[Mike Grant]

I have produced a few signs that have a marbled finish. The lettering is insized by router and then gold leafed. The base material is 20mm thick pvc. I have an example on my website in the gallery section.

If this is OK by you Rob………. http://www.trevorlewissigns.co.uk will get you there. Take a gander.

[Mike Grant]

Hi Rod, we lived in Paarl first then moved to Pinlands when I started Mallard Signs, then we bought a house in Table View (Circle Road) not far from you, then we had a plot in Blouberg but got rid of that just before we came back to old Blighty.

We left in 93 just as the waterfront development was taking shape, and just before the bomb went off at the little cafe/theatre thing.

I would love to go back for a holiday.

I was into the sailing scean, do you sail the big boys out of The Royal Cape or are you a dingy sailor like me at Rietvei. My club was out at Vogelvlei where I was on the committe for about 10 years, spent all my free time there. I used to sail an “Extra”.

Sorry Robert if this is going off the subject, just like to chin wag 🙄

[Mike Grant]

Very interesting.

…..”I repeat , moisture is a KILLER , most problems you will have are due to cold temperatures and moisture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “……

Now don’t forget Rodney most peeps on this board
LIVE & WORK IN BRITAIN!!!

We don’t get 25 degree temperature most of the year in this hell hole 😆

I am quite happy to stick with my “overpriced” dispensers! 😉

[Mike Grant]

Now that was interesting, have just spent over £800 on etching some stainless signs, I think the company was taking the mick a bit but time did not allow me to shop around.

I have a small bronze sign to do (120x120mm) but it has 3 logos on and the small lettering of the logos only come out less than 2mm high. Any bright ideas how to produce the masking for this one.

[Mike Grant]

Oh yes I just forgot to mention, we can now also buy Castle Lager here in all the major supermarkets. I even have some in the fridge as I type 😆

Mmmm lekker met ‘n braaivleis 🙄

[Mike Grant]

Hoe gaan dit Roders.

Ek woon in Karpstadt vir derteen yaar. Tafelsig!

Et het a company naamed “Mallard Signs” in Paarden Eilandd
en later in Montague Gardens.

Excuse my Afrikaans is bie slegs

BUT I TRY! 😆

Where about are you based, I know the Cape very well and miss it a lot.
I am slowly loosing touch with all my friends out there, Its a shame really.

Oh yes and welcome to the boards! 😀

[Mike Grant]

Good timing Rob.

I have an interesting one all pictured up but have no time to write it up at the moment.

Watch this space! 😀

[Mike Grant]

Yes I have used the barcode swapping a lot from day one, it’s just that I do have some designs that I have printed that need blue & green in the same design and it is just to save the hasstle of swapping them around.

I have got green ribbons from thermal products with no problem and to tell the truth they are the least used colourwise.

I am also trying to get white ribbons, I have recieved a sticker lately which was printed in white from the southampton area I think but the people who supplied me the sticker can’t give me the name of the company who supplied them!!! 😕

[Mike Grant]

I done a job 3 months ago, it was a board display that went into detail with text and photos of an eco friendly building that a local council had just funded. To cut a long story short I gave a price with a very rough brief and was given the go ahead. It was wanted in such a hurry I had to do this all within a week including making an ash frame and fixing it. I was told that there would also be some Welsh text added as well AFTER quoting! OK I says no probs 🙄 well an “extra 2 days” later I managed to finish the job and get it fixed in time for the opening. Now I didn’t hastle them for more money at the time as I had enough to do just to finish in time, so now three month down the line they have finally accepted the equivalent of one extra days labour, I should have hit them for 2 days worth but I felt that the board was starting to go overprice. I was quite happy with that as we were both stabbing in the dark with the tight schedules and the “can we add this somewhere” scenario.

I think sometimes you have to bite the bullet and compromise, rather than throw all your teddies out of the pram in one go.

Ya win some…Ya lose some! 😉

[Mike Grant]

We always prefer to use a roller rather than a squeegee. No chance of scratches then.

Make sure the roller is a medium density silicone one, you need a bit of softness but not too much. Never use a hard one!

[Mike Grant]

Now what are those “dragons” you on about!

🙄

[Mike Grant]

quote Jom:

Mike,
If I may… What type of volume are you printing off your PC60?
Jon

The largest run in one go has been 500.
The reason for this is because we also screen print as well so there is an eventual cut off point when screen printing becomes a cheaper option for us. I also consider the cost of having things edge printed via another local shop, but do prefer to keep as much in-house as possible.

Size also plays a part, so if they are only 1″ square I would have no hesitation using the Roland for a large quantity. (We are still waiting for that order 😉 )

[Mike Grant]

Congratulations Lorraine, have a good time and don’t forget to turn OFF the mobile phone! 😀

Why is it that when a woman marries a man, she wants you to change and you don’t…

…but when a man marries a women he doesn’t want her to change, but she does?

One of life’s mysteries I’m afraid

🙄

[Mike Grant]

Sum it up in one word C R A P !

Every year for the last six years I keep promising myself I shall save the time and trouble of getting to the show as this is definately going to be the last show I go to…………but I still go in the hope that the next one they will get right.

Do they not realise that the bulk of the sign industry is made up of the one man and his dog scenerio. Not all companies are endless money pits that can throw 20K at it in one go.

I think that they have lost touch with the Professional sign man, the one who actually does the job, not the bloke who sits on the throne and knows bu**er all about the grass roots of the business and has a bottomless money pit, but the man with the design capability, brush or computer in hand and the know how of the job.

I was one of the first in on Wednesday and went up to a chap who was selling a sign estimating program, I started asking him questions, which most of which he could not answer and quickly brushed me aside with a “Look mate I don’t want to keep you away from the rest of the show and boring you with the details, just give me a business card and we will send you a demo CD in the post, that way I can talk to the next punter who turns up” Well I was gobsmacked! what a ruddy way to treat a potential customer. I hope no one buys his flipping program with an attitude like that (:) (:) (:)

I thought the demo area was a really pathetic effort, did it really take a whole year to think that one up. Ok the only “Craftsman” on the stall was a pleasure to talk to but that sign splash thing was a total embarasement 😳 I am glad to say last years was a whole lot better with the airbrushing guys, the mirror demos were first class (the guy who was there this year) and a whole lot more to see and learn.

I went on the Roland stall to talk to someone as I had a question to ask, but after waiting 10 mins for someone to free up I just walked away.

I saw and chatted to my contact on the Antalis stand and had a cup of coffee from him, but as he called on me only a week before the show he didn’t really say anything I hadn’t heard before.

I definately think that the price of the stands have a huge bearing on who attends these shows and that means the money grabbing machine comes first before the quality of “quantity” ie the smaller supplier who provides the wider scope to the man in the street.

Will they learn from their mistakes, I think not, next year will be so bland with just wide format printers that no punter will attend and that will be the last show of its kind! 🙄

Next year……………..

Maybe NOT! 🙄

[Mike Grant]

I have a Roland PC60 and use it for domed decals. Yes they do have bad press, but have you ever heard the saying “A bad workman always blames his tools” Well I have had my machine about 3 years now, it was an ex demo model and has run a treat. I have had a new head about 2 months after buying it which was part of the original deal with the seller, but only after I had stuffed the head with a tiny (read miniscule) shard of aluminium. Now this was my steepest learning curve, and the roland technician gave me the clean before you print info that the supplier neglected to give me. I have never used the cleaning pen that should have came with the machine which roland recommend you use after every print run, simply as I don’t have one. I clean the vinyl very carefully before printing an have had no problems.

Your statement about the Roland being to big puzzles me. Why limit yourself to a small machine, if you are doing runs of 1000 or more you would be better off with the wider format, just lay up your artwork to suit a page size that you can cut up after you have finished. To me that is common sense.

The output is also 600 dpi that is brilliant for even the smallest of prints and has the advantage over inkjet printers of being able to print spot colour gold and silver.

I am sorry but I cannot give an unbiased opinion only an honest one.

Good luck with your choice.

[Mike Grant]

I think we are all in the same boat here.

I charge 45p per mile and £20 per person per hour of travel time or part thereof. As I have only 2 lads working for me I cannot afford to send them out on a reduced rate as if they were back at the workshop they would (should) be generating the same amount in work. I build the travelling into the sign price and don’t advertise it by putting a seperate costing for this. (What the eye don’t see…etc.)

If I know I have to deliver say 10 signs to a customer I will break down the travelling to say £2 per sign and add that to the price (if the prices are itemised) and the customer don’t even know he is being charged!

[Mike Grant]

Thanks Fozzy but I have been down that route, can’t find a supplier of Ni-chrome wire, I even went to a local manufacturer of these things when I was looking last year and met with a brick wall (unless I wanted to part with silly money. I am looking for a budget price job though, so any info greatly appreciated. It will only be used for the odd small job thats why I don’t want to part with to much ££££££

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Grant]

I’ll be going on Wednesday, I always pick the middle day as if you go the first day you get “Sorry mate we forgot to bring them today, they will be here tomorrow” And if you go on the last day you always get “Sorry mate we had such a demand for them we ran out yesterday” 🙄

So me always goes on the middle day………You know it makes sence! 😀

[Mike Grant]

I don’t know if you have noticed, but someone has knicked the engine!!!

Cap’n the engine has gorn and the crystals are breaking up, I canne hold it nae moreee, so gonna blow cap’n……………. (hot)

🙄

[Mike Grant]

Help I need a baby sitter urgently………..

😳 Ooops sorry wrong forum!

Well there had to be one didn’t there! 😕 😉 (:)

[Mike Grant]

That has rung some home truth bells in my house. (hot)

I spend far to much time staring at this ruddy screen than is healthy for my marriage. But we all like to push the envelope a bit. 😕
I have just seen the ads 10 mins before getting on here.
Brilliant!

[Mike Grant]

I don’t think I would want to go smaller than that as the flame would probably blow the things all over the table 😆

I am sure we could handle it though.

[Mike Grant]

Hi Stone, we have a flame polisher and yes the flame is critical to get the correct temperature and finish. If we can help you in anyway give me a shout.

[Mike Grant]

I always buy my rolls sprocketed so then you can line up the sprockets on a straight piece of the machine to get very good tracking results.

It works for me! 😀

[Mike Grant]

Here is the wording I use on my layouts, I got this originally from a Signcraft magazine, where someone had posed the same question.

THE DESIGNS / LAYOUTS DEPICTED HEREIN IS THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF TREVOR LEWIS SIGNS LTD. AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED, COPIED, OR EXHIBITED WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT.
IN THE EVENT THAT SUCH EXHIBITION OCCURS, TREVOR LEWIS SIGNS LTD. EXPECTS TO BE REIMBURSED £40 IN COMPENSATION FOR TIME AND EFFORT ENTAILED IN CREATING THIS DESIGN(S).

COPYRIGHTED 2003
TREVOR LEWIS SIGNS LTD.

This usually does the trick. 😀

[Mike Grant]

We are limited, but I inherited that when I took over the company.

🙄 Limited brain 🙄

[Mike Grant]

I picked up a sample of signgold at last years Sign UK.

Is it me or does the surface seem a little spongy and prone to marking. If I used it on a vehicle I think I would be a bit worried 😕

[Mike Grant]

Carrie, If you want to go the built up letter route, to hide the back of the letter simply cut out a mask to go on the inside of the glass to follow the shape of the lettering. This could be done in the same material as the lettering. Once the main lettering is up just simply stick the mask to the back. Problem solved no ugly glue marks from either side.

[Mike Grant]

OK some tecky info.

Banner PVC is constantly giving of a gas called PLASTISIZER, thats what you smell when you sniff the vinyl and gives it the familier plastic aroma.

Now this gas slowly reacts with the adhesive on the vinyl and causes it to go all soft and gooee. That is when you notice the vinyl puckering up after rolling out the banner, and leaving sticky marks that all the dirt sticks too.

So general rule of thumb is……………..

DON’T CUT CORNERS

Here endeth the first lesson! 🙂

[Mike Grant]

I had a customer complain to me that the magnetic panel I supplied him had a problem. He said that it would not stick to the car door, so I asked him if the car had been damaged and that there was filler on the door. He said it was a brand new car so could not be at fault. So I asked him to bring the car around for me to have a look at.

The first thing he showed me was where the magnetic wouldn’t stick, as he muttered and moaned about “MY WORK” I pulled out a small magnetic square and proceeded to show him a section of panel about 8 inches square that was all body filler “ON HIS NEW CAR”

Makes you drink doesn’t it! (:) 🙄 🙄 🙄

[Mike Grant]

That looks really nice, the only bits I don’t like are the four flourishes in the corners, they just seem out of place. Otherwise can’t fault it!

[Mike Grant]

I think the one I get most often is…..

I would like a sign please…

Yes, what would you like on it….

Oh, I dunno I havn’t really thought about it!…..

What about colours….

Well what would you suggest?…….

How big is the sign…..

Urrrrm……..it’s about so big by so big…….

When do you require the sign…….

Errrrrm…. Well we are opening the shop tomorrow……….

EEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGH!

No wonder I am folicaly challenged! (:) (:) (hot)

[Mike Grant]

😀 😆 😉

[Mike Grant]

Rob I have sent it again, and I have tweeked it a tad.

I sent it via “Incredimail” and I know this mail system is not always the most reliable, sometimes it changes the wording to complete gobledegook.

[Mike Grant]

I know its a bit late but for the record but try…

COTSWOLD EMBLEMS
Northwick Business Centre
Blockley
Moreton-in-Marsh
Glos
GL56 9RF

Tel: 01368 700522
Fax: 01368 700100

They do all pre-printed roadsigns on self adesive whatever you want.

And there prices knocks spots of the catalogue boys.

[Mike Grant]

The art of a good sales pitch is to sell them what YOU want them to have.

Admittedly it does take years to learn which fonts work and which ones don’t, so if the customer insists on changing a font I usually drop my fonts folder on his lap and tell him that there are over 4000 fonts in there and how much time does he have, they usualy take all of 5 seconds to agree with what you have done. 😆

The same goes for colours, If I had a quid for every customer who sat down with me to change the colours I have selected just to go around in a big circle and end up where I started from.

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT, except when he crosses my threshhold. 😆 😆 😆

[Mike Grant]

FB. I buy my refils of thermal products, I’ll bell them to see if they do have them now.

Becky, I do frequent the Roland site but no one could be bothered to reply 🙄

[Mike Grant]

Knock, Knock can I come in please 😀

You got my piccy but I canne see it yet!!!!! 🙁

[Mike Grant]

Don’t forget that you should use the gloss finish pvc for outside work the matt stuff screwed directly to a wall will start cracking across the corners where the holes are as the stuff is not UV stable.

I personally allways try to educate the customer on the correct materials for the correct job, as in the long run you are putting YOUR name to the product and that could then lable you in the “cowboy” bracket in the long run.

DON’T CHEAPEN THE JOB FOR A FAST BUCK!!!!
YOU WILL ONLY CHEAPEN YOUR NAME! (!)

[Mike Grant]

Bribe us with a beer or three first then we will have a whip round.

Now what did I do with that whip!!!!! 😉

[Mike Grant]

I think you summed it up in one word there…..DESPERATE!

Only too often have I lost work to the cheap as chips cowboys, but I still hold my price regardless, if you don’t make a profit you can’t look forward to tomorrow. (:)

I always tell the customer to “Get your stuff from them before they go bankrupt” And hope the message gets to them for next time.

How often have you heard the words……….I had so and so do the job but I am not very happy………………etc etc!

[Mike Grant]

Becky anymore info on your mates heatpress. I may be very interested.

Cheers
Mike

[Mike Grant]

Vinyl screen printing ink is the baby you should use if you can scrounge some from your local printers.

Then we can go another route, there is a local supplier here that has manufactured a spray paint that takes to foamex and has a 10 year guarantee, will not fade or flake, and no surface preperation needed. Just spray it on, it dries in seconds and comes highly recommended. The company is called Karnaval Kolour Coatings Ltd
Their address is….

Karnaval House
White City Road
Kingsway
Fforestfach Ind Est
Swansea
Tel: 01792 582828

They can supply to any Ral colour match and is available by the litre or in spray can form. And is available in matt, satin or gloss.

[Mike Grant]

Redproud. If you want to add new fonts it’s easy. Just load any TTF into your windows font file. Open up “True Type Font Converter” under the Graphics advantage file setup. Just highlight the font you require and hit “convert” It’s as simple as that. It will automatically come up in your font list.

[Mike Grant]

If you purchase the Edge you will need a 380mm sprocketed plotter to be able to cut the designs. Don’t even think about purchasing one if you do not intend getting the correct plotter to go with it, afterall would you buy a pretty sports car without an engine!!!!!! I think not! This is one corner you can’t cut.

I also think you will need the Gerber software to run the machine as Gerber make it hard for you to use third party programs.

[Mike Grant]

quote johnalphasign:

Crumbs!

Seems Lorraine’s the only one left with hair

Don’t laff! even though my pics not up yet, you might like to know that I am also folically challenged! 😮

[Mike Grant]

Hi! new kid on the block here, so sorry for the “late” reply
We have a pc60 and had a problem with breaking ribbons, I also use Apollo ribons and can’t fault them.
Your problem may be the little composite roller next to the print head. Mine started to disintigrate and was snapping ribbons. I replaced the roller (about £6) and eliminated the problem. I do check that roller now and again coz it has a tendency to drift to the back of the spindle and start breaking ribbons again. Problem sorted. 😀

[Mike Grant]

And what planet was that on??? 🙄

With the hours I work I don’t even get paid the minimum “Wage”
My boys take home more than me and they have the cheek to moan!

Who said the boss was always rolling in it……I think I’ll take up golf instead. 😉

[Mike Grant]

quote robert:

can i ask what search engine you sued to find us? just curious mate.. 😉

Well i’m not the sort of person that goes around sueing search engines, 😆 but you might like to know how I “stumbled” across your site. I was actually doing a search in “Google” for “Domed Badges” to get a feel for the market, so was trawling through all the sites thrown up, and one link led me here, so here I am. 😎