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I'm making at least 20 3'x15' 2 sided banners sewn like a "pillow" to fit over a frame. If I purchase a versacamm and print the banners how do you recommend that I hem the edges? I normally use tape but these will be in a hot climate, plus I usually just fold and hem them. What sewing machine would I need to do banner hemming?
-------------------- Rod Ort Lewisberry, PA Ort Signs Posts: 12 | From: Lewisberry,PA,usa | Registered: Jul 1999
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Send that part out! Your not in ther upholstry business
-------------------- 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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Hi Rod. Glad to see you here. Watched you race many times in Central PA and also when you came to Lernerville. I'll be at Port Royal, the Grove, and Lincoln this year announcing the All Star shows. Look me up if you get to any of those shows.
-------------------- Dana Blair Blair Signs Wooster, OH www.blairsigns.com
If sign makers go on strike, is there anything written on their picket signs? Posts: 835 | From: Wooster, OH, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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Ok, I'm looking up "sewers", "upholsterers", "tarp makers" and if all else fails "fellers that dooes it". The last one may be trouble! Thanks very much for the help.
-------------------- Rod Ort Lewisberry, PA Ort Signs Posts: 12 | From: Lewisberry,PA,usa | Registered: Jul 1999
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it's like anything in the business. You need the right equipment, and experience. There are numerous industrial sewing machines you could use, each with its own idiosynchracies, different types of thread, a gigantic sewing table is needed, and a way to stop the underneath banner from getting scratched as you drag it along the table & under the machine. If you stuff it up, you'll need to do a reprint.
Handling 15 foot banners under an industrial machine is not as simple as sewing a handkerchief on a household sewing machine. The drag is high, the chance for one half to run askew is high, tensions can become uneven, and the banner get scratched.
You'd really need a helper at the least, unless you really know your work.
We do a bit of this, simply because we do- we're not near a town, and can't just get the shop across the road to do it. If an order for a banner comes in, sometimes I'll order one from a banner company, other times I'll sew it from stock we hold. I've tinkered with sewing machines for decades, as a kind of hobby, fascinated by how they work, and having clydesdale horses, we made our own horse rugs (you may call them blankets) and also harness, so heavy sewing and the learning curve came in the mid 1980s. You still learn, all the time, but I would not recommend you try this on your own.
A truck tarpaulin, or marquee/tent making place would be OK, as would an upholsterer, or a motor trimmer.
-------------------- "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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I know this is probably a dumb question but I will ask it anyway. Can the banners be sewn first and then printed? SOme of the printers can take pretty thick material. Has anyone tried this? I get tired of ordering banners and having to wait forever to get them. I was thinking of getting a 48 inch printing and one of the main reasons was for banners along with ptinting vinyl. Didn't even think about the sewing of them. I have used the tape and it works OK. Just have a hard time of trying to get it as flat as possible. Any suggestions?
-------------------- Cynthia Pack 246 Diamondview Loop Galax, Va. 24333 Posts: 659 | From: Galax, Virginia USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Cynthia, someone here (it may have been Bob S)posted a year or two back about the cost of a new printer head, when he tried to put a finished banner through a printer, and the head hit a high spot.
Do you want to risk that yoursel, and can you afford the repairs for non-warranty damage?
-------------------- "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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Rod - Your options include sail-makers if you are close to water and convertible top-makers. I got an awning maker to do it just once, but it was a charity job and I appealed to his spirit of generosity.
Basically you are looking for someone with an industrial sewing machine with large table who is willing to work by the hour. They are out there, you just have to find them.
Sometimes a banner vendor will do it for you if you are a good customer. You buy the banners unhemmed then send them back for hemming at an hourly rate. Never hurts to ask. At worst they will just say no.
Best wishes - Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Someone tried to send me a message about a local supplier from this board "i think" a message popped up on my pc but after I closed it couldn't find it. I had private messages turned off. maybe that person will re-send. I did find a tarp company "fairly" close so far
-------------------- Rod Ort Lewisberry, PA Ort Signs Posts: 12 | From: Lewisberry,PA,usa | Registered: Jul 1999
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Look in the Phone Book Under Clothing Alterations. We have one here in our Building that does all our banners, Canvas and embroidery on our Awnings . On our banners she does what she calls a Surge Stitch. This puts a Outlined stich all arount the banner and she will also sew in a Hem when we need to grommet it..(Thats why I hired her. don't ask me to sew ) If you can't find anyone in your area Give us a call and I'll get you in touch with her.
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Hiya Rod, I've sewn a few banners and, as the others mentioned, it's something that takes a fair amount of practice. At a previous job, I used something similar to this... http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92966 (although I don't recommend buying it from Harbor Freight). If you have some sewing experience, I'd say go for it. Visit your local industrial sewing machine distributor and explain what you're attempting to do. They can make recommendations and, perhaps, even give you some tips. Since you're not far from the company I used to work for, you may even want to give them a call. It's Signs & More in 24 in Harrisburg. The owner's name is Rick Kunkle(sp?). His number is 564-8829. I know he'll sew the banners for ya, but perhaps he would be willing to share where his gets his machine serviced and supplies.
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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I guess everybody has a different opinion but mine is take it to an awning company. They buy their awning material from the same companies we use (we call them banners; they call it awning material). They can electronically "weld" it up for you. I used to get that done by one down the street in another city. BTW, Fellers is my #1 favorite supplier.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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I just went to what I think was www.usbanners.com and they have a neat machine. It appliesthe tape to the banner and all you do is pull the banner thru. Have any of you seen the machine? It cost about $3500. Do banners have to be sewn? Can the double sided tape be just as good.
-------------------- Cynthia Pack 246 Diamondview Loop Galax, Va. 24333 Posts: 659 | From: Galax, Virginia USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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