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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My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted April 14, 2007 12:30 AM
It's really good for larger graphics that have enough surface area to stick well. I hate dealing with smaller letters because it can be really hard to make them stick to the speed press transfer tape - especially when it's getting dirty from use. Some people seem to have a knack for it, and some don't. My boss is pretty good at it.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted April 14, 2007 01:51 AM
I always thought that thing was designed for people that can't apply application tape without wrinkles. As far as saving money.... a 200 foot roll of 30" transfer tape is 40 bucks. 200 feet! 40 bucks!
I couldn't imagine lugging that thing around to my substrate either. Not to mention how you position it firmly without an over sized table?
Don't really get it's overall appeal here...?
Are they merchants here? If so ... sorry!
-------------------- Michael R. Bendel Bendel Sign Co,. Inc. Sauk Rapids, MN Posts: 913 | From: Sauk Rapids, MN | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted April 14, 2007 02:22 AM
I've got a homemade one. I barely use it, but I had a bunch of 8x4s of corro to do a few years back- almost all the same. The one lot of app tape did them all, and once I got the knack of it, it was great- alignment ease, absolutely minimal waste, neat, quick.
For a big run it's good. It doesn;t get used the rest of the time. I think it's about 2 metres x 60 cm. ( 6'6" x 2')
-------------------- "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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posted April 14, 2007 07:33 AM
Hiya Rick, I wouldn't use it for everyday work, but it certainly has its place. A little while back, another shop I was working with had several hundred ~18" tall grocery store price signs to complete. The speed press made short work of it and saved a bunch of transfer tape. The only thing I had to do is clean the transfer tape with every hour or so with window cleaner and a paper towel. Although the larger size was a little awkward, once I got used to it, I could apply graphics to several signs without having to reload.
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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posted April 14, 2007 08:43 AM
Michael, I have a 6 x 12 ft worktable, so it doesn't take up much room on it! The app tape I was using on it was not cheap- Politape, the clear plasticky type with the dots, and in the wider pieces, throwing it away after each job just doesn't feel right, so it was worth making up the press, in spite of the learning curve...
For the specific job I had, it was very good.
edited to add I have not seen a real one ever- I just made some guesses when knocking this together with some scrap we had. A proper one would no doubt be much better.
[ April 14, 2007, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
-------------------- "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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posted April 14, 2007 09:28 AM
I was talking with a friend the other day that has a banner shop. He said he uses these almost all the time, even on trucks with a contour to the door shape. I've never seen one or how it works.
When I cut vinyl, I usually group items together so as to minimize waste and then align the item on the sign where they'd go. Somehow with this thing, I imagine that you cut it all just where it'd go and apply it that way in one pass. So, if this device saves a fortune in application tape, it increases the volume of vinyl used, and the vinyl price seems to be seven times the price of the app tape.
-------------------- 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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posted April 14, 2007 01:21 PM
I've got two of them but I didn't like them so I disassembled them and put them in storage. Maybe I just didn't give them enough time to learn to use them properly or something.
-------------------- 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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posted April 14, 2007 03:23 PM
Rick, The speedpress is a great specialized tool. We use it to speed up and reduce costs on the mundane intermediate vinyl work. Don't throw away your Webber as of yet though, still plenty of masking to be done.
-------------------- Ron Helliar Marysville Sign 11807 51st Ave. NE Marysville, WA 98271 (360) 659-4856 Posts: 263 | From: Marysville, WA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted April 15, 2007 02:24 AM
Rick, your logic is fine, if you are talking about small stuff. If you were to have to apply multiple lines of plotted text that were 16-20" tall each, you can't really minimise vinyl wastage with that. Alternately with smaller single colour work, you can certainly waste a tad more material, but you can save a great lot of time, on some jobs.
-------------------- "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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