[Martin Cole]

here, here well done Craig :claps:

[Martin Cole]

quote Phill Fenton:

what must be an ordeal for some children

not so great for us adults alswell, had a couple recently myself..didn’t enjoy :puppyeyes:

have to say this looks fantastic all credit to all involved :thumbsup:

[Martin Cole]

Without knowing location, sign size etc, scaffold would be the best option as 3-4mtrs is not very high.

Next option is scissor lift, straight up and down. Ground must be completely flat though

[Martin Cole]

All sorted now… :thumbsup:

[Martin Cole]

little bit better now

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[Martin Cole]

quote David Hammond:

Yes, I pass it every few weeks, and it’s gradually getting worse… The wooden window has been like that for a few weeks now, and the faded banner, has been like that as long as I can recall. 😆

Wow….I always thought franchisees would have regular visits to make sure their premises always look tip top

[Martin Cole]

quote David Hammond:

I actually needed to google it and see if they had moved.

so its still open and looking like that…blimey… :shocked:

mind you the wood effect window vinyls are quite nice 😉

[Martin Cole]

quote Phill Fenton:

I just had a last minute cancellation for a part wrap – see customer of the year award :awkward:

😆 😆 😆

[Martin Cole]

Another hot one here today…just opened back door of unit to let some air in..took a photo for you Phill

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[Martin Cole]

quote Phill Fenton:

Sorry Martin – I was thinking of giving the whole of Britain the afternoon off but you Southerners are so spoiled by the weather you really don’t deserve it :tongue:

:puppyeyes: :puppyeyes: :puppyeyes:

we do get the odd bit of bad weather in January….so can I have the afternoon off now?

[Martin Cole]

Dam… if only I lived in Scotland.. I could really do with the afternoon off :puppyeyes:

Beautiful down here in Sunny Essex, but then most days are beautiful here 😎 😎 :tongue:

[Martin Cole]

You need to know what profile it is Danny, which may not be easy. I don’t recognize it.

You’ll have to improvise otherwise. The panel once in wont go anywhere but will be liable to some expansion

[Martin Cole]

Excellent selection of work as usual Dave,

liking the Barber shop window vinyls…even with brush script 😉

Chicken shop as mentioned is fab :thumbsup:

[Martin Cole]

gloss should be avoided as will create spotting with the leds

[Martin Cole]

Reading between the lines..

I would at least show the fleet company the artwork, then send a pro-forma and get the money up front.

If you have worked for them before and they seem ok get a PO number, but would probably still get confirmation the artwork is good to go….just in case 😉

[Martin Cole]

Warren,

I had the same problem couple of weeks ago.
I used a company called Signforce in Norwich,

Wouldn’t deal with Amari again with what they quoted me on a sheet 👿
Got it a third cheaper than they quoted me

[Martin Cole]

quote Phill Fenton:

I was asked today to meet with the “MD” to finalise a few details. It turns out he reckoned he could get all the logos much cheaper on line (It’s just a few bits of vinyl after all was his words) so could I revise my prices accordingly?

Just those words is like waving a red flag to a bull 👿

[Martin Cole]

quote Phill Fenton:

Any other suggestions?

Don’t go on Holiday….. 😉

[Martin Cole]

quote Danny Miller:

Would I use standard white or the Opel colour panels and would it make a different to the colour I need if I use full colour print or standard vinyl lettering

Thanks

Depends if its being illuminated.
If it is then must be opal panels with translucent vinyl for cut lettering or full colour print on clear or maybe some white backed printed vinyl would work.

If its not to be illuminated solid panels will be fine.

[Martin Cole]

Not the best picture to judge by…
but I would say it would slide in from the right hand side as the pillar and the sign next door looks to be flush with the box, which would make it possible to slide panels in.
Without a visit you need a few close up pictures to be sure.

[Martin Cole]

Personally I wouldn’t do them any favours James. Why should you…. the promise of a lot more work :sleep: :sleep:

If your local, then you can give them a better service than many others…. which is often worth more than saving a buck.

[Martin Cole]

quote David Hammond:

If you’re taking £700 pw home,

We all want your job 😉

[Martin Cole]

quote Peter Cox:

Martin,
I can only go on what I paid this morning, I guess that I must be on a better rate.
I ordered from Birminghan depot.

Hi Peter
That’s the trouble with not having an account or buying regularly from certain companies you obviously pay more, which I accept…but I still feel what I’m being quoted is excessive.

[Martin Cole]

quote Peter Cox:

sq/m price that makes ‘Cut Plastic Sheetings’ price of £38.81 per sq/m £115 for an 8×4 sheet, a lot more expensive than Amari.
Good luck Peter

Not the case on what I have been quoted from them £48 psm :shocked:

[Martin Cole]

Thank you guys.

It does as Rob mentioned have to be ‘DiBond’
I have plenty of the Skybond and also some allupanel but its just not the same as the butler finish.

Looks like I am at the mercy of Amari :praiseyou:

[Martin Cole]

Thanks Michael,

Did find that site,
8×4 certainly cheaper than Amari but I need 3050 x 1500 which they don’t offer and 7-10 day lead time 🙁

[Martin Cole]

They were good days, the Friday night in topics :smiles:

Phill you used to wind Peter up something rotten.

Peter in real life is so different to how he used to often come across on the boards. A real lovely guy always willing to help you.

[Martin Cole]

If it means a bit of crystal on the mantle piece phill, I’m more than happy to chip in

On a serious note are they f*****g kidding, would anyone fall for that drivel

[Martin Cole]

quote Steve Morgan:

Uoccasions when there was a bit of acrimony I used to eagerly await John’s sensible input and I miss that.

Your right Steve, I think we all awaited John’s replies, he usually had the final word as we knew he was always right. :smiles:

[Martin Cole]

No probs Adrian,

glad it could be of use.

Ruel, mine was the the 750 model so not exactly and in the big skip in the sky now :puppyeyes:

[Martin Cole]

This is your lucky day Adrian, :smiles:

Got one I’m just about to throw out. It is just the plastic clip you want not the whole arm?

Just let me know your address and Ill post it to you FOC. I’m only in Maldon so not a million miles away from you.

Martin

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[Martin Cole]

Accent signs should be able to do those Jean,
Moulded letters on a foamex/ acrylic backing

https://www.accent-signs.co.uk looks like their website is being updated but worth a call.

another:…. http://www.bhma.co.uk/moulded-acrylic-l … ith-border

[Martin Cole]

quote Paul Hodges:

quote Warren Beard:

Sign Waves is another one who deals in similar ways with operating side line companies offering the same products less than trade price.

This is interesting to know. I use Signwaves quite frequently but will revise this now.

Same here, very disappointing to hear, I’ve spent thousands with them over the past few years.
would be interesting to hear the other company name they are selling through?

Interesting thread though.

In short these companies seem to want the best of both worlds.

I think once trade only suppliers loose their integrity peolpe will loose trust in them as we are being shown in this tread.
Again has been said It simply comes down to Ethics plain and simple. ( there are certain things you just don’t do in business and this is one of them!)

Vote with your feet and find alternative suppliers

[Martin Cole]

After around 25 years of attending on and off and having had some good times I probably did my last show last year.

Have a good time to all that’s going and look out for and say hello to Georgio for me he’ll be wondering around tomorrow somewhere :shocked:

[Martin Cole]

quote Duncan Wilkie:

Advice to everyone. If you don’t have business training, get some right away or hire a professional. I think I’ve made every possible business mistake over the years. You can’t afford to wing it, trust me, please. Time for a beer. [emoji41]

Some of the best advice I have read on the boards in 12 years Duncan

[Martin Cole]

Have used these before, not exactly what your after..but..

http://www.nova-aluminium.com/nova-trim/

[Martin Cole]

Out of interest has anyone used "Metamark MD-WA" with their solvent printer? ..with good results??

[Martin Cole]

Ditto….been using impact for 22 years now.

https://impactgs.co.uk/software/impact- … ne-library

[Martin Cole]

My jaw hits the floor when I see some of the drivel I get from designers. Unquestionably the sign maker gets the bum end of the stick…. but I guess that’s up to us to change it..some good replies above

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[Martin Cole]

Yep, great work as always Dave.

Like Glenn, love the Butterfly cafe even though its only for short people or people who limbo :smiles:

Why does the sign look so low or is it me?

[Martin Cole]

quote Derek Heron:

quote Daniel Evans:

What’s with the holes in the squeegee?

think its to let the water through when fitting wet

😉

lol :smiles: :smiles:

[Martin Cole]

Maybe not exactly the same but I have done many Glider reg nos always used ORACAL 551 with no probs.

Worth checking out posts below

post465723.html#p465723

post234630.html#p234630

[Martin Cole]

Good Job Daniel,

It is an obvious vinyl on ACM job, but as you say good experince for a large scale print sign.
I usually paint the fixings if I cant get caps to suit

Design wise spot on :thumbsup:

[Martin Cole]

Lovely selection of top notch work Iain, :thumbsup:

[Martin Cole]

quote David Hammond:

That’s the thing we don’t know if we did or didn’t do it. Yes vinyl fitted above the cab on the van.

Refusing to pay won’t do us any favours either, court with no reasonable evidence that we didn’t do it, is a waste of time.

For £100 get it fixed, and change how we do things so there is no next time.

Hmmm….tricky one. Easy to advise sitting at your desk. Maybe your right for a 100 quid pay up learn and move on

[Martin Cole]

quote David Hammond:

Had a customer today to claim we’ve cracked their windscreen whilst fitting the vinyl.
.

Out of interest where abouts on the van were you fitting vinyl, I take it it must have been above the screen?
I think you would have known if youd have cracked it.

Sounds like a chancer to me especially with the suspicious excess…personally I wouldn’t pay.

I had pr**k of a customer many years ago who accused me of cracking some glass on his double glased entrance doors while fitting the opening times :shake: we had a shouting match and nearly came to blows. no way on earth was I paying.

All part of being in business I guess, these things are all sent to test us and hopefully learn from them so it doesn’t happen again.

[Martin Cole]

As George,

Use cotton wool and brasso

[Martin Cole]

:rollseyes: :rollseyes:

Who the hell is that above me…….Good to see you Dave..Postman, blimey,
your one of the most knowledgeable sign / tech people I know. Hope the new job is all good and keeping you nice and fit.

I finish tomoz and back for a day on Wednesday

Merry Christmas and lets all have a healthy and prospreous new year.

[Martin Cole]

quote Jonathan feeney:

Ive had this exact same call twice now i think its dodgy as they have for looks unique designs and looks unique advertising when we are called looks unique signs ill post if it happens again

Did you type this on your phone by any chance Jonathan 🙁 😉 :smiles:

Ref the calls, virtually any call I dont recognise I dont answer, If im caught out and hear the uasual call cente background noise down goes the phone……l

[Martin Cole]

Welcome to the boards Jasper, good to have you here

[Martin Cole]

Mike is a long term member of the boards.

That is shocking, probably your worst business nightmare.
I know it happened to Colin another board member in Romford not so long ago.

I feel for you Mike and I hope you get back up and running somehow.

[Martin Cole]

Damm, I forgot to mention Seaworld.

😉

[Martin Cole]

Ashby

http://www.ashbytrade.net/home/index.php

[Martin Cole]

It’s not a genuine Roland one Dan. Just had a look and can’t see a make.

I think a few of us on here have them and no complaints from anyone, it is a great bit of kit.

I’ll pop in for that beer when I’ m next over… :smiles:

[Martin Cole]

I’ll send some of our cold over to you then, going to be 6 degrees here tomorrow. :puppyeyes:

I love Menorca, but haven’t been since the kids were small.

I liked the sun chasing, so if it was cloudy where we were we would drive to the other side of the island where it was usually sunny.

Nice place to be Dan :thumbsup:

[Martin Cole]

Great size unit you have Dan, very high roof.

How cold does it get out there during the winter out of interest?

[Martin Cole]

Hi Sam,

Good to see you back. I didn’t realise you had left …….. good luck with the new business.

Martin

[Martin Cole]

Great stuff Dan, you should go into production with those ideas.

You know what’s on its way to you :smiles:

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[Martin Cole]

I have one of the ones from Graifityp Dan, fantastic thing and you will definitely wonder how the hell you managed without one 🙁 for all those years.

Not sure if they ship out to you, packaging is enormous but would recommend it highly.

Link below is the one Warren was selling a while back.

topic59439.html

[Martin Cole]

Those efforts by the so called designer are very poor…no visual stimulation at all :puppyeyes:

knocked up a couple of ideas that may help you

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[Martin Cole]

Dan, have you ever considered being a ‘Blue Peter’ presenter, they would love you.

[Martin Cole]

don’t worry wait until the pound picks back up and the prices will tumble just as fast……….not :shake:

[Martin Cole]

That’s a great idea Dan…. mine usually end up in a big box which is not ideal

With another email of a second price increase on vinyl this morning, those off cuts are becoming ever more valuable.

[Martin Cole]

Incredible piece of work,

to get all those pin stripes, spaces edges etc etc to all line up from self made templates is an amazing job.

Love the print of the airbrushed image on the back.

:claps:

good £7-800 worth of work there I reckon 😉 :smiles:….. plus vat of course

[Martin Cole]

Lol, I saw the original spamming posts Jamie and knew you were taking the **** and thought this would be deleted aswell..

Are you sure you don’t really want one though :smiles:

[Martin Cole]

quote Leigh Howden:

Reg on my van is LS 51GNS company name is LS signs. Cost £1250.00 from dvla

Nice one Leigh, I’d call that a bargain..

DVLA always the best place to start looking but prices haved jumped from some years ago.

Just looked, S1 GNS is valued around £38,000 so maybe S1 CNS is not a million miles away at 15k,

It’s like everything else though, they are only worth what someone else is prepared to pay for it.

[Martin Cole]

quote Andy Kordowski:

just don’t forget to remove the liner…….. :thumbsup:

LOL.. that’s exactly what I did when I did my first mesh banner.

[Martin Cole]

Great Job Phill. looks the biz.

That’s a posh looking garage you have. I thought I was the only one with a laminated floor..although I don’t keep car in mine.

[Martin Cole]

Thanks guys..sorted!

Took it apart as you said Stafford and found a piece of vinyl had stuck directly over the eye..now removed and all working fine..

sigh of relief and hammer back in tool box :smiles:

[Martin Cole]

Tried that Graeme..no joy 🙁

[Martin Cole]

No Messages Phill.

I just set it up as normal, the head briefly hovers over the first mark as if its going to read it but then goes across the sheet and comes back again until I stop it.

[Martin Cole]

A big fat decade ago Cheryl!!
I remember you joining and being upset at the criticism we were dishing out for someones van design…it was all constructive of course 😉

Here’s to the next ten and good to see some old faces on the calendar thread 🙁 :smiles:

[Martin Cole]

Have you tried snooker table baize,

availble by the metre would have to make your own up though

[Martin Cole]

quote Steff Davison:

I do send out around a 1000 running meters a week. .

That’s a tidy business you have there Lola….there must be smoke coming off those plotters. 😉

[Martin Cole]

Top Draw work Duncan :praiseyou: How long did it take you to do?

Must be a typo in there somewhere 😉

[Martin Cole]

Cool guy and great video.

I like to see how quality designers tick and he explains it very well.

[Martin Cole]

quote Steff Davison:

I appreciate your constructive advise, it just doesnt make sense though…why would he do two instals on the same van.?

Just an observation.

Steff,

Top one is the one Dave actually did and the one underneath is Rob’s photoshoped alternative version :bigsmile:

Nice job Rob,

[Martin Cole]

Great selection of varied, quality work as usual David.

Great to see your still nice and busy,

[Martin Cole]

Welcome to the boards Robert.

Bottom of page for rules etc

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[Martin Cole]

quote Phill Fenton:

Well I sent an email off to my customer today explaining the difficulty in gaining safe access, and as some of my chums on the UKSB were being less than helpful with their suggestions, I was unable to offer a supply and fit service.

Wise move Phill….

Although between us I thought we had it well resolved. 😕

[Martin Cole]

quote Phill Fenton:

Just spotted a major flaw in your plan Martin….
Won’t the downdraft from the helicopter blades wreak havoc with the self adhesive vinyl? How do you expect me to be able to fit this in what would amount to a 70mph Gale force wind 🙄

I did think of that Phill, but if you use wet application, you may just be alright 😕

Alternate suggestion below :thumbup2:

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[Martin Cole]

Any Good Phil ?

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[Martin Cole]

Sorry..too early for me and miss read post, cant help you with qualified 🙁

[Martin Cole]

as attached 😀

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c&g ai.ai

[Martin Cole]

quote Hugh Potter:

nice!! was it on etch, clear or just regular recerse printed clear with white backing? I know you would’ve checked!!

I don’t honestly know Hugh, not white backed and didn’t look clear so could well have been etched..
really stunning image though.

[Martin Cole]

quote Robert Lambie:

We need to “educate” the customer on quality over price these days when trying to win work because the uneducated Sign, Print or Wrap companies can do nothing else other than sell on price alone, simply because thats as far as their own knowledge goes.

Oh so true..

There is so much tat about about, I cant go a day without seeing a van that looks like it’s been done by someone just out of kinder garden

This though takes the biscuit an absolute shocker as Jon says one of the worst!!
I also have to question the customer thinking 3mm plastic glued to their wall would do the job, especially BLACK..a magnet for the sun.

Shame on who ever did it :shake: The new trays look great Colin :thumbup2:

[Martin Cole]

Excellent haven’t seen many of those before, like Seun trying to print number 20 to stick on the wall.

[Martin Cole]

Even though the word signs is bigger, its less prominent than your name.
Should be the other way around,
maybe a white keyline around the word signs to lift it out more, or reverse the colours possibly.

Good effort though

[Martin Cole]

Thanks for the reply Tim, interesting and keep up that great work,

[Martin Cole]

Again excellent work Tim,

Out of interest is this work as with the truck you posted really viable?

So many skilled man hours involved aswell as the price of material adds up to a tidy sum, do you price on so many hours initially or does it take you longer than you originally thought hence see the bottom line going down?

I’m a believer in you get what you pay for and like to think your clients are willing to pay top dollar for your work.

[Martin Cole]

Top Draw work Tim.

love the real home reception desk

[Martin Cole]

That’s a great job, very effective. :thumbup2:

The contravision is beautifully done.

[Martin Cole]

quote Hugh Potter:

quote Martin Cole:

That’s a good bundle.

I’d grab that Hugh..

It’s actually pretty much what I’m looking for, the cutter is just a bigger version of what I have, as is the laminator, the the mutoh is the only printer I have first hand experience of!!

Just waiting for an email, Darren?? !!!

It’s got your name on it Hugh….You’ll fly with that.

Come on Darren
😀

[Martin Cole]

That’s a good bundle.

I’d grab that Hugh..

[Martin Cole]

quote Robert Lambie:

I have a fruit shoot with you name on it sat behind the bar just for you Martin! 😉

Top Man ! now we’re talking.. Blackberry and Apple I take it. I’ll be downing a few of those 😕

[Martin Cole]

quote Robert Lambie:

I will be there as close to 1pm as I can. I have a BSGA meeting at 1pm i think, so will have to attend that then shoot round once it has finished. 😀

I bet you’ve arranged that meeting at 1.00 so you don’t have to buy me a drink…I know your game 😛

[Martin Cole]

I think I might actually make it this year…..be Wednesday for me.

Weatherspoons at 1.00ish

Georgio are you going 🙄

[Martin Cole]

I agree, its good to hear as they have taken a fair bit of criticism over the last couple of years

I have used Ashby for many many years and and quite a bit lately and always found them very good in all ways.

[Martin Cole]

It’s lucky Jill isn’t around.

Brush script a good slap, Brush Script all in caps.. hung , drawn and quartered minimum……

[Martin Cole]

Changed your logo Ewan,

tricky van to do but may give you a bit of inspiration 😕

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