POSSILBLE THIS HAS A KINK IN IT. THESE ARE UNDER THE LARGE GREY PANEL ON TOP!
AND I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH PROBLEMS.
AS USUAL THE SUPPLIER SAYS " WE NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MACHINE OURSELVES, MUST BE YOUR COMPUTER"! STRANGE HOW THEY AREN’T ADVERTISING THIS IN THEIR BROCHURE ANY MORE! -
I HAVE A PROFILE THAT WORKS WITH NEARLY EVERY MATERIAL I THROW AT IT.
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I HAVE FOUND ON MY ROCKY A SIMILAR PROBLEM.
THE FEET THAT HOLD THE MATERIAL DOWN HAVE A PLASTIC FILM ON THEM. THIS IS GLUED ON WITH CRAPPY GLUE THAT SOFTENS WHEN PRESSURE IS PUT ON THEM, CAUSING THE PADS TO MOVE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS LESS PRESSURE IS ON THE MATERIAL AND CAUSES AN UNEVEN PRINT. CHECK AND SEE ALSO IF THESE ARE FITTED CORRECTLY AS THEY CAN FLY OF AFTER A WHILE. MUTOH HAVE BROUGHT OUT NEW FEET THAT GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM.
AS FOR BANNER MATERIAL CALL D.C. HOULT ON 0115 9550808 (NOTTINGHAM) AND ASK FOR DAVE. GOOD BLOKE, GREAT FOR BANNER MATERIAL! AND I DON’T THINK YOU’LL BEAT HIM ON PRICE EITHER!