start up cost?

January 14, 2004

Jusat wondering what everyone would say the start-up cost to get a plotter and vynil, ect to start doing vynil graphics, stickers, ect? I know the plotters can get up to the 10 grand mark or so, but just give me some sort of idea. THanx.

January 14, 2004

depends on what size plotter you go with, and what type of vinyl and how much of it you want to carry.

you can get into a 12 inch plotter for about $1200-$1500. you can look at buying anywhere from $1000-$2000 just in vinyl. (more if you go with a larger plotter) then you have your application tapes, tweezers, cutting mats, application fluid, squeegees, blades, ect. little stuff that doesn't cost alot, but it adds up.

then you have your software. it can very expensive, but don't go with the low end stuff, go with the more expensive software. you can do more with it.

make sure you buy your vinyl in 50yd rolls, at least in black, silver, white, and red. 90% of the time, I use one of those colors. and don't be a cheap ass and use 3 mil vinyl. I only use oracal 850. it's the best vinyl out there (IMO) and it's very easy to work with.

go to signwarehouse they have pretty much everything you'll need.

January 14, 2004

:tts and learning how to USE the stuff is very time consuming so keep that in mind

January 15, 2004

thanx for the info. ive had some use of vynil itself but none with the plotter and software. anyways, ill be sure to check out the website, thanx again

February 11, 2004

Its like thetinshop said, prices vary with the size of the plotter and material. I had worked with vinyl graphics for awhile before I went off on my own and realized that you RARELY need to use anything bigger than 24" material. I have had to use 36" one time in the last year. Be careful when you are shopping for plotters, you get what you pay for, as with the software. I use a Panther ultra pro 24". I have cut graphics 200" long and have yet to have a tracking problem. I cant say the same for the Graphtec I used before (It was only a year old, so I dont know if tracking is still an issue with these or if we happened to get one built on a Friday and everyone just wanted to get out of work and did care about tolerances?!) I use only Avery A8 or 3M high performance film. I have found that, Oracal has a serious tendancy to shrink. I have seen it shrink almost 1/8 of an inch overall in 1 month. It may just be the weather patterns here, I dont know.(temps vary drastically troughout the year or even thoughout the week here in Wisconsin). I have been very lucky with Avery and 3M so far so I will stick to them. Anyway, when I started out it cost me about $4000 dollars to get the equipment and materials needed to start slapping graphics down the paint. If you have anymore Q's feel free to ask. Hope this helps

April 30, 2004

dont bother just come cross town. LOL

I got some work for yah call me if yah see this

scott

May 6, 2004

Does anyone know where I can pick up a used cutter??? I am just looking to play around with some graphics on my friends cars and eventually where I come back from Wyotech I am going to open a full blown shop.