Fbomb

After searching around for a while, I have some basic start up supply questions.I am not gonna ask whats the best and where to buy it, there are PLENTY of posts for me to search through for that!

My question is just on what supplies to start off with? I have a small budget, but invest my profits back into supplies (from screen printing and hopefully soon, plotting).

I just bought a Laserpoint 24" plotter. I plan on doing car decals, store signs, maybe some coreboards...

What I have:
-Plotter, software, and Corel
-4' x 6' cut mat. Well used
-Xacto knives
-Tweezers
-Tsquare
-Masking tape
-Squeege
-Isoprope (alcohol)
-a few parts to attempt constructing my own app. tape table

What I need:
Vinyl
1. Should I buy a multi roll pack? Or just start off with a few colors of maybe a higher quality vinyl? Or just wait for a customer to specify the color they want and then buy it?

2. Should I go with 24"? That seems pretty standard. I am used to ganging jobs (from my prepress flexo 9-5), so I can make use of the 24", but can the plotter accept a smaller piece of vinyl if it was cut out of unused waste?

3. Should I stay away for generic ebay calendar vinyl?

Application Tape
1. Again, should I go with 24" tape or 12" or smaller? If I got 12" and had an 18" design, I could patch 2 pieces together to cover it, RIGHT???

2. Being a newbie, should I go with medium tack or jump into high tack? I THINK I could handle it...

Misc.
1. Coreplast board, should I go ahead and stock up on some lawn sizes, just to be ready for a rush job?

2. Banners...Same deal? Whats shipping like from most places?

3. Did I miss anything else?

Lastly, I am a HUGE DIY buff I am attempting to make a Application Table...ANY OTHER DEVICES THAT COULD BE DIY'ed? Like a weeder?

Thanks for ready! I appreciate it!

 

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BlackMesa

I keep white, gloss black, red and silver in stock. White and silver have been the most used. I'm still on a free roll of gloss black.

Other stuff I keep around are exacto blades, I go through these pretty fast. Masking tape comes in handy when I have a decal that I can't pin down for one reason or another.

As for app tape, I started off with a 12" roll. Most of my decals are in the 6" range and I have wasted a lot of app tape. I would suggest something smaller if you are going to do small decals like I do. I very rarely have anything that uses 12" tape effectively.

 

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midwaste

I agree with the comment above regarding app tape size. I bought a 24" roll when I first got my cutter, and have probably thrown away more than I actually used. I bought a roll of 8" and use it much more now.

I would buy a 10yd roll of the cheapest vinyl you can find (shinerite from Fellers actually isnt that bad) and use it to practice.

There is a post somewhere around here regarding a DIY application tape, basically just two long eye bolts on the ends and a dowel between them. I am working on a cheap DIY vinyl cart/rack, Ill post it when i finish it.

Also, keep in mind when designing your app table some strategy for holding long banners taught when applying vinyl. I have a 3x9 table and a few cheap spring clamps that I can stretch the banner and clamp it. I considered making some sort of holes for dogs in the table to do the same thing.

 

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Fbomb

Thanks guys...What about banners and sign boards? Do you keep them stocked too?

midwaste, I'll keep an eye out for that DIY and post mine up whenever it gets done.

 

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hamlettsigns

Like stated before my biggest colors of vinyl are white, red, and black. Go ahead and invest in some different sizes of tape some places you can buy a 48" log and they will cut it down in the sizes that you want which can give you a variety of sizes for a little over $100.

Coro and banners find you a local supplier that you can get those products in a day and save the money of stocking those. Fellers has a lot of warehouses that can get to you in a day or you could have a smaller supplier in your area that is close also.

 

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Fbomb

Thanks again...Looking at Fellers, they seem to be a real cool business, but maybe a little much for me? They seem to be big on vinyl wrap. Do I need a tax ID to order from them?

What about extra blades? Should I get a 45* blade? When would that be needed?

Also, you guys mentioned getting smaller app tape, but should I stick with 24" vinyl? Should I stay away from ebay vinyl?

 

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BlackMesa

Quote: Originally Posted by Fbomb Thanks again...Looking at Fellers, they seem to be a real cool business, but maybe a little much for me? They seem to be big on vinyl wrap. Do I need a tax ID to order from them? What about extra blades? Should I get a 45* blade? When would that be needed? Also, you guys mentioned getting smaller app tape, but should I stick with 24" vinyl? Should I stay away from ebay vinyl?

One note about Fellers. I called last week to order a yard of Oracal 651 and they informed me that they no longer sell Intermediate vinyl by the yard, so I had to jump up to 751, which is great vinyl by the way. I didn't need my permit number when I set up an account with them. I don't know what I will do at this point since I only used them for buying vinyl by the yard. They are a tad more expensive than Sign Warehouse. Both vendors are great though, I usually get my order the day after placing it.

Keep extra blades in stock. I use 60 degree blades and have some 45 degree blades on hand.

As for the width of the vinyl, from all of my reading most people just stick with 15". I do, but on occasion on special orders I've had to get 24". I have yet to have a need for 24" except for a job that I didn't get.

As for vinyl, I would stay away from EBay vinyl. Depending on what kind of jobs you do, I used Oracal 651 primarily for car decals and such since it's the vast majority of my business.

 

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Fbomb

Hey guys, just to follow up. Following your great advise, I think I made some good decisions!

Bought from Fellers late afternoon and it came the NEXT DAY!!! WOW!

Oracal 631 Black Matte, 15"x10y
Oracal 651 Black, White and Red, 15"x10y
RTape clear choice, 6.5"
PerfectTear paper tape. 12"
Some grease pencils and gold squeegees
BannerMax 14oz Black banner (for my first job!).

Up and cutting and no problems to report so far! Thanks again!

 

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