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St.Marie Graphics
& Makin' Tracks Sound Studio
Kalispell, Montana
stmariegraphics@centurytel.net http://www.stmariegraphics.com
800 735-8026
We're chiseling every day of the week! :^)

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We now distribute Gyford Standoffs and Rod and Cable Systems WHOLESALE in Canada
Duncan Wilkie
aka signdogwww.commercialsigns.com
Edmonton, Alberta

[This message has been edited by Duncan Wilkie (edited July 14, 2001).]

The shop that I left at the end of last year had a Gerber Sabre 408/ 10hp vac/ 10Hp Spindle / Tool Changer. The most directly profitable jobs at that time were nothing more than distinctive shapes and text cut from rigid PVC sheets and acrylics for other shops and manufactures around us. Foam core based products for interior display companies were also nice, but didn’t happen regularly.

But the indirect profit potential of the machine was for jobs that were upsold from a “standard shape” to something with a little bit of interest, and something that needed very little “cleaning” after being cut. Basic rectangular work with perhaps rounded corners was now being enthusiastically pushed with fancy scroll corners or very distinctive shapes. Same things we offered before the machine, but now, for the same price with much, much lower labor cost.

Also the ability to make very unique supporting pieces for the design was another “indirect” benefit that was heavily utilized. Along with using the machine to reduce labor time further down the production line. Two examples: When cutting flat cutout letters or shapes that are to be stud mounted, the last piece to go against the wall was cut in reverse with stud pockets drilled for precise location. Then a sheet of .020 polystyrene was used to make a semi rigid and waterproof pattern. Example number two; Sandblasted signs. Put a sheet of stencil mask on the HDU, let the router cut the stencil and most of the depth. Now we only had to “dust” the texture of sandblasting as opposed to “blasting” the depth in. It was really beneficial when using the grain frame.

When I was putting the numbers together for the machine, I was going to attempt to secure about three hours of “contract” work for the machine, daily. My thinking was that those hours would allow the sign shop, in essence, free use of the machine for the balance of the day. It never happened! We used the machine for ourselves more than was planned. Additionally, neither the owner nor I ever actively pursued the contract work. We did get a few Corian and other solid surface jobs from a few different clients, but nothing as steady as planned. That being said, I still believe it is something to be tapped in this area and would definitely help the bottom line. (Kurt, are you reading this?)

As a last note, depending what machine you have, please do yourself a favor and look into router bits made by Onsrud. Those bits were a major factor in allowing use to run our machine much aggressive than Gerber recommends. And the pieces come off the machine ready to use, no sanding required at all. More production per hour with little labor time involved after it come of the machine, that’s profit. Jay Cooke informed me of these bits and what I believe to be a very informative distributor from whom to buy them from. Drop me a line or call if you’re interested in the distributor. Always glad to meet another spindlehead.

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For what it's worth

Bob Gilliland
The InKnowVative Group
Harrisburg, PA
717.564.7650
bgilliland@inknowvativegroup.com

"People who want milk shouldn't sit on a stool
in the middle of a field in the hopes that a
cow will back up to them"
Curtis Grant