What is the scoop on the Roland Soljet? anybody using one? Are you lamininating the prints?
Posted by EPatzer (Member # 135) on :
The only thing we aren't laminating are the banners. Some of the prints are being clear coated (oneshot or Krylon). A bit of a hassle, but the finished product is absolutely killer!
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
Eric:
I'm Curious... What do you figure your finished production costs are per square foot, all things considered (combined media, ink, overlam/clear-coat and Labour/overhead)?
Also: How many square feet of finished product(as above) can you produce per hour?
Thanks (in advance) for your reply.
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on :
Eric, do you find that the 1-Shot UV Clear works good or great as a laminate over digital prints? I don't have a laminator so lately I have used Frog Juice and Jet Clear, but I needed a clear the other day and no one in town had either, I used the 1-Shot by spraying. Just hoping it holds up just as well, since it's paint has been holding up better than any other paint for outdoor signage.
Posted by EPatzer (Member # 135) on :
Man you guys want me to think too??? Jon, based on some ball park figures, the banner is by far the most profitable, no weeding or clearcoating, and it runs out to be about $3.50 a sq. ft. my cost (material, ink, machine cost, high estimate).
The vinyls run from about 2.50 to 4.50 a sq. ft. depending on the laminate. If we are just clear coating, then it is in the lower end of things.
Now for the fun question, how many finished sq. ft per hour... without including dry time... In an optimum setting we can crank out at least 8-10 sq. ft an hour finished. I am not talking Edge type of finished where 8-10 sq. ft. is translated into 15" panels that need to be tiled. These are 24"x40" panels that do not need to be tiled, printed, cleared and installed. If it were a bunch of little stickers that needed to be weeded, then the production numbers drop. But 300 circular 3" FULL COLOR contour cut stickers takes about an hour to print and cut, and about 15 minutes to weed after they have been cleared. Those get sold for 75 cents each in that qty.
Cisco, I don't use Oneshot as a laminate on anything other than prints on vinyl. Paper prints get traditional film laminates. Once in a pinch I used Oracal clear vinyl on a paper print and it worked pretty well. The Oneshot makes the vinyl graphic extremely durable and it isn't a thick ugly sticker as it is with an overlam.
Posted by Wilson Ardmore (Member # 3230) on :
