Discuss the different methods of adding some bling to your designs. Rhinestone and rhinestud transfers, templates, equipment, software and supplies are inlcuded in this forum.
I make custom shirts with different wording in crystals. The company I use charges me a set up fee for every new design I bring them, so I was thinking about doing it myself. I have no idea where to begin. I would GREATLY appreciate it if someone could tell me what machines and materials I need to buy and where I could start looking for them. If you knew a price range for the machines that would be great also, but I don't want to push my luck...ha/ha. Thank you so much for any help you can give.
Well you could buy a Roland 350 engraver which has a Rhinestone pattern designer built in the software and make your own templates,, the machine is about $5000.00 plus you will have to have supplies, (tape, stones, and tempate boards) that should do it for you.
I received recently a flyer from SWF that showed a machine that does this. It was also in Printwear magazine. It looks pretty cool. Could be worth it if you do a lot of them.
unless you are going to make hundreds of designs why not make them your self. I make my design, mirror image it - then lay it under sticky milar paper and hand set my crystals.Then I put them on with my heat press. I buy my stones and paper from Mr. Rhinestoneman - who has great service.-
I have about 10 different designs I use and will do custom names ets. I sit in the evenings and hand set them. - works for me
Unless I have a big order say 12 of the same pattern - I also just design the custom order. You can purchase the paper from Threadart.com and use your heat transfer machine. There is a place out of Dallas I have used for custom work if you order at least 12 they do not charge a set up fee - I believe their website is 2dazzleu.com. Best of luck!
Beckie
unless you are going to make hundreds of designs why not make them your self. I make my design, mirror image it - then lay it under sticky milar paper and hand set my crystals.Then I put them on with my heat press. I buy my stones and paper from Mr. Rhinestoneman - who has great service.-
I have about 10 different designs I use and will do custom names ets. I sit in the evenings and hand set them. - works for me
That's sounds nice, but not as cool as having this big machine set the stones for you. You can even make the sound Tim the Tool Man Taylor used to make, while the machine is running.
ah you are right it doesn't sound as nice as having a big machine do it for you - Difference is I am making a big profit and not paying thousands to pay another machine off LOL
The only sound I hear if you buy one of those machines is cha-ching, money going out of your pocket. That is unless you sell 100s of rhinestone patterns a month.
The only sound I hear if you buy one of those machines is cha-ching, money going out of your pocket. That is unless you sell 100s of rhinestone patterns a month.
That's correct. You wouldn't buy one unless your projected sales warranted getting a machine that would produce them faster than you could make them.
Henry Ford didn't need to invent the assembly line if he knew he would only sell two cars a month.
After looking at those very expensive Rhinestone machines, I realized that my engraver could do the same thing with End Mills. Matter of fact, I made my first template today. You do not need to purchase a specific engraver as I have a New Hermes (kinda old) and I bought two end mills, size 3mm and 4mm. Transferred my design from one of my graphics software to my engraving software and set my drilling points. Voila! A nice template! Now all I have to do is dunk my template in a tub of my rhinestones and they will fall into place! Hope this helps. Just don't want anyone to think they have to spend 20k on a Rhinestone machine when some engraving machines are very inexpensive and can do a similar, if not the same, job.
Just don't want anyone to think they have to spend 20k on a Rhinestone machine when some engraving machines are very inexpensive and can do a similar, if not the same, job.
You are right about not needing to spend the money on an expensive machine if you don't have the business for it. You will, however find that you are limited to one color/size designs with an engraver unless you really want a lot of work. I would never suggest that anyone invest tens of thousands of dollars into a piece of equipment that they can't justify within a year. The reasoning behind the larger automated machines is to generate high volume, multicolor designs which may easily sell for $25-40 each, now you are looking at only needing to do 1000-1500 designs and the equipment is paid for.
You are right about not needing to spend the money on an expensive machine if you don't have the business for it. You will, however find that you are limited to one color/size designs with an engraver unless you really want a lot of work. I would never suggest that anyone invest tens of thousands of dollars into a piece of equipment that they can't justify within a year. The reasoning behind the larger automated machines is to generate high volume, multicolor designs which may easily sell for $25-40 each, now you are looking at only needing to do 1000-1500 designs and the equipment is paid for.
Exactly
And really, that's the only reason why you would choose any machine over manual labor. If it allowed you to get higher quality results faster, and with added features. The other reason would be that you just have so much darn money and you like watching the machine do its thing.
You will, however find that you are limited to one color/size designs with an engraver unless you really want a lot of work.
Don, you are so right! I failed to mention that. I was just so excited when I realized I could make one or two size templates with my existing equipment. I'd love to purchase a Rhinestone Machine one day; however, that looks to be in the very far future!
Help! Rhinestone transfer machine 
Re: Help! Rhinestone transfer machine 
