I hope you can bear with me, I'll probably be posting a fair bit asking for your advice on things we're about to build.
My current table holding my plotter is 3' deep x 14' long, against one wall. I currently have a 20" plotter, so this size works fine at the moment. However, one day I'd like to accomodate a larger plotter, or possibly a digital printer as well, so whatever we build, I'd like to accomodate these new sized machines.
For those of you with say, a 24 or 30" plotter, how deep of a table do you require? Or for digital printer needs, what would you recommend?
I also have a 4x8 work table and could possibly accomodate a slightly larger one, however I'd love to keep this size if possible so I have floor space to also accomodate 4' x 8' so I can cut my sintra/coropast there.
One thing that's bothered me in my old location is having stuff under the table, because when you lean against the table to work, your feet kick into whatever is sitting there. So I'm dreaming of perhaps big wide drawers for storage as opposed to storing stuff stacked under the table. Perhaps add a drop leaf flap on one end so I can have that bigger table when needed. Any suggestions?
Thanks again. I'll promise to post some pics when we're well on our way.
Do you have an easle? We use a 4 x 10 foot easel, which hangs on the wall, and will rest flat against the wall or the bottom can swing out 6 inches. The Whole easel is PLYWOOD covered with galvanized steel so magnetic material will stick to it.
Galvanized steel looks pretty ugly, so we cover the easel with 2' x 4' vinyl rectangles of all kinds of colors ( so truckers can point out the color of thier truck and we can hold up color swatches to see what will look good.
The easle, becomes the weeding table for large graphics, and the graphic is held in place with the magnetics ( vehicle magnetic strips)
Its easy to letter banners on. It works great.
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA Be Sure to Check Out My Next Article On "Sign Shop Photography" in the March Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated! 309-828-7110 signman@davesworld.net Raptorman or Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
[This message has been edited by Dave Draper (edited February 28, 2001).]
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
This should be a pic of my 18'table plotter on one end,application tape on the other.The small BLACK lines you see at the lower lefthand corner is a plastic gutter that holds squeeges etc.
------------------ PKing is Pat King of King Sign Design in McCalla,Alabama The Professor of SIGNOLOGY
[This message has been edited by PKing (edited February 26, 2001).]
Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I used to have my plotter on a table. I prefer my new set up with the plotter on a stand. I need to add baskets though to keep the vinyl from hitting the floor on those long cuts. The static in the vinyl will pick up stuff from the carpet better than my Hoover.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
posted
I Can relate to what Dave said about the static picking up everything... including hairs from the shop dog
Our 'Stand' is a metal drawer rack which used to be in the back of my van (leftover from my days as a xeroid) Its about 3' high and 3' wide x 2' deep, has 6 large plastic drawers, perfect for storing scraps too big to throw away, the cutter sits on top. Made a catch basket from coroplast which hangs from the front.
We have the same table and it works great. We've had "the easel" for about 30 years now. We use some big magnets to hold down the vinyl while we weed. It's so e-a-s-y on the back and frees up both hands.
Donna.....
In the interest of saving floor space and your back...you might want to give this a try. All you need is a 4' X 10' X 3/4" piece of plywood, a couple of hinges, some galvanized sheet metal and you're there. We've got extruded aluminum ledges on ours, both top and bottom. This makes a great all-purpose work table. Good luck in the new shop!!!
------------------ Louis A. Lazarus Milt's Sign Service, Inc. 20 So. Linden Ave. #5B 650-588-0490 fontking1a@aol.com
Posts: 560 | From: El Granada, CA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I have a 15" plotter on a table which goes with my Edge, and I have a 30" plotter on a stand. I second the fact that if you don't have a rack everything from the floor will stick to the vinyl so a rack is a good idea. As for the table My dad and I built a 4' x 12' table that I do everything on. I mask, weed, install, cut coroplastic, and layout my banners and signs. At the base of the table we built a shelf that runs the length of the table that is about 2' off of the ground so your feet go under it when you are working on the table, but you can store alot of things on the shelf and it is out of the way. There are many different ways to make your shop work for you, but the easier things are to work with the better your day will go. Good luck with you shop! Bryan Midwest Custom Decals Southington, Ohio
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Posts: 18 | From: Warren, OH. United States | Registered: Jul 1999
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donna for the problem of a place for your feet when you lean agaist the counter...look in your kitchen, at the bottom of your sink....it called a toe kick back,that space at the bottom of the cabinets that is set in 3-4" and 2-3" tall from the floor...when you have your counter/cabinets built be sure to tell the builder to put in a "toe offset" on the base....
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Looks like a lot of great ideas are coming your way Donna, but the one thing I have found that comes in handy (the most)is lots of shelves. No matter what depth the shelf is, it will always be the place to put things that find thier way to a table and clutter up that valuable work space. Shelves,shelves,shelves. Thas'it,................CrazyJack
------------------ Jack Wills Studio Design Works 6255 Brookside Circle Rocklin, CA 95677 writer@quiknet.com
Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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