Robert Kulawik
Forum Replies Created
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Hi Peter,
I have a rough breeze block walls in my workshop, with peeling paint and very dusty. I have a habit of sticking odd weeded out detail on them just to see what’s what in terms of grab. I found that whether it is monomeric cheap horrible APA or polymeric Hexis or Grafityp they all stay put if I use a heat gun and a rivet brush/ felt squeegee.
I sometimes even sadistically overheat those to see how far I can take it…
The results are quite impressive across the range really if you use enough heat.Every kind of vinyl did lift quite quickly though if applied without heat, so I am yet to come across one that doesn’t.
Robert
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Come on guys. If it was placed in Tate Modern the reviews would have said:
‘…Modern, inspirational design. Pure design p0rn…’ 5 stars- Daily Mirror -or something along those lines 🙂
You’ll have to excuse me if I borrow this idea very soon for one of my own ‘design’ jobs.
Let me look at it again- I still struggle to believe it is not against the law to release such pieces. -
quote Robert T Walker:Acrobat has it, just save your ai doc as a pdf and do it in acrobat,
Aha! Must try this as well. Thanks!
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Hi Phil,
Give AMARI PLASTICS a call and ask for UNIVERSAL extruded alu profiles (if you go to universal site there’s plenty of info on making boxes and profile kinds), or search for nova-aluminium.com . Did not use the latter but think it might be a more cost effective option.
Robert -
This Lambo must be an off road version- it sits quite high!
good job, btw 🙂
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Kev,
Try asking any a boards manufacturer, like roto signs or many others form the Sign Toolbar.
Robert
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It is quite hard to say, especially when original font was stretched and what not…
I do not have a copy of Condensed parts for Futura family, but judging by flatness of vertices it also might be Spartan Classified (derived from Futura), then squeezed?http://new.myfonts.com/fonts/adobe/spartan-classified/
http://www.itcfonts.com/fonts/Detail.ht … ctId=47426
BTW… I lost my beloved copy of SignLab fonts poster. It was over ten years old, but sooo helpful. Can anyone say whether those can be bought separately, or does Cadlink still throw it in with every new signlab copy?
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Peter,
I got the pun- no worries. Whilst on the subject- during my recent chat with Harry from Edward Mathias I heard about some Poles going round with few rolls of vinyl and a plotter on the back of the van. They would pull outside shops and offer business owners cheap window graphics on the spot! I must say- this never occurred to me, but then neither did the 2×2 ladders. A tale was told by a not overly happy local sign maker, who priced up the job, produced visuals and got a go ahead only to find out later in the day the job was snatched from under his nose!
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Peter,
Poles have different carnation. I know- I am one. And we do have proper ladders.
Robert
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Hi Mike,
This cheap desk top cutter is only £7.95 or so. :bigwink:
But seriously- Craft Robo might do it for you if you’re ready to face a steep learning curve of preparing/cutting vectors.
Robert
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Well, this client wouldn’t pay what I would ask anyway since the quality of design/materials or professional tools/ladders is obviously not his priority. We cannot/do not have to compete with them, because it isn’t a competition in any shape or form?
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Stephen,
Why don’t you attach some wires to each end on the back and tie it somewhere like a radiator pipe or french door and the you do have it in place. or just nail two nasty rusty nails right in the middle of you nice floor and you’re sorted. Until the boss is back at least 😉
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I found Google gives fantastic results on the first word alone with safe search off.
minor edit
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Great stuff Mo- Perfectly suited for Camden Market- Did you copyright?
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I was only thinking about CSCS last week, when browsing Sign update magazine. Some companies looking for subbies advertise fitters need CSCS -would the basic one suffice?
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Very cool- how much is it and do you have it in size 34in X 34in, flared bottoms?
I’ll get my coat 😳
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Ok, so had all replies one can get. Quite a span here… those signs can be anything from 3k to 8k… mainly due to voltage choice- higher voltage=lower price, but still the first quote was just an attempt to pull my leg judging by other quotes.
Many thanks to all that helped once more. :thanks2: -
Oh go on then- share the secret.
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oh I hate when ‘BarStewards’ do it… anyway, the trick is to divide all, ungroup and remove unwanted paths. Easy in this case as you only wanted an outline.
Here you go. -
I always just spray them with any matt paint. It helps to put screws in and push into some styro otherwise you’ll be chasing those all over the floor 😉
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Every template I’ve come across and used, regardless of publisher was 1:20. You need to print it out, go and physically measure up anyway once towards production stage or you’ll be swearing like a nun (huh?).
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Yes, and don’t be surprised if you end up with a smart blade or two! To be fair those were one of the better investments I’ve made 🙂
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I need to shoot a photo of my contraption later… it is 3 pieces of old ply offcuts/desk remnants and what not, a baton screwed on the back, low to grip the table, 50mm hole-saw holes to house a mop-stick handrail from selco. Cost me £3 or less and does the job without hiccups…
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Thanks! Maybe, in future he’ll release a desktop version.
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Hi Gary,
Yes, thank you- I have emailed Julia few days ago and when no reply was received I assumed she only does art installations- I have called her today and got a reply- the mail was in her spam folder. As it turns out Chris is out of the country for the moment and old neoncraft shut down, but she’ll work out few detail and prices.
Many thanks again.
Robert -
I do need a little bit of help here. I have sent out a dozen emails and just one reply so far…
I addition, I cannot locate neoncraft from leeds- the email address is not valid, the phone number from online directories is wrong…And I wonder why neon signage is a dying trade…
Would you have a correct email/number for Chris, Rob?
Many thanks! -
quote Bobby McCormack:Is it not the female part of the locator that’s failing? If so replacing them would see another good few years
Rare to see the male part falling off unless the wrong glue was used.
Agreed, and the chance is the locators used- if it was not you who did it and don’t know the part- are one of two major brands- either snapfix or tradefix… worth having a look, as this would be sooo much easier…
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Hi Paul,
Today’s plastic locators differ from yesteryear’s ones… Mostly in UV and weather resistance. I would be wary of fixing brass to acrylic as I do not know what the best adhesive for that could be… Best to change for plastic ones, draw a template and go from there I think…
Robert -
Hi Rob,
Many thanks for reminding me of them! I have seen the videos, but forgot all about Neon Craft, as they are not in the toolbar and did not see them on google…
Yes, I agree with all that about pricing, however what I was quoted seemed very steep! Bearing in mind the size that is…
I’ll give them a shout and we’ll see.
After all- if this is the price- this IS the price and that’s it- THE CLIENT will have to caugh up if he wants it.
It’s just I have never dealt with neon before, had few £3k quotes for led build-ups, but nothing so pricey as yet.Robert
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I’ve got a workshop in Wembley. Any thugs wanting to learn what you get when the air compressor and nail gun are combined will be welcomed.
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Hi Raman,
Depends on weight a little, but a tube with 1,5- 2mm wall with 2 posters in it should be no more than 280g. I use Royal Mail Small Packets, it is a £1.80 or something. Check the exact prices and services with http://www.royalmail.com .
Hard to beat that unless you require signature, or have qty to post. then you can look at any major courier and they will do you a deal. Usually you’d have to spend min. 15k/pa (ca. 150 parcels a week @ £2) with them before they want to talk to you.
Robert
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Hi David,
Impact guys have a great library of all H&S signage, cehicle vectors and all that.
Robert -
quote John Hughes:Blue liner is EcoTac not Suptac. A 5 year monomeric material.
John
Yes, I stand corrected- it is EcoTac sorry for the confusion 🙄
Just today I was overlaying some coloured etch and was sure it is monomeric- it had a grey liner, hence the instant assumption, as the job was running like a bleeding nose… It turns out it was polymeric 🙂 as well…Robert
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Blue liner indicates a Suptac S5000 8-10 year polymeric- I love this material and use it whenever I can. As Peter said- ask Hexis for a sample pack and you’ll be suprised by the range and service.
Robert
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I’m not a hero, I just have a file you need and don’t mind sharing 🙂
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Spandex to the rescue
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Welcome to the boards, Vegard.
I must say- dealing only with vinyl I ‘m a little envious of those skills and creating old-school soulful signs 😉
Robert -
quote Barry Dok:Hi Derek best way to get something out of word, save file as a docx if it is not already, change the file extension to .zip you will get access to the original placed files. cant remember the folder name off the top of my head – res or something, hope this helps
great if you need to get the original pic the customer has not skewed or stretched
Barry
Top tip! Thanks!
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Strange they did not tell you about other options, as I can see they have got photos of various pole attachments on the web. But then, just yesterday I spoke to the possibly most unenthusiastic, sleepy, deflated and uninterested rep on the phone as well. It made want to top myself! 🙂 I won’t name the company, but they are brilliant at all (other) times, so it really depends who you speak to. Sometimes I hang up and redial until I get someone switched on, but not always have time for this sort of games!
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No problem. Depending on the software you are viewing those in you can see the resolution and size when you go to image properties. I would imagine that min of 150ppi at full size or 300ppi half size is needed for print? At least that’s how I always prepare my print files?
If you blow up to real size and it looks bad that is what you’ll get- a step easily missed while working on computer, as things scaled down don’t look true.Robert
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Hi John,
I definitely would advice the client that six is needed- it is very long for only edges support.
Robert
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Hi Derek,
The word pics resolution is probably 72ppi… at very small sizes.
That’s definitely not enough to interpolate and as such are worthless for anything apart from word docs and profile gifs maybe 🙁
What logos are they, maybe we can find them elsewhere?Robert
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Eeehhh,
3mm?
2mm?It’s nothing compared to what my Graphtec does, and this is on the bad day…
..I’ll get my coat 😉
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Hi Davis,
Have you tried iSPI from the sign toolbar
http://www.ispitrade.com/If not this guys will help:
http://railinglondon.com/shop/index.phpRobert
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I found the strip for my CE5000, but it is £56 delivered… ouch.
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Actually, a favour: please let us know how wide is this strip once it arrives, as at this price it is worth a shot!
Robert -
No worries- I benefited from it as well, as it look like this strip could fit my Graphtec as well!
Robert -
Look what I found as the first item on Google 🙂 looking for redsail cutting strip:
http://www.premiersign.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=CuttingStrip(you will need to order more than 1 metre)
It should be a straight forward pull off- clean- replace job
Good luck!
Robert -
Craig,
I was at the same crossroads. I chose to add to my CE5000-60 and few days ago went for Mutoh SC1300. It is old as hell, I currently have problems connecting it (but have seen it working), but once I’m through this hurdle I know I have a bulletproof workhorse.
I was considering a new Chinese ‘£500 shipped’ machine, but then, as it usually turns out- you get what you pay for…Robert
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Hi Alex,
How did you get on? I just have a similar issue with my new Mutoh SC 1300… Those are basically the same machines. I’m lost and do not have a clue how to install it on my XP laptop, let alone cut from AI on it!
Frank, could you say which Roland driver would sort it out? I’m on serial connection. Would it work on serial-to-USB adaptor, maybe?
Many thanks!Robert
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I would quote similarly, maybe a little higher, but VAT included already, as I’m not registered. Installation is the key here, as you really want to know whether it’ll take you an hour or five. Depending how far, how high and whether you need a mobile scaffold etc…
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A quick google search revealed that it is a soft especially useful when putting beads or stones on the design.
http://www.rhinestonemachine.com/software.php -
There is a great write up on the blades.uk.com site explaining everything in more detail.
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Hi Daniel,
I’m not familiar with your plotter, but it sounds like few issues might be affecting you:
Blunt or broken tip of the blade- this can happen when vinyl catches it, or if you handle the holder carelessly;
too much down force;
or
damaged bearings in the holder- there was a post on here about it- you almost cannot see anything looking into the holder, but the bearings are there and they might be gone damaged;
and the last one- cutting strip is damaged/worn due to too high cutting pressure previously…
I hope you’ll manage to sort it out- let us know.
Robert -
quote Cheryl Smith:Now get in the passenger side with this bloke and not be a little worried…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TshFWSsrn8Ok, I’m a little dizzy now…
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Yes, Graeme at the sign group is a life saver 😉 The only others with flawless record to date are Amari, PDL, Hexis and APA- all the rest have few hickups too many to make the list, but still get used if needed. Although if someone does not bother replying at all they’re toast.
Robert
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That’s what I did- File -> Preferences -> Currencies and done.
It won’t change anything already quoted or set up. Only new entries are affected.
Robert -
Welcome!
The confusing bit will become clear after you familiarise yourself with what is known as a I.S.A.B.O.B.S.F.T.T.S.A.C.O.T.B
(I’m-a-signmaker-A-busy-one-but-still-find-time-to-search-and-chat-on-the-boards)
What I mean is- I’m trying to send a job to the plotter, do a visual, quote for another job and browse the forum at the same time.
How can this not be confusing? :-)))
Enjoy!Robert
Now press enter and set sheet widht to 1195mm on external wall picture attached
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quote Martin:I have had my fair share of let downs by suppliers so I’m not going to stick up for them but i think if I were a trade supplier, came in to work and had emails sent at that time of night I would look at then when I got a chance rather than as a priority. I wouldn’t expect a business to be working at that time of night unless it was someone I had dealt with before.
Terrible, but true…
I have a very limited crew and handle all back office myself, mostly evenings as well, after coming back from jobs, so there isn’t much to improve on in regards to timing of the emails (lol!).
If they do not reply I let them STICK IT you know where…
Luckily I mostly work with local suppliers (face to face), they handle all CNC and printing for me and found few reliable B2B suppliers over the years for other stuff, but yes- a lot of others will not bother replying- I guess the jobs must be too small for them or they are that busy…
All good, but once the workload is not there only then they might find out it is too late to repair those relations.Robert
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Oh, and what about clips indentations?
I have dozens of colours I use once a century- Surely those clips have similar effect to the ‘blisters’ occurring when you leave the roll lying flat for a while?
Or maybe I should go out more to look for jobs requiring odd colours and then there would be no problem? 😀 -
quote Martin:It’s not rocket science Adam :lol1: :lol1:
Take the tape off at the plotter when loading a roll, stick tape to top of plotter. When you go to take the roll of vinyl off the plotter the bits of tape are there ready to be stuck back on the roll :lol1:
If you write the vinyl code on the label you know what it is before you take it out the rack, I do keep vinyls separated by using different racks for most of them. Do need to build some more though as I seem to have to many wider rolls of vinyl now.
Yep, I second Martin (not that he would need it, anyway 😉 )- I do exactly the same and stick the app tape to the plotter.
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Hi Nalu,
It seems that you mean what estimating software we use? I use a spreadsheet for detailed pricing and Clarity Free for all the rest. (I could use Clarity for everything, but do not want to pay them for modules I can substitute with something free 🙂 )
Robert
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Hi,
Graphics out is what I do as well- I guess the vinyl is wound this way on the roll anyway plus if the graphics are applied with tape it could lift in places when rolled outside-in (because of the circumference differences and tape being the flimsier material lifting/ crinkling?)
Robert
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Hi James,
Give bannerbox a shout:
http://www.bannerbox.co.uk/wall-mounted-systems.php
I got the details from the sign toolbar 🙂Robert
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Gary,
I went to the site, signed up and got a year subscription. Quite a good value for money.
I’m yet to explore the site, but there is a community, archive and pricing pages.
A magazine came through the post 2 weeks later.
Just flicked through so far- it is amazing how different a design ideas can be over the pond.Robert
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I was just looking at it the other day and decided against forking out the cash on this occasion, but did not see the ebook option.
C’est magnifique!Thank you for this Jason.
Off to amazon now!
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Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the input… The client IS adamant, though… I was passing by yesterday and tried to talk some sense to him. As it stands for now he knows it can be done and he wants it. I gave it the last shot and emailed a few metal fabricators nearby, however if this proves unpopular I’ll let it sit and let the client do his own thinking…
We can make an ACM trays quite easily, so when he comes round I’ll make sure it is paid in full before starting, as I was stung before by unrealistic, fussy clients…
The transport I could handle, as we did transport a 4.6m box sign in the past on the back of XLWB Sprinter, at angle- but still, with doors closed.
The installation would be from the ground, maybe from alu trestles- shutter box is only on 2.8m.
Oh, it is the chasing supplies bit I always find most tiring 🙂Robert
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Thanks Mo, but the only result will be my postman taking to the booze again I’m afraid. Send it through here- it’s safer (unless the Gov is reading and will ‘censor’ by ingesting) 🙂
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Thank you- as you can see from my profile photo I’m happily glowing away 🙂 :blush:
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Ok, I’ll just pat myself on the shoulder then 🙂
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Hope it’s what you needed!
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Thank you guys,
In the past I did give few jobs to local ‘artistic’ engineering metal fabricators, but it all ended up as a fiasco, since the ones I found were incapable of understanding what a tape measure is about and what a box tray means… The problem is all good small workshops do not advertise on google and are pain to find…
Peter, could you point me in the right direction, as the spraying w/o baking might be OK in the end?Many thanks!
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Oh, and in the logodesignlove one you’ll get an introduction into creative work-flow incorporating mind maps- a real eye opener for me… It might be obvious for someone who studied design, but if you are self though like me who’s there to tell you all the tricks? (answer a: – a fellow sign forum users! ) 🙂
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The very first logo design orientated for me was:
David Airey- logodesignlove- a good beginner book- it did wake up the hunger for more and since then I got plenty more, but the ones I come back to v often are:
Los logos,
Taschen logo design,
Wheeler- designing brand identity
ALL OF Jim Krause index lines:
type idea index, layout index, colour index- those are handy, small and cheap -with good contents.
I usually go for a hunt on Amaz0n and read through all the reviews to get a good idea about a particular book, which often leads to a good related one or other recommended buy…I recently subscribed to SignCraft as well, but got very busy with jobs and did not manage to explore it yet, however cannot wait to lay my eyes on it the first opportunity I get..
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What a fantastic collaboration!
Well done! 🙂 -
Hi Mo,
Oh the bloody DIN font… just yesterday I completed a sign in FF DIN Medium & Bold- A job put together by others, came through my printer. I had to request a vectorised version, as the font IS PRICEY!!!:
http://www.fontshop.com/search/?q=din+nextNeither me, nor the printer had it, but vectors came through eventually..
See if you can use attached.Good luck!
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No problem!
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Hi John,
I do not have exact match, many v. similar, but as far as tracing- does the pdf help?
Robert
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quote John Harding:quote :Please, do not mock me 🙂 I have font fetish and sometimes find it hard not knowing what is the text set with. I can have sweats, shakes, nightmares etc… There, it’s out in the open 🙂
Phew I read that quickly and thought you had a foot fetish 😳 glad to know your normal so a belated welcome from me too 😀
Thank you all for a warm welcome 🙂
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Hi John,
Probably too late by now… I do not know the exact match, however depending on how desperate you are you could probably utilize DOM CASUAL family- it is close enough once you apply heavy stroke and mess about, but then maybe just vectorise it…
How did you get on?
Robert -
Oh, thank you- very nice of you- I just grown a little higher, do not think I deserve the compliment however :blush:
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Does it? 🙄
I don’t know whether it is good or bad we have an ocean between us! (cheesy) -
Please, do not mock me 🙂 I have font fetish and sometimes find it hard not knowing what is the text set with. I can have sweats, shakes, nightmares etc… There, it’s out in the open 🙂
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crikey! You’ve been around some nice cars… Basted in rays of their glamour 😉
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Thanks, have not used it yet- Hexis polymeric is my favourite so far, as I only do small recesses for poor customers 🙂 😉
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Did you find your favourite vinyl at all, or is it all the same as long as it’s higher end of the range?
Robert
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Actually, on a second look it is not a British racing green, but still stunning and such a simple design!
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Fantastic work! I like green Mazdas as well. The is something to that British Racing colour.
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Oh, wow. (I know, my vocabulary can be limited at times…)
Very impressive work and such a great working area!
I’m a bit jealous 🙂 -
Oh, I stand corrected- probably what you have there is a sign reused at least once…
I vote for alu composite as well. Foamex can warp or become brittle and crack- you never know until it is too late 🙂 And the price difference between the two is so little. -
David,
Are you sure it is a composite in a light box frame, stencil cut and backed with opal acrylic? It just seems like a waste to put it in an ugly extruded alu frame, instead of making the whole pan and wrap it around…
Anyway, it might be just a block-out vinyl as a background, so it does not illuminate. If this is the case, why not remove the acrylic panels, clean them and apply the new graphics to it? If they do not want the light on, don’t put it on 🙂Robert
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Hugh, give Graeme [at] thesigngroup.co.uk/ a shout, as they make those as well. They’re very helpful and prompt.
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quote Darren Lawlor:If you google the search term “dishwasher proof stickers” you will get lots of suppliers claiming to provide such a thing…
I bet what they really mean when saying dishwasher is a ‘dish-washing-man’ as opposed to a ‘dish-washing-machine’ 🙂
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Hi Hugh,
If it’s just a tray you need, without stencil cutting why not make it in house?
All you really need is a hand router, some straight edge, a good 45 degree Trend router bit and a rivet gun. If you don’t have the router yet it might be ca.£100-200 investment, but will pay for itself in no time, perhaps even after 1-2 jobs.ACM 45 degree bit: http://www.mtmc.co.uk/Trend-ALU/01-Aluc … 40833.aspx
If I misunderstood, then pardon me, but it s 3am 😉
Robert -
And the toolbar keeps evolving as well, just like a whole new universe growing in my yesterday’s coffee cup 🙂 :uksbrules:
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This tube thingy is quite useful- although, to outsiders it might be considered quite a deviation to use it like ‘this-other-most-popular-video-site’ and click from one video to the other, then to the other and then to the other, just to click on to the next one :-). But hey, no one can see me doing it. :bigwink:
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Ian,
The only thing with MDP Supplies that I found annoying was when ordering through the website you’ll only find out about stock shortages after you open the bloody box. If I’m pressed for stuff I usually call and order- this way I know beforehand that a 2-hour drive (that’s one way) to APA is required to pick up something urgent…
Overall, they do offer quite a good service and I’m always pleased to find they expanded their offer, even more, every time I visit. Plus it is nice to order an odd 5mtr roll online and not feel like a small timer. -
I did order a roll of black and roll of white, polymeric last year- from MDP supplies.
The film was just ok, if not a bit brittle compared to other polymeric range, like O-range or Hexis.
I did try few colours from their cast range as well and this was not to my liking. Again, more brittle than any other from the competition’s range. Ambient temperature was normal, if not higher that usual.
On the other hand, I chatted to the rep at this year’s Sign & Digital UK and what impressed me was their new air release vinyl he demonstrated. Compared to others its channels are irregular and almost instantly invisible when applied, which is a plus when mounted on glass, where usually I have to explain that those channels disappear after a week or so, to my customer. -
David,
Have a look at this one:
<embed width=”452″ height=”361″ quality=”high” bgcolor=”#000000″ name=”main” id=”main” allowfullscreen=”true” allowscriptaccess=”always” src=”http://www.isigntube.com/player/vPlayer.swf?f=http://www.isigntube.com/player/vConfig_embed.php?vkey=649590b755372b040afa” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”>If you register and log-in you’ll be able to browse the user videos- great tips there.
Regards