So, what are your must have tools in your home based sign shop? Please, don't take anything for granted. Lets assume that I'm a total idiot that has a dream of going into this business with no previous experience but I have a reasonable sum of money and a 2 car garage.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote: Lets assume that I'm a total idiot that has a dream of going into this business with no previous experience but I have a reasonable sum of money and a 2 car garage.
Ok Brian, it's been fifteen years since I was described exactly like that...who you been talking to?
The most important tools would be a circular saw and hammer...
...so you can knock down the wall between the two overhead doors and make one in the center of the building, thus preventing you from having to letter vehicles while your skull is pressing againt the wall since you only have 14 inches of space to work on one side ALL THE TIME!
Seriously, once you know what kind of work you'll be doing and get tools, setting up the building to suit your needs with benches, shelving, cabinets, good lighting, etc. can save hours of time in the long run.
Been there...survived that. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Well, I was a total idot with no previous experience and started out with a one-car garage. I started out by buying every book I could get my hands on and subscribing to signcraft. I purchased signlab software and a roland cutter. I also purchased an assortment of one-shot colors, brushes and basic vinyl colors. The one thing I couldn't have done without is this website. They answered all my newby questions, recommended software and cutters, and got me to my first meet. That was 6 years ago.
Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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What kind of work do you want to do? The tools will depend on that. But some must haves...
Mastering Layout Safety Glasses: several pairs Hammer Good Level 4' Metal Yard Stick Tape Measures: several, they like to play hide & seek with the safety glasses.
If you want to be more than a quicky sticky shop, take the checkbook to Sears and procede to purchase any power tools that scream your name when you walk in the door.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Sorry, I'm still a bit stoked over my recent plasma cutter purchase.
I say figure out what kind of work you want to do then base tool purchases on that.
For starters though: Table saw for straight cuts, a router for pattern cutting, drill (corded or cordless, your choice)... and clamps - lots of 'em! spring clamps, bar clamps, C-clamps, wood clamps.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Common Sense and a Sense of Humor. You're gonna need both.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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I would assume you would have the basic items, but for a one man shop, like my own, the single tool I could (would) not live without, is my panel saw! "GOOD" lighting, MANY electrical outlets, a good heater (well insulated garage)and one of my favorites.......my TV on the wall!! Now you can work in comfort!
-------------------- Tony Vickio The World Famous Vickio Signs 3364 Rt.329 Watkins Glen, NY 14891 t30v@vickiosigns.com 607-535-6241 http://www.vickiosigns.com Posts: 1063 | From: Watkins Glen, New York | Registered: Sep 2001
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panel saw, drill, table saw, jig saw, router, dual sliding miter saw, air compressor....i could really go on and on here.
doin vinyl? 24-30" vinyl cutter, new computer and latest software. i see more people buy these old machines and spend more time(and time is $$) trying to get them to work than if they bought decent stuff from the beginning...only my opinion though.
organize your shop effeciently to save space.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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The best tool is mounted on your shoulders. Most of the sign shops in my area are lacking in that department!!!
-------------------- Jerry VanHorn, Pres. Pure Sports Designs, LLC Pro Sign Design / United Wholesale Signs www.prosigndesign.comwww.unitedwholesalesigns.com West Liberty, OH 937-465-0595 866-942-3990 Since 1990 Posts: 925 | From: West :Liberty, OH | Registered: May 2004
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A set of ladders and planks. Thats one of the first things I bought on the late 70's, and I still charge extra when I need to use them!
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
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A good friend and mentor once told me,..."More money has been made with a sharp pencil in this business,than any other tool you can use." He was talking about the process of bidding jobs,....
edited to add "You can always go down on a price but its hard as hell to raise a price after you have given it to a customer",....thus his response to a customer complaining about his bid being too costly,..."Let me sharpen my pencil here and see if I can do any better with this price."
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Router Table Saw Drill Press Air Compressor Chop Saw Band Saw Dust Collector Chisles Lighting and Heat and on and on and on
What ever it is, the best you can afford (even if you can't afford it). Nothing worse than trying to do quality work with poor tools.
Quality tools = quality work.(potentially)
Set up the tools accurately and put them in a good location for good "shop flow". Setting up the shop efficiently makes the work go smoothly, and quickly.
-------------------- "The 3-4 minute mark of "Freewill" by Rush.
Bob Kaschak Artisan Sign And Design Peru New York Posts: 1873 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: Jul 2002
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Screwdriver Heat Light Circular Saw Jig Saw Drill Scumputer/Internet THIS BB! Clip Art CDs Good Alphabets (both in your head AND your machine) A morgue of ideas Good trade magazines Good Brushes 1-Shot in several colors Thinner Window Cleaner Paper Towels A good supplier Coffee Chocolate A big cheesy grin ....that's all I can think of! Love....Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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I was going to say screwdriver too, Jill! most of what else is above, + an air compressor & a broom & a vehicle/car/van & a name & lots of scrap paper.
Better idea- spend all your 'reasonable sum of money' and host an international letterheads meet (with overseas airfares paid) in your 2 car garage, and take it from there!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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What do you do? If you do vinyl on aluminum pre finishedblanks and banners, etc. you need a different set of tools than if you do woodworking. I remember having a jig saw and xacto knife and a few brushes and pipe clamps and doing sandblasted signs and trucks. First things I added might have been a yardstick compass and a dowelling jig. Then came pounce wheels and circular saw. And so it went. Today, a panel saw and plotter might be the heartbeat of many small shops. Oh, and a plunge router, saw horses, carts on wheels, and back in the day, a good opaque projector was a tremendous asset.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6712 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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A tool? Like a nice sign out in the yard, to atract customers?
Oh, you said home base...and the city probably wont let you have a nice sign out in the yard of a residential area.
Then the next best tool would be to letter up the family car and keep it parked in the drive.
For vinyl work you don't need much equipment, plotter, inkjet printer or Gerber Edge, but the problem is with so many doing vinyl work its hard to make a living depending on that alone. You'll need the bigger jobs like monument signs, or bus wraps to feed on. Then you'll need a commercial shop setting.
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My business has been storefront in a commercial zone for over 5 years now but there are too many tools to mention. I would say that today my most important tools are the air conditioned office and two dehumidifiers. We are spraying latex today and the humidity dropped briefly to 57% about 10:00 this morning, then shot back up to 72 and is 68 now. I usually don't spray latex if it gets 60% or more but the temperature difference wasn't that much so we sprayed the two signs in the shop and whisked them into the office. They've already dried to touch and no runs.
[ November 02, 2004, 12:41 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7403 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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Hi again Gang, I deliberately left the question open ended to see what types of replies I would get. For now, I'll just say that I'm asking the question for a friend. He plans on persuing mostly vinyl work with a limited amount of painting and fabrication because he will be working from home. His background is anything sticky. Specializing in fleet truck lettering and wide format graphic installations, etc. But he's done a few carved, blasted and gilded signs too. His area of interest may be to persue larger scale projects that include a.d.a. signs for office buildings, churches, etc. Most of this type of work would be geared towards designing in-house, outsourcing the fabrication and taking care of the installation. Also, there's the possibilty of partnering up with other sign makers to supply them with a source to manage their graphic installations. So, who knows where this may end up going. It sounds like he's already acquired a lot of tools that he may need, with an exception to a few big ticket items. If you want to add anything else, please do.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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One of my favorite tools is the "Centerpoint" tape measure and a nice 4' ruler spring clamps 24" cutter Corel 4x8 table with cutting mat assortment of adjustable breakoff razor blades transfer tape holder (handmade or purchased) cordless drill
Of course you can start spending money quite rapidly when you get tools but as for the basics that should get you started in a quicky sticky shop.
A handful of Iwatas, different paints, brushes, sonic cleaner, panel saws, edge, etc. can really diversify your offering.
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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If it hasn't already been mentioned, one of those heavy duty rated "fold-up" ladders is great. They take the place of several ladders and can fit easily in the back of your car.
-------------------- Mario G. Lafreniere (Fergie) J&N Signs Winter did show up! Posts: 1257 | From: Chapleau, Ontario | Registered: Jun 1999
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I don't believe anyone yet has mentioned a good - big - worktable. At least 4 x 8, something solid, with some sort of cutting mat. If it's on wheels (locking) it would make a limited workspace more flexible.
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
Oh yeah, the understanding wife & the folding ladder are vital, in that order too!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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