Martin Cole
Forum Replies Created
-
Andrew welcome to world of hole digging!
My advice to you as to when this type of job becomes more frequent
and bigger is to get someone else to dig the holes.I do quite a few of these, but always use a gardening company who is
a customer of mine to dig the holes, and sometimes help erect the sign.I personally hate digging holes these guys have the holes dug before
I’ve even got the spade out of the van ( Horses for Courses)!!We did the one below yesterday they had 2 x 1300mm holes dug in
just over an hour.Lets hope it’s the first of many for you! well done.
Regards
Martin
Attachments:
-
That’s a lovely job and I love the logo!
Money definitely well spent by the customer. -
Try http://www.neonexpress.co.uk Tel/fax: 0870 2000 677
Regards Martin
-
Here we go.
-
Blimey Jill, you change your photos faster than I change my disposable
squeegees. I thought you looked like ”Cher” in the previous one.
Love the new one! -
I know what your saying Nick,
I don’t know how long you have been in the
business but it’s a learning curb regarding how long to spend on a job.Time is money!
Once the price has been established for a certain design, all add on’ s
should be charged for accordingly. It always shocks me that the
customer seems surprised when they want that little extra added here
and there for no extra money.
I’m sure if we bought something from them and expected for this and
that to be thrown in, they would laugh at you.We just seem to be in a business where people push it a bit.
Be hard and stick to your guns! -
Well done Nick!
Few hours work there, hope you charged accordingly.
I do go along with Jill’s comments though but good job all the same!Jill shear quality as usual Love the pig!
-
Marcella, only been to Scotland a few times beautifull place, played golf at Turnbury about 18mths ago it was like being in heaven.
As for the hosepipe bans I did have to get permission to fill the indoor
pool up this year!! Outside one wasn’t a problem.Dave
Whats called ”BST” ?? -
As Dave says must be A-Display, try the New PVS1. Panel is a bit
shorter but better design -
Shane I am jealous!!
Don’t get much snow these days. (Global warming stuff)
The only snow I see is yellow snow when I come out of the pub on a
winters night.I’ll package some up and TNT it over so you don’t feel left out.
-
Rob
Its seems to be always raining up there, when I check the weather in the mornings the first place to get the rain is good old Scotland never seems to clear. Is it that bad?Did some work in Glasgow few years back now, think I caught you on a dry day.
As always nice tip on vinyl application in cold conditions.
I dread it, I for one don’t have indoor facilities for vans, although
company next door let me put them in thiers if it gets bad.Interesting to see how many folk have room for inside vehicle graphics.
I know at least 3 major players round here all do vehicles outside. -
Carrie
Send them to bed an hour later on Saturday night. -
Thanks Dave I’ll give them a bash.
I wonder if the Inland Revenue will let me pay for the Holiday out of
my tax money. hmm! -
We went to the garden centre last weekend to buy a shed and left with a
5′ high singing santa for the kids ( I know sounds really tacky, but it’s
really good, kids spent all Sunday evening singing along with it)I’m pleased to say it is now safely locked away in the loft.
Dave your lucky to be going to Tennerife, I’m looking to go there day after boxing day for a week but it’s just so expensive!
-
Hi Pat
One Shot is oil based.
I used to prefer Plaka, the disadvantage though
is it used to bubble the paper up if mixed to waterey. But the work I
did ie, tickets I prefer ed it watered down more, better for very fast
one stroke work but not so good for block lettering, here I would
thicken the paint much more.I remember One Shot used to dry quicker though.
I can’t remember where I used to buy Plaka from, obviously dying out
as you say Pat, can you not still buy the little jars in art shops, saying
that I can’t recall seeing any.50ft long poster, that’s a beast!! How did they fit it, did they paste it on?
-
Hi Claire
Can be a difficult one.
For a standard shop sign I would quote
@ £35.00 per hour, some I know charge the first hour @ around £50.00
and £35.00 thereafter. That’s for two people, theres always how far
away the job is to take into account.I am fitting a 1 x large and 1 x smaller sign at golf driving range on
Tuesday, about 20 miles away. 3 of us @ 1 day £450.00 inc the
concrete.Done a couple of large golf course signs the other week and lost out
big time on fitting costs, job just took longer than I allowed for.So I would, with local jobs quote by the hour and your golf jobbies
by the day. Always estimate in your favour! it’s horrible when you
underestimate a fitting job.That’s how I do it. Not everyones method no doubt.
-
Jayne
This came up a while back, Iv’e had a couple which I sent to my
screenprinters worked a treat! Realy needs to printed in one way
or another.Martin
-
Congratulations to you both!
Join the club Shane I started going grey when I was 18
-
Good Stuff Pat!
Looking at your bench there, with all the cards on, in my old place every
sq inch of space used to be used up with tickets and posters waiting to
dry.There used to be good money in that work, used to charge a pound for a
written 300mm sq ticket they used to take about 1-2 minutes to do.
Saying that the fireworks poster took about 8 minutes and charged
a tenner.Ah well! back to sticking vinyl on plastic.
-
Thanks everyone!
I did really enjoy doing them, back in the dayglo eighties I used to get
through a 50 mtr x 1200 roll of dayglo paper in a few weeks.Look forward to seeing your work Pat, good old Pl aka.
Jill I still write a few tickets, can,t beat the effect of a well written
price ticket. When computers came out, the ticket side died due to
everyone printing their own in streched Aerial bold in rainbow colours.Martin
-
Bob you are one talented man. That work is top draw!!
-
Hi Paul
As Cheryl says SMP will make the light box.Insight sign systems make Dibond frames. 0161 339 6355.
http://www.insightsignsystems.comRegards
-
Welcome Bob,
Again, look forward to seeing some of your work.
I love airbrush work, used to do some myself in the early days. -
Tim my understanding is total block is in white only.
I just had to produce lots of black banners, some D/S and the company I bought them from had this in a heavier grade than norm which did the job.
I asked about D/S in colours and they explained it would be 2 banners
with a blackout material in between. (Not cheap)It will be interesting to see if any company does coloured D/S banners as
my biggest customer was inquiring about them. -
Nice Job Chris.
Is that you up there or are you the lucky one taking the photo? -
I believe you have to attend a 3 day City & Guilds course covering both Health & Safety and testing before you are eligible to do any testing.
Course is around £190.00. -
Andrew I know what you mean, that Friday afternoon feeling totally sapped of energy.
As regards Frog Juice I thought you were after colours but obviously you just need the clear.Have a good weekend mate.
-
Andrew what’s a frog juice suppier?
I take it Victory still supply it http://www.victory-design.co.uk.
Still got some cans under my bench I’ve never used, I used to to use it a fair bit stippling vinyl etc. What colours you after??
Martin[/u]
-
Dave can’t you spray them black?
Bit of a pain in the back side I know, I’ve done this a couple of times
I put gold letters on a jewelers and they wanted the locator’s gold, I seem to remember suspending them on a piece of string and spraying them. -
Here Here!
Great tip from Andy, just spent 5 mins looking for a bad piece of vinyl
found some applied heat and back comes the gloss. After 10 years I never knew you could do that. Well done mate. -
I hate this problem too.
Over time I have had quite a bit of vinyl replaced due to this problem, I hate when you order 5mtr of specific colour and you get the end of a roll with around 4.5mtr being unusable.
Interesting what Andy says, never tried that, but I don’t see why I should do it unless I was in deep **** and had to cut vinyl that day.
I expect all the vinyl to be in tip top condition. -
Andy
What’s the minimum order on that?
Personally I think it’ too cheap, putting the digital side of our trade on the old slippery slope. I buy mine in @ £26.00 which I don’t mind paying I still make good money from it. Who knows next year it will be a tenner, where will it end. -
Hi John
In reply to your question, on the window panels I frost, I do them flat on the bench so I peel the backing paper off and just lay it on the glass, no hinging I do it by eye to make sure it’s straight.
As for larger panels in shops etc, done a panel beside a door last week
2500 x 650 portrait. Partly peeled backing off starting at top and squeegeed down peeling backing off as I went again with a fine mist of clean water once done, peeled the app tape off straight away went over it with a felt squeegee then weeded out the logo. Went on a treat not a bubble in sight and took about 15-20 mins.
On longer panels I usually work from right to left or hing on the top edge. As I said not every ones method but works well for me. -
Forgive for coming back on this one,
100 mtr’s of vinyl is a lot to cut and fit is £20.00- £25.00 per mtr too much, £2.5k. difficult one! maybe it’s worth sitting down and working out how long it’s going to take and decide how much you want out of the job
as you say you are quiet, certainly don’t sell yourself cheap though.Be interesting to see what someone else thinks?
I recently done some banners for a customer of mine over a period of a couple of months, and probably used in excess of 130mtr’s of vinyl but I supplied banners as well, I usually charge around £3 – £3.50 per sq ft for them inc lettering.
On the subject of banners I do work for a top brand maker of alloy wheels, they were after a price for banners to be sent to their distributors all over the country. I knew I had to be cheap, I think they were around 8′ x 2′, I think after a few calls they came in at £30 something.
Then heard one of his buyers had located some in the far east for about £3.50 each fully finished think they had to buy around 200, try under quoting that.!!Good luck hope you get the job!
-
Depends how much weeding time is involved I would say, but std lettering your not a million miles away, I would go for the £20 -£25 as
your not making nought on the banners. -
Try your local steel fabricators (yellow pages) Should have no trouble making that, might have to locate your own wheels but still no problem.
Regards Martin
-
Jon
Heres my method, I do tons of frosted window samples for a double glazing co next door I buy the frosted in 50mtr rolls to give you an idea how many. The panels are only around 1000 x 460.
The panel has customers logo lettering etc. I cut the panel and leave it unweeded, apply tape, and spray the window with a fine mist of clean water, apply vinyl and then weed out logo etc. I find this the quickest and best method, even shop windows I do the same.
I know many would say not the way to do it, but after years of applying that way I still prefer it to applying dry. -
Hi Micheal
Had this situation once, the only answer I could find was to make some 3/5mm foamex panels and use the suckers (as on the baby on board signs) to stick them to the window, doesn’t look fantastic but the customer seemed happy.Regards
-
Well said!!
I studied Advertising and Design at college years ago, we used to hand draw Times Roman when studying fonts. I detest poor layout on signage. I could go on!!As to becoming a plasterer overnight ( and this will bring a smile to your face) I done a van last week for a couple of guys who I have previously worked for they make iron gates etc. The van was for plastering drylining etc, they had leaflets printed everything. After I had completed the van I asked how long they had been plastering, they both smiled and said they had never done it and were going on a crash course that week.
They had chucked in the other business and decided to become plasters, as you do!! Let me know if you need any done and I’ll send you their details. -
I’m like Peter, go for the best you can afford, you can outgrow entry level software very quickly all comes down to bucks though.
I’ve used Signlab for 10 years now, and love it. -
Hi George
I’m very lucky I have an excellent fabricators on my estate which make all my trays etc not the fasted in the world though.
I would recommend Ashby Sign Supplies to you 0118 981 5343
very good turnaround.Regards
-
Good old ‘BNI’ I was wondering when this was going to pop up.
Not such a bad thing, I was a member for two and a half years and a Director for a six month term. Good points, made some excellent contacts
and easily recouped my fees with some good jobs coming out of it. If your into networking you can visit other chapters to meet new people, only one of each trade allowed to join each chapter.
Bad points: getting up very early every Wednesday morning and having to find other people around the table work, which is what it’s all about referrals ”you give me business and I’ll give you business”.
It works out about a grand a year, so is a big commitment!
Personally I wouldn’t rejoin as they still haven’t a sign maker in the group I joined. But overall certainly not a bad experience and as I said met some fantastic people and still the odd night out up the town on a Friday night. -
Hi Silvio
In my opinion std med tack paper tape will be fine, as suggested conform is good. I don’t like the clear stuff personally, I was given a sample at sign uk years ago by Dorrotape I think and never touched it since, it was so long ago I can’t even remember why I didn’t like it.
As regards fitting app tape I can’t see a problem 2500 x 110 ‘big’ but
shouldn’t cause any probs. I don’t have a tape dispenser so I get my tape cut to 400mm max so I would lay graphic on the bench and apply tape as smoothly as you can trying to avoid creases, don’t normally like overlaps on the lettering but in this case unless you apply in one big sheet of tape it’s unavoidable, still shouldn’t cause problems to the fitter.Regards
-
My answer is yes a 7yr polymeric is fine for boat names etc, I do lots and lots as I am very near the sea, Cast vinyl is better and I will use this if I have the colour in stock. But Ive’ had no problems using the 7yr vinyl over the years.
-
I’d go along with Brian,
When ever I use chrome I always put it on top of a longer life vinyl, I have exactly that on my own van, looks so much better with an outline or shadow in my opinion any way. By the way I use the chrome from Victory Design . -
I do agree with you Hugh, being in our profession I find you tend to meet a lot of trades people and I’m all for scratching each others backs.
I find some of my regular customers who have a few graphics every couple of weeks, sort of become your friends and a few almost expect bigger discounts every time they need something, this is where you have to draw the line and stick firm with your prices. -
Quote from Hugh
”now if i can stop doing about 50% of my jobs for friends at mates rates i’ll be earning a living !!””Hugh there are NO friends in business”
-
”I’ve used their silver, which is often hardest to weed (black is easiest) and that was fine.”
I always remember a rep from some co saying black would be the hardest colour to weed due what goes into producing the colour. I must admit I’ve never noticed it being harder myself, would have to say gold is the easiest colour to weed.
-
Lorraine
Have you tried the Mactac Macal 9800 series?
I just bought their new colour range, really nice vinyl.
Also their cast vinyl Macfleet I find really good!I also use Grafityp 200/300 series and I have never had any problems.
There is a lot of vinyl companies out there that would like your business, I can’t see a need for eBay, didn’t know you even buy vinyl on eBay!
Depends how much you use and to what you would pay per metre but it’s worth making a few calls, I buy my Mactac through Amari and get a really good deal.Saying that I have yet to use the ”magical Oracal” which the majority seem to use on these boards, only through one of Robs links the other day I actually found out where to buy it sounds the dogs do da’s so I will have to give it a try.
-
Interesting!
We used the wrapping vinyl for a van, it had printed pictures from top to bottom and halfway across the van and looked fantastic. That was until it started popping out of the contours about one month later.
We used a top-class fitter as well.Lorraine
I had a similar experience with LG vinyl, we found that very thick and difficult to weed.
Is it just black you have or are colours equally difficult to weed?
Black is the hardest colour to weed anyway but only marginally. -
Interesting stuff Adrian, I think you have confirmed it for me to put a cleaning clause on the signing off sheet.
The time aspect is food for thought, I know this has been touched on before with people bringing in vehicles no where near the time they were booked in for. -
It would be interesting to see what % of us do back up.
It seems such an obvious thing to do, but we all do it?I had my unit completely renovated last May, trying to work at the
same time (nightmare) and in the process an 8’x4′ board got tipped
over, right on my pc while it was not in use.
A day later connected it all back up and nothing! lost the hard drive!
Had I backed up? NO! only on my young sons pc did I have my info
but I had deleted this about 2 weeks previous to free up his disc space.
I had to send hard drive out and fortunately they recovered all what
was on it to the tune of £600.
Backed up ever since funny enough. -
Kev, where do you get that Art Explosion from? never heard of it.
”34 CD’S” I’ll have to have the office extended.Martin[/quote]
-
Andrew what about a 10mm Panatrim frame, (more expense though)
Otherwise it’s a screw with white caps job, I guess. -
Lee, Try ‘Banner Box’ 01246 472949
-
Very Funny Mike!! I’ll take a trip up the pound store to buy some of that.
But seriously try the artificial snow it comes in a test tube, tip the powder in a bowl and just add water, even feels like real snow.
(Honest Gov!) -
Can’t believe this conversation all on Christmas, but while we are on it Carrie, this year try the artificial snow you can buy you just add water and wow you have real snow (almost) it’s fantastic put on the door step and around the fire place, the kids were convinced.
Two years ago we sprayed the footprints on the door step and also our neighbors with the spray can snow, time to remove ours came off, our neighbors we couldn’t shift I think they were still there in March.Anyway it’s 80 degrees outside and I have a van to do.
Have a good day.
-
I use Tennants 0115 973 8080
The acrylics and reflective come in both dry and glued.
I find the dry reflective and the glued acrylics easier to use.Martin
-
Hi OJ
It is a very addictive sight,Martin
-
If I do an A-board promotion, I include the board and a certain
amount of words in 1 or 2 colour, and always state anything over
ie, logos etc would be charged extra. This normally works well,
most A-boards I do, have just brief messages on them (less is more)!!Martin[/quote]
-
Nice work Jem.
Can’t help thinking the old signs still had a couple on years left in them.Martin
-
Amari do panatrim.. HQ: 01932 835000
Martin
-
I still find ‘Ashby trade sign supplies’ very good for these.
Excellent turnaround, I ordered some blanks the other day around
midday and they were with me 8.00 the next morning.Ashby 0118 981 5343
-
Cherwell sign supplies 01280 840297
Signgold 22 carat gold vinyl (not cheap!)
Martin
-
With a friction feed plotter NO piece of vinyl is a scrap to me.[/quote]
I agree Steve, Where I am I do loads of boat names so all strips of
vinyl are valuable to me.
It’s just a pain in the backside storing them all, I start off with good
intentions putting all off cut vinyl in rolls and colour matched.
Then after a while they end up in a big box getting creased.
I’m sure it’s a problem we all suffer with.
One more thing Steve, you are the dead spit of my brother, they
say everyone has a double, just had to throw that in.Martin
-
On the note of the large sign for £1800.00 It’s crazy money.
I think we all get jobs to quote on, and then find out what someone else
has quoted leaving you thinking- how do they do it for that or I’m to expensive -I’m doomed!! But we move on fast and get over it, it’s part and parcel. The longer your in the business you wise up more to the cheapy boys doing vans for a pittance. I know I’d rather do one van for the price of what they do two or three for. The old ‘BUSY FOOL’ saying comes to hand again.
I’ve always said it comes down to education, if someone comes in for a price on a van I give them a price and tell them where would they get that kind of advertising exposure for lets say £150, I usually get something on screen for the to consider and they are sold.
It comes down to the fact I don’t want to do a van for silly money, I don’t want to be dragged down to that level, I pride myself on my design skills and the fact I’ve been in the business for too long.
On the guilt factor of earning £80.00 for half hours work ‘Big G’, as you said it’s not an every day occurrence. I’ve just put a few graphics on on pick up, took me half hour max charged £ 75.00 customer was happy and I felt no guilt. If I had 10 of those a day everyday, I may get a small twinge of guilt , but it just doesn’t happen so the money has got to be made when it can.Martin
-
This is a big problem for me too, the piece of board you want is always
at the back of the pile against the wall.
I am just in the motions of making a racking system in a corner of the
workshop, using 3×2 timber fixed from floor to ceiling, making a
framework every 200mm and covering with ply to make it solid.
Can’t wait to get it done, it looks such a mess at the moment and as
Dave says after a while the board curves and is wasted.Martin
-
I had the predicament of having to paint some foamex letters the other
month, causing me much stress.
These were foamex letters we had to remove from a fascia repaint and
replace. They wanted a particular yellow with a silver outline, couldn’t
locate the yellow, so in the end I painted the whole letter in silver using
‘Japlac’ bought from Focus it went on really well, I then placed yellow
vinyl over the top and cut in from the edge with scalpel to leave a
10mm silver border, looked the bizz!
After Sang this I don’t know how I would feel having to cover a a large
area ie, keeping brush marks to a mini um.
I wish I’d known of Dave’s place a few months ago, the trouble I went
to trying to find a paint for foamex!!Martin
-
I use Grafityp magnetic, good price and no problems.
Only in white just cover in vinyl to achieve colour you want.Martin
-
Definitely Brush script,
I would have thought every sign package would have this font.
You can just install it from Microsoft word.Martin
-
Hi Peter
In my opinion translucent vinyl is essential when using light boxes.
In the daylight normal vinyl will look fine when it’s dark and the sign is
lit up you will not see the colour properly, if at all in normal vinyl.
I always remember seeing light box sign where I used to live. Yellow
fascia with light blue graphics with darker blue shadow it looked great
during the day, when it was lit up all the graphics just became a dark
shadow totally unreadable.
So I would locate nearest colour you can to colour needed, Avery do
good range.Martin
-
I had a customer of mine who needed some lettering on a roller blind
he bought in, I sent it to my screen printer who made a wonder full job
and not needing to take it apart.Martin
-
quote Kate:Hi,
We have been asked to supply up to 40, 3 ft by 5 ft Foamex signs ( he actually asked for foamex ) , for advertising at the side of an (outdoor) football pitch.
Q’s:
1) What should we use? From reading the boards foamalux etc. are not too good for outdoor use.
2) Who is a good / cheap supplier for your answer to question 1 !
3) He has asked that he can remove the vinyl after a season, and replace
with new advertising. Would the technique to do this be similar to removing on a van? What if it is all overlaminated ?4) What would you guys from the UK charge for these?, and/ or what would you consider a reasonable proffit margin for this job ( we arent doing the fitting, just the making…)
Danny
I do the advertising boards for two local football clubs, it’s a competitive
market. Local clubs are happy to use foamex to keep the cost down
although 5/6mm is liable to shatter when hit with the ball.
I use a 10mm Excell foam board from Amari Plastics it has an smooth
finish on it perfect for football boards.
2500 x 610 boards in 2 colour simple artwork I charge around £100 exc
each. Depends what you pay for the board though as to what to charge. As regards removing the vinyl after one season tell him to do it
himself, unbelievable force economy, what is it with these people!!
Also in my opinion they are the worst payers, try to get some money
up front and rest on completion.
Good Luck.
Martin -
quote Kate:Hi
Has anyone used the Banana Banner vinyl?
Can you tell me if its a good product. I see the weight is a lot less than other banners available, will that make a huge differnece?Thanks Kate
Hi Kate
I’ve used a considerable amount of the Grafityp version of this product.
It’s fine for short term work indoors and out. The area around the
eyelets is liable to tear in strong winds. We also use std vinyl on them.
We do loads of banners and would recommend a good quality 610-640
gsm if it’s going out for any length of time, The banana banner will be
around 344 grms.
They are a great idea ie, cut them to the size you want but as said I
would use them for short term work only.
Hope this helps.Martin