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I would like to purchase a printer, but I'm wanting input from others. Being a small company I would like to get the best bang for my buck. Is it foolish to purchase a small printer that prints on only 11" vinyl? Is there even such a thing? I had talked to a sign guy that uses a Fargo printer for small stuff. Any suggestions from anyone? Thanks
-------------------- Carol Marler 4M SIGN Poplar Bluff, MO Posts: 6 | From: Poplar Bluff, MO | Registered: Jul 2001
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when you say "printer"...it covers a lot of territory. need to know if your talkin bout 1. inkjet, laser, pin type or large format. 2 do you want it for letters, pics, or everyday printing. 3. you say 11" vinyl....do you want to print small stickers? does not compute, please reinput more information....
-------------------- 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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It really depends on your market and what kind of work you want to do.
If you don't have a market, I'd wait and build one first. Farm the work out to a company that does wholesale. Then, as your market grows, you'll have a better idea of what your customer wants/needs.
In my market, my Gerber Edge is perfect. More than 90% of my printing is done in "spot colors" not CMYK. If I had purchased a wide-format inkjet printer, I'd be up a creek.
Anyhow, thats just my two cents (and its really not even worth that much )
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I thought the same thing as you and here is what I have and my opinion on the subject. I have a large format printer and it was my first purchase. I hate the thing. It is very tough to get the exact colour. It doesn't really print on vinyl although the suppliers tell you it does. You have to laminate. Materials are expensive. Print heads are expensive with no warranty. You will replace a $90 ink well for each colour every so often. You will have clogs, paper jams and a ton of waste trying to get the colour correct. That is if you care. You will be in a market that is saturated and prices for a laminated print goes for $5 a square foot. I have purchased an Edge. Next to my vinyl cutter it is the best purchase that I have ever made. It pays for itself daily. One heck of a machine. It prints on magnets, vinyl, plastics and the cuts the decal. Tiling for large jobs is simple and actually easier than a large format printer. It will also keep you busy when everyone else is chasing their tails during slow seasons.
Kevin Landry KnL Signs Halifax
-------------------- Kevin Landry KnL Signs Halifax NS
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