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For those experienced in the use/purchase of both vinyl and plastisol transfers, could you give me a rough product cost comparison? As an example, if I created my own transfer from black vinyl, how would the price be compared to that of the same single-color design created with a purchased plastisol transfer? I realize that the price of plastisol transfers depends upon quantity purchased, so lets say I ordered 25 of that design with no ganging. I also realize that one should figure labor in to the cost of the vinyl transfer created at home, but I really don't want to factor that in just yet. (I work for free.)
Re: Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers
I just had to quote this exact scenario!
My cost for a one color (black) plastisol treansfer (12" x 12") from First-Edition, for 25 shirts, would be $1.63. If I'm not mistaking, the cost of say ThermoFlex is about $2.25 for a usable area of 13.5" x 12" (based on $33.75 per 5 yd roll of 15" wide material). So, plastisol is about $.011 per sq. inch and ThermoFlex is about $.014 per sq. inch.
Basically, they are about the same (depending on your design and if you can use any of the spare vinyl for other things. With First-Edition, you have a minimum quantity of 15 sheets so you would have to do vinyl below that amount. However, as your volume goes up, you will want to go with plastisol if for no other reason than you won't have to do any weeding. Your labor may be free, but you time isn't....
I'm sure others will have further insite.....hope this helps!!
__________________ Big Daddy Screenprinting -Affordable contract Heat Press Services & Low Volume Screen Printing up to 4 spot colors with no setup or screen fees
Re: Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers
Quote:
Originally Posted by treadhead
Your labor may be free, but you time isn't....
Ask anyone, my time isn't worth..., well, you know.
The reason I posed the question is that I'm at a crossroads. I can either use my budget on plastisol transfers, or purchase a vinly cutter and vinyl. I cannot currently afford to do both. My business model is purely ecommerce with no solicited custom orders. I'm setting up my website and will only press shirts when ordered.
My designs, if it's even fair to call them that, are very simple 1-2 color creations. To get a decent price on plastisol transfers, one needs to order a minimum of a design. If one has 20 designs, it becomes expensive. With the vinyl cutter, I could produce most of my shirts here, without paying art fees and setup costs.
I may end up just purchasing a bunch of IronAll with hopes of getting the same quality out of it as Lou does in his movies. I don't have a shoe string budget. I have a shoe string which has been broken, knotted back together, and ready to break again.
Re: Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Useless
Ask anyone, my time isn't worth..., well, you know.
The reason I posed the question is that I'm at a crossroads. I can either use my budget on plastisol transfers, or purchase a vinly cutter and vinyl. I cannot currently afford to do both. My business model is purely ecommerce with no solicited custom orders. I'm setting up my website and will only press shirts when ordered.
My designs, if it's even fair to call them that, are very simple 1-2 color creations. To get a decent price on plastisol transfers, one needs to order a minimum of a design. If one has 20 designs, it becomes expensive. With the vinyl cutter, I could produce most of my shirts here, without paying art fees and setup costs.
I may end up just purchasing a bunch of IronAll with hopes of getting the same quality out of it as Lou does in his movies. I don't have a shoe string budget. I have a shoe string which has been broken, knotted back together, and ready to break again.
Useless...I understand your situation completely!!!!
That is why I don't currently have a vinyl cutter myself and subcontract that out for now. The reason I am using plastisol is for cutom jobs that we get that may be 24 to 48 shirts. If you are responding to ecommerce orders at 1 or 2 at a time...then I would buy a cutter and do it.
Now, I've been eyeing the Craft Robo which is only $290 (free shipping) on eBay from www.signwarehouse (I think...I'll double check that and let you know). It only cuts 8" wide (however long the roll is) but has an optical eye that will allow you to print and cut Opaque transfers for darker shirts or the ColorJet III from Specialty Materials (www.specialitymaterials.com) which can be printed on using a standard inkjet printer and comes in 8.5"x11" or 11"x17" sheets. However, most design will fit on the 8" size. Just some options.
By the way, IronAll isn't bad at all. I've had some issues with a recent batch of the stuff with a grey line down the back but it, and I hear JetFlex from Imprintables Warehourse is really good.
Good Luck!!
__________________ Big Daddy Screenprinting -Affordable contract Heat Press Services & Low Volume Screen Printing up to 4 spot colors with no setup or screen fees
Re: Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers
If your going to do Vinyl at all you must consider your time. 12 shirts vs 30 is going to get me to go straight to plastisol unless time is a factor. I did 30 tee front and back in 2 days with vinyl and had I ordered the plastisol it would have been a 2 week min. on the order. Also I had to do team name and numbers which pushed me to vinyl.
Re: Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers
If you expect to sell more than 25 of your design, why not order 50? Your cost would go down by about a third (per sheet).
Example: ACE Transfers - 12x12 single color
20 pcs each 2.35 = 58.75
50 pcs each 1.45 = 72.50
That's a $13.25 difference for over twice the number of transfers.
You don't have to press them all at once. Save money on blanks until you need them.
The vinyl cutter is a fabulous tool for small runs. It's especially great for text. You can whip out a slogan in illustrator, print it, weed it and press it in less than 5 minutes once you get the hang of it. I've gotten good enough where I can fire up the press and have the design ready to go by the time it gets to temperature.
The real tradeoff here is time. You're probably going to spend the same amount of time on design, so it's all in the labor of getting the design into a printable form.
I think both approaches are complimentary. Neither is inherently better. Do the math and take a serious look at what you want to create and sell.
Re: Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Useless
I work for free.
(I missed this nugget when I first read your post)
No you do not!
This is a very labor intensive operation. ESPECIALLY vinyl. You cannot exclude it from your calculations unless you wish to never make any money. You may not charge for your labor, but your time is most certainly a valuable commodity.
From your description I think vinyl is your better option. If you've never done designs before you will probably not be too happy with your first couple and with a cutter you will have the ability to experiment until you figure it out. You don't really want to commit to plastisol unless you're reasonably sure that the design will look good.
Look for a used cutter or a small one like the craftrobo. You may even be able to find one used on ebay cheap. It will at least get you started and give you the ability to print out text and 8" wide graphics. Not ideal, but that shoe string's gotta last a little longer, eh?
Re: Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moo Spot Prints
No you do not!
For the purposes of this thread, yes I do.
I've been staring at those Craft Robo cutters on ebay. My one fear of buying one is that there's something horrbily cheezy about them. Perhaps it's just the name.
This is a discussion about Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers that was posted in the Vinyl Cutters (Plotters) and Transfers section of the forums.
Cost of Vinyl as compared to Plasitisol transfers 
