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Nocturna brushes! Cheap, hold up well, always reliable and no equal out there. Second best: SL500.
-------------------- Preston McCall 112 Rim Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1561 | From: Santa Fe, New Mexico | Registered: Nov 1998
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6736 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'd almost have to say my old Arty (4B). Back in those days, I was told that Compugraphic, the company that made the software for Gerber, was given the right to the 4B, under a different cover.....kind of a trade, I guess. The outside cover for it was different; the guts about the same.....except that it would hold 21 fonts, while the 4B would only hold about 8, I think.
Anyway, I bought an Arty....used all the 4B font 'boards'. Never had any trouble, except for one belt, all these years. It still works, though I seldom use it.
The amazing thing to me is how far technology has come in those years....and much farther. We thought that thing was the hottest thing since running water, and now, dinosaur. One board that had only 1 font on it, used to cost $150-220, and it wouldn't do any distortions, shadows, etc. There was another cartridge for that. Today, one CD can contain hundreds of fonts, with unlimited editing potential.
Still, it was a great machine, probably the most dependable I've ever owned.
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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My ShopBot! Best $10,000 investment I've made. Then my 68 Chevy pick up. Paid $1,800 for it. I've had it for 32 years and it just won't quit! My Little Giant ladder till it got stolen and replaced it with a 22' fold up Wagner.
-------------------- 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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Bergendorf posting stage here,..made by interstate aluminum works in Pocatello, Idaho. it cost me $1700 in 1985,....I could probably sell it for that now,....the stage and two hangers weigh in at 88lbs and will support the weight of two men,...if I had a dollar for every $1000 I made on it I could rent a limousine to drive me to Danville,....still using it,....can rig a one or two story storefront by my self in about 5 minutes and be painting a wall or doing an install in nothing flat.
edited to add,.... do not try this at home ,...the ground can fly up and hit you in the butt if you don't use safety gear,....don't ask me how I came by this pearl of wisdom,...
[ July 04, 2010, 11:17 AM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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#1)My imagination #2)My eyes #3)My hands I'd be up the creek without them and sometimes I'm up the creek with them but always pulled out by them!
[ July 04, 2010, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Brickman ]
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I have quite a few tools that I've been glad to own:
Fluke multimeter I bought it in 1984 when I was 18. It still works like a champ, and looks great for its age.
Dewalt 9.6v drill It's not a powerhouse like some of the drills these days, but it just keeps going and going. I think I got it around 1990. The batteries don't last long anymore, but if I could get them refurbished, I would. I have an 18v Dewalt and often times it's too big to lug around.
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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We have a shop full of great tools that have served us well for many years. The key is to not try and save money when I buy them. I do my research and then happily invest in the very best I can find.
My Miller welders and plasma cutter have worked as they should for many years. We have three tall cabinets of quality hand tools I use daily.
Our MultiCam router has changed the way we make much of what we produce. We are in the planning stage of an upgrade simply to acquire a fourth axis. The rest of the new machine will be identical to the first purchased almost five years ago.
EnRoute software has allowed me to take my ideas and easily transform them into routable files.
And while many complain about how computers have changed their businesses for the worse here we have found it to make our work easier and more efficient - both in the design phase and through its completion. Changing to a Mac based system has made it more user friendly than ever. Did I mention I LOVE my Macs?
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8740 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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my newly upgraded cnc router my 12 yr old anagraph cutter my 9 year old encad printer All operated by my FREE PC computer that was given to me by a neighbor,, using Mach 3 that was written by average guys and cost less than $150 bux,, and corel draw with cocut pro that cost about $220 bux.
Its good to be me with my PC's...
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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The custom built PC computer I bought in 1999. At the time it was state of the art and it served me well until it died a few weeks ago at age 11.
In recent years it was relegated to back-up duty but it did that job well too.
It's memory will live on however. I took out every useable component to take down to Mexico so that they can be used to replace ailing parts in computers in the local school.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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1999 vinyl express plotter from signwarehouse. no problems. runs and plots great. $3200.00
3 stages of scaffolding! love having my own scaffolding
my old transparent overhead projector. still works. its nasty, rusty and its about 20 years old
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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My work platform Also my projector, if Bill Berberich would ever bring it back. And I plan on hooking my 4E back up in the garage for pounce patterns. Bought it used in 2003 for $400, it was almost 20 years old then. No longer cuts vinyl well but I bet it would pounce just fine. Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Boy, after reading all this, I am so glad I'm not dependent on high tech
My best piece of equipment has to be my "convertible" ladder. I bought it at Sears almost forty years ago. Aluminum, it makes into a step ladder and a short extension ladder....sooooooooo handy. It will also work on stairs although that need has never arisen
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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My old Gerber Signmaker IV-A ranks up there. It ran for a quarter century on fourteen dollars worth of maintenance, which it didn't need-a screw was overtightened. Its replacement, a SignWarehouse Q-160, is a pretty sweet plotter. When I'm 83, I'll let you know if it outlasted the Goober.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5099 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Gerber 4B. Bought it used in 1987 and it still is my go to for sandblast rubber and quick pounce patterns. Wish I had one of the old 30" 750s from those days for wider stuff.
My Makita plunge router from 1994. Same 3 1/4 HP motor as the 12" planer.
Overhead projector I bought in 1986 when I first went out on my own.
My Grumbacher 1 1/4" flat from 1984. Still the best brush I ever bought.
-------------------- John Byrd Ball Ground, Georgia 770-735-6874 http://johnbyrddesign.com so happy I gotta sit on both my hands to keep from wavin' at everybody! Posts: 741 | From: Ball Ground, Georgia, USA | Registered: May 1999
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Summa D60 plotters. After years of fighting Roland plotters and thinking their problems were the nature of the beast the switch to Summa has been BEAUTIFUL. One is in the process of dying (after running 4-5 hours a day for 8 years) and I haven't even considered replacing it with anything else.
The equipment that makes me happiest is the rubber stamp that says "FOR DEPOSIT ONLY".
-------------------- Pat Whatley Montgomery, AL (334) 262-7446 office (334) 324-8465 cell Posts: 1306 | From: Wetumpka, AL USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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-------------------- Len Mort Signmaker1.com 11 Juniper Drive Millbury, MA 508-865-2382 "A Good Business Sign, is A Sign of Good Business"(1957) Posts: 811 | From: Millbury, Ma | Registered: Dec 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Patrick Whatley: Summa D60 plotters.
+1. Years ago, I was in charge of purchasing a plotter for a company that I was working for. We checked them all out, and we got a 48" Summa with tangential cutter head.
In the years following, I worked for a guy that had a Summa D60 (2 of them actually), and then worked for a guy that had a Roland.
When it came time to purchase a plotter for my own company, I called Summa without any other thought.
-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 749 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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1. my trusty 24" Graphtec vinyl cutter going strong for 13 years!
2. My panel saw. Used almost every day and has helped cut up a forest of MDO for over 12 years!
3. My Bosch jig saw. Amazing tool.
4. The Roland VersaCamm 30" digital printer.
Other tools such as a corner rounder, Edge ruler, Heat gun, coroplast flute cutter, and anything that makes our jobs more efficent and more accurate around the shop are priceless.
Not to mention my 12' Stanley power lock 1/2" wide tape measure which I use every day. Being only 1/2" wide, it's great for leveling out vinyl on truck doors.
Sign-cerely grateful, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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""Good judgment comes from experience; and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" - Will Rogers Posts: 3490 | From: Beautiful Newaygo, Michigan | Registered: Mar 2003
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I'm with Joe on this one, My swiss made chisels and my brushes... I design on paper before it ever goes to the CPU so maybe the pencil and paper are a tool at least for me.
-------------------- Pat Welter Masterhand Signs and Designs Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada Posts: 1304 | From: Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada | Registered: May 1999
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