Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
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Discuss the various aspects of heat pressed vinyl transfers. Popular and new types of vinyl media, suppliers, vinyl cutters /plotters, press times, quality, how to instructions and more can be found in this heat press sub forum.
Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
Ok so heres the problem.
When i started screen printing, i bought with budget in mind. Cheap. Bottom of the market. And it worked for me. I learnt{ Cuz if my crappy press} , and it made me a better printer. This is the catch, I made enough to pay off my gear, tenfold, and move up in the quality of the equipment i now have.
Next step for me is the vinyl cutter. Heres the question......
Roland machine......or el cheepo ebay number.
With screen printing, i would go the same route. Cheap, to learn, then upgrade. Vinyl cutter.....I dont know. I would really like some reccomendations from people, who have maybe gone teh roland route, and the cheep route. I just need the straight answer.
your replies will directly affect which cutter to buy.
Thanks guys.
I have had no problems with my cutter at all. I just do some basics so I didn't need all the bells and whistles. If you think it will suit your needs go for it. I would on the other hand go with the Roland and all the goodies if your budget allows. It's always nice to have more that you need so you can expand without having to lay out more cash.
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
What does the Roland do that this one doesn't do? I'm in the Market for one right now, and I'm looking at picking up the Roland GX-24, but if this one does the same thing I'd like to save some cash. All i need it for is for marketing purposes, making vinyl decals for cars, windows, give aways with shirts. I'm not going to use it for T-shirts at all. Any advice will be greatlt appreciated.
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
I am no expert by any means but I will tell you this....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!
I know a lot of people that are perfectly happy with with their cheepy cutters......but give them time and then ask them how they feel about it. Sooner or later the cheep cutter is going to have a problem and those people are knee deep in the weeds trying to fix it.
If you think..."that is alot of money to shell out"
Let me ask you this....how much is your time worth? how long did it take you to figure out the little tricks you now know because of your cheepy press? An hour? A week? a year?
If a cheepy press made you a better printer just imagine what a great press will do for your....OUCH, That stings!
Best advise I can give you......search hard and find a distributor that is local and that you can talk to in person. Let me tell you that it is so nice to have available to you. What are you going to do when you have a real problem and a real order to get out on time....send it back to China????
Good luck and I really don't think your going to have a problem with a Roland, Graphtec or Summa!
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
I have a enduracut and it's a nice machine, but the gx 24 is a much faster,quieter,and more durable machine. I wish I had spent the extra money and got the gx24. .................JB
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
I have the GX-24 (actually 2) and had an older Roland that I got used before that. The older Roland was over 15 years old and used everyday before we had any issues with it.
My thought is spend a bit more up front and less over the long haul.
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
Ok so we've established the importance of a fine machine.
Now define a great machine.
Roland dx-24............Great machine? Is this THE machine to buy straight off?
Is there otheres that are better than this cutter?
Thanks guys!
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ffokazak
When i started screen printing, i bought with budget in mind. Cheap. Bottom of the market. [...] I made enough to pay off my gear, tenfold, and move up in the quality of the equipment i now have.
...which means that this time buying with budget in mind means buying the good equipment you can now afford, and not having to upgrade later
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
YES!!!! you do get what you pay for. Don't go cheap, go quality. We have a Roland Camm 1 CX300 it is by far our best plotter. Wish I had 2. Our large format printer/plotter is a Roland CJ500 which is over kill if you only want a plotter but also a nice machine. We bought a really cheap off brand plotter to just cut T-shirt vinyl. It was a piece of crap to put it nicely. Took off on it's own and would cut a big slice wherever and when ever it wanted. No way to automaticially measure a scrap piece of vinyl, etc, etc...........We sent it back and got the Roland GX24. It's definately not as nice as the Camm1. It does not have an automatic cut off. It's a bit noisy but all in all, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better then the cheap crap plotter. Do yourself a favor and stay name brand. Graphtec has a nice plotter as well. We recently passed on a used Camm1 and kick ourselves for it.
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
Thanks guys,
I dont think there is any question, Quality first.
I have teh money, and could afford a GX-24, so I might as well.
Side not, I am REALLY into cutting Tackle twill. I think that wouldbe really cool. The GX-24 is able to do so, but what about other cutters, like graphtec? is cutting twill possible because of the downforce? or is there a different spec that determines the ability to cut thicker stuff?
Anyways, thanks for everything guys, Its great to have this resource available to the masses!
Re: Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference?
OK, so I got mine dirt cheap..$350. from a guy who was closing his business. it was 6 months old and he hardly used it. I know him so I know.It is a JSI JSI Sign Systems - Sign Making and Digital Printing Equipment, Software, Supplies and Technical Support.. I think it is on ebay for about $600. I am happy with it.. so far and I have been doing a lot of cutting as I use vinyl on my Tee Squares.. I did get a replacement blade Holder to take Roland blades $50 bucks) and I bought 5 blades for $18. bucks off ebay.. so again so far so good. If I had the money, which I don't I would buy the Roland from Josh..
__________________ There is a center to everything.. I found mine at.. www.heatpressessentials.com TEE SQUARE IT, LOGO IT! TEE PAD IT!www.tbiz101.com (New)Heat Transfer Education
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Roland GX-24, Or cheep vinyl cutter? IS it REALLY going to make a difference? 
