posted
the last few plotter blades I have purchased were crap. Last week one lasted 5 days.
I tell ya they just don't make 'em like they used to. My first blade lasted 2 years! (no kidding)
Where do you get your blades??? I know Bob Burns gets them from Roland. Guess I will do that from now on.
humph
I just felt like complaining.....haven't had much to complain about lately ....... tee hee.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
While we're on the subject of blades - how about those exacto blades? I think they must be sensitive to light because as soon as I take one out of the box it gets dull. Heaven forbid it should get used two days in a row.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1299 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
you mean we're supposed to change the plotter blade?
Seriously, I havn't changed one in my graphtec in years. I switched one in my envision plotter to see if it helped but ended up switching back to keep track of my spare one. I've always been pretty impressed with how long they last & I wouldn't be too stoked either if that is changing.
posted
yes something is going on with the plotter blades. 5 days ????? that is crazy. I am going to order from Roland and see how long theirs last.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
cheryl you cuttin that ORACAL 651 AGAIN??????? the slider on your plotter......when it aint cuttin...move it back and forth a couple of times......it will work better....
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Just change blade for first time on 4100 graphtec, 1 year old, probably changed it out of guilt - " It MUST be starting to get dull by now, I'll change it just in case". Cutter blades are not a cost factor... On the other hand I've got to agree with Jean, I spend a ton on exacto blades and I've taken to buying olfa blades by the case.
Howard is there any chance if Graphtec going into the knife business ??
Hey Cheryl, are you sure it's the blade and not a worn teflon strip causing your problems?
posted
Well... You know I've been preaching this for quite a while now...about buying and using a "illuminated microscope" from Radio Shack. This has great benefit for you who are concerned about their blades...Graphtec or otherwise. Blades break far more often than they wear out but the result is the same, sometimes worse, because you can break a new blade as easily as an old one and you won't be suspicious of it. Use the microscope to check it out. It costs about $8, a damn good investment. howard
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
posted
I have been sending my blades to be resharpened to a guy in Fla. I have had relatively good success with the ones he has done for me. He only charges $3.50 to sharpen one. All blades are not what they use to be.
posted
Thanks everybody.......my supplier wanted my blades to send back. He has heard a lot of complaints lately. So I got two new ones for free. We will see how long these last.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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hey Wayne...the ones I am having problems with are Microfine Tungsten Carbide. I am thinking Roland uses steel ?
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
Wayne... Graphtec blades are called, "supersteel", whatever that means. We make a ceramic blade and a saphire blade for special purposes, but the standard, straight vanilla blade is "supersteel". I think we found the carbide blade to be much too brittle and hard to sharpen than it was worth...sharpen, not re-sharpen. It may make sense for those who use a lot of Graphtec CB-15 or CB-15K30 blades to consider resharpening; but unless you've got a bunch of them and can get a great rate from a reputable outfit, it doesn't make much sense. Resharps never work right the 2nd time around anyway, in my opinion. BTW, NO ONE has ever successfully copied or resharped the "A" (as in CB-09UA) version of a Graphtec blade. hk
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
posted
I use 2 different blades for my graptec fc2100. One I use for vinyl. i have only had to change the blade 3 times in 8 years. The blade I use for the iron on shirt lettering- plastisol on a roll from stahls, i am on my 1st blade-- it is 6years old. They are all graphtec blades. My Gerber hs15 eats blades.
Diane
-------------------- Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 12020 518 885-9899 signs@balchsigns.com http://www.balchsigns.com Posts: 1729 | From: MaltaNY | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I have tried re-sharpened blades more than once. They really don't work--maybe a week or two, but not worth the money.
I also have tried many "after market" carbide blades for my Graphtec JX1130. They don't last either.
I don't know what Graphtec puts in their "supersteel" blades, but they last much longer than anything else I have tried. I get between 3 to 6 months on a Graphtec blade. That's $4 to $8 per month, which is pretty cheap for all the vinyl we cut.
-------------------- Stephen Bolin Signs By Tomorrow Holland, MI Posts: 78 | From: Holland, MI | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
My Graphtec FC-2100 use to go a long time without changing the blade, lately it has been chewing up blades. I use the same pressure as always and depth, also the same Avery A8 material. I notice the start and stop points are not matching up and it's skipping. Had a similar problem before and used my spare teflon stip and that seemed to help. (suggestion made here at the Bullboard by a fellow Graphtec user).
I'm hoping the blades I am ordering are Graphtec blades. The little case has a label typed out and adhered to it that says Graphtec, but no logo or anything.
Pam Pam's Signs
-------------------- Pam Eddy Niles, MI ple@qtm.net Posts: 460 | From: Michigan | Registered: Dec 2000
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Diane... That's GOT to be a record...amazing, really.
Everyone... I think one should expect to get maybe, 4-6 months out of a Graphtec blade.I know many of you get much more than that...don't know why...good livin', I guess.
Pam... You should be able to tell right away if you're getting a genuine Graphtec blade. They are well identified as Graphtec. All of them will have individual springs (CB-09UA), they are bright and shiney, and for normal vinyl will require a cutting force of 14-15 regardless of machine model number...2100, 3100, JXxx, etc. We've never made an issue of using 3rd party or resharps, just be aware that there are differences.
howard
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
posted
I still swear by my blades that have been ColdFire treated. I have a customer that used to treat my Roland and Gerber blades. Then they started getting pretty much any brand of blade and has them ready before I call. ColdFire treated blades last 1.5 times longer than normal.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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noooooo.....iam a democrate.....and we KNOW who is at fault for that!!!!!!!!
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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