1st time buyer..Need advice

3038 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by carbon dinoc, Apr 3, 2012

RBAblasting

Discussion Starter · Mar 30, 2012

So I've been looking at a few cutters..recently went on ebay and saw 2 different pkgs for under $600.
The first is a vinyl express 31"W stand that comes with vinylexpress LXI apprentice and a few diff vinyl rolls for $248.95 from signwarehouse.. the other is from some place in Canada a sign max30 with Winpcsign pro 2010 full vers. for $528. I know there is a significant price diff. but was wondering if it was due to the software? I need to stay under 650.. Any help would be greatly appreciated..
I should add that I have no experience with vinyl at all.. I mainly want it to do sandblasting on glass and mirrors and tshirts.Looking to expand on my small buissness

thanks in advance

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

kirkmansigns

· #2 · Mar 30, 2012

Brandi something to consider... if cutting mostly a "resist" material for sand blasting you'll be using higher grams of down force than standard vinyl. This may be harder for cheap cutters to handle. My suggestion would be a Roland GX-24 cutter with maybe VMP software or just use CorelDraw. It will be over your budget but you'll have equipment that will never give you any problems. I don't think normal vinyl will stand up to sand blasting... and if it does, it'll probably be very difficult to remove afterwards.

Reactions: 1

TSwindall

· #3 · Mar 30, 2012

I have a Roland CX-300 and I am on my second Roland Wide format, so I tend to persuade to try and get you to make your purchase there. I would recommend the GX-24 or but would push you towards the GX-300. I have also heard lots of very good things about Ioline cuters as well. Ioline sells direst and is a bit less expensive though. You don't have to pay the middle man with them.

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ChefScott

· #4 · Mar 30, 2012

Don't forget to check out the GCC line of cutters. The 24 inch series can keep you in your budget. The low dollar R-series cutters from SignWarehouse, barely qualify as a hobby cutter, actually the hobby cutters beat them out for the most part. The stand that comes with the R-31 is stamped aluminum and if you look at it cross-eyed the screws will strip out.

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RBAblasting

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 31, 2012

Thanks for the replies. Ive looked at the Roland its a bit pricey..but good reviews. i heard that some people use regular vinyl for blasting so i was thinking of trying it myself. Im going to look at the gcc and ioline. thanks for the help.. What about the winpcsign software? any experience there?

Fenrir

· #6 · Mar 31, 2012

Sandblasting vinyl holds up better, but that's more important if you're sandblasting steel or granite or such that needs a lot of power and thus tougher resist. Something like Oracal 631 Removable Exhibition vinyl might be something to play with. If you get a cutter that comes with a lot of cheap off-brand vinyl, I wouldn't use the vinyl for anything permanent but you may as well try it as a resist to see if it's thick/strong enough to hold up. You might want to test how hard it is to remove, but that really shouldn't be an issue on freshly installed vinyl you take off right after blasting it.

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DivineBling

· #7 · Mar 31, 2012

The SignMax and the Vinyl Express cutters are exactly the same. Different sizes, etc, but they are both rebranded RedSail cutters.

Just something to think about.

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RBAblasting

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 31, 2012

Thanks. Is Redsail not a good cutter? im completely new to vinyl but Im attracted to the rhinestone software the signmax comes with winpcsign 2012 & 30"sm30 for $569.00. Id like to stay on the cheaper side since Im just begging I don't want to break anything.

ChefScott

· #9 · Mar 31, 2012

Redsail is both good and bad... it all depends on luck. I have a VinylExpress R31 (i.e. Redsail). Does it work, yes. Can it cut a perfectly round circle...not mine. Perfect squares, triangles, stars and anything else I can throw at it, but it hates circles of any size.
Don't get me wrong it is a good cutter for the money, and you can make some money with it, but you WILL be replacing it with a better cutter.

Reactions: 1

DivineBling

· #10 · Mar 31, 2012

ChefScott said:
Redsail is both good and bad... it all depends on luck. I have a VinylExpress R31 (i.e. Redsail). Does it work, yes. Can it cut a perfectly round circle...not mine. Perfect squares, triangles, stars and anything else I can throw at it, but it hates circles of any size.
Don't get me wrong it is a good cutter for the money, and you can make some money with it, but you WILL be replacing it with a better cutter.

That's exactly how I feel. I started out with an R31 as well and replaced it within 2 months because I wasted so much template material.

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ChefScott

· #11 · Mar 31, 2012

RBAblasting said:
I need to stay under 650..

Something else to consider with the R-31/SignMax/Redsail. If you buy from Signwarehouse on eBay you only get a 30 day warranty. The vinyl that comes with it is great for play, but it is inferior quality, and they are not rolls. And the LXi Apprentice software will do the job for cutting, only if you happen to have either Inkscape, Corel or Adobe Illustrator to create your designs.

For the money you want to spend, the GCC 24 is your best option (and you get a 12 month warranty + a bonus 3 months!)

Don't make the mistake I did and buy the Redsail!

Reactions: 1

RBAblasting

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 2, 2012

Thnks so much for the input. i almost did buy it... I will most likely go with the gcc or the uscutters one with contour cutting the mh series the thread on here was mostly positive.The reason I was looking at it was because the rhinestone part.I was wondering if the gcc will cut for rhinestone templates?

DivineBling

· #13 · Apr 2, 2012

RBAblasting said:
Thnks so much for the input. i almost did buy it... I will most likely go with the gcc or the uscutters one with contour cutting the mh series the thread on here was mostly positive.The reason I was looking at it was because the rhinestone part.I was wondering if the gcc will cut for rhinestone templates?

Yes, all of the GCC cutters will cut rhinestone templates.

dazzabling

· #14 · Apr 2, 2012

RBAblasting said:
I was wondering if the gcc will cut for rhinestone templates?

If you are looking at the contour cut option and GCC remember you need to look at the Expert 24LX not the Expert24 as previously mentioned.

You can still use WinPCSign2012 with the GCC.

Reactions: 1

RBAblasting

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 3, 2012

Well Ive settled on the GCC 24 expert lx..I really liked the zencut black.. But that will be my upgrade machine once Ive mastered this one...
Thanks everyone for the input on helping me..

carbon dinoc

· #16 · Apr 3, 2012

I have just joined the forum and have been reading wondering about what machine would be a good choice for cutting 3m carbon dinoc material? Im guessing his choice of the 24 expert lx would get the job done?

dazzabling

· #17 · Apr 3, 2012

What kind of cutting are you needing to do? Production?

What is the depth of the material (carbon dionic)?

carbon dinoc

· #18 · Apr 3, 2012 (Edited)

8.5 mils (0.212 mm) typical with adhesive. Here is a link to what I have been buying and then having the local sign and graphics place cut for me. FAQ | Carbon Fiber Film
I am just using it make windows and comets on RC helicopter canopies that I sell. Here is a link about that.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjIb2GOa0VI[/media]
I can get just the hood without the decals for much cheaper and the carbon look that everyone is wanting is not an option anyway. Many many thanks
Topper

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