Intheshaw

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Posts posted by Intheshaw


  1. I do a little bit of work with pallets and usually just rip down the edges to get ride of that seam.

    What I do is paint the base coat again over the stencil very lightly and then 3 very light top costs.

    But I think the point of the pallet boards is to get something more rustic and not perfect.

    • Like 2

  2. On 4/18/2019 at 12:48 PM, Wildgoose said:

     

    I don't know much but I DO have Find My Font and that program kicks butt.

    Which version are you using? I need to cut a company logo that's just text but the eps file they gave me still is poor. Figured I'll try the free version but curious to see if the pro version is worth it 


  3. Does anyone have any experience on putting wood finish over vinyl, specifically a water based poly?

    I've got a customer who wants a wood sign with the company name on it for outside. Looking to stick vinyl on the wood and coat the entire thing with an outdoor rated polyurethane but I'm not sure if it will stick well.

    My other option would be to use paint mask and paint the sign and then coat the whole thing.

    I'm leaning towards the poly 'should' work but I don't know for sure. Painting isn't the end of the world but will just take a bit longer.

    Thanks!


  4. On 12/26/2018 at 11:21 AM, Dakotagrafx said:

    I'll have to do some more digging - when I looked a little over a month ago I thought it was pretty hard to get a permit to drive up anymore and very restrictive - looks like more research in order 

    Dakota, you ever figure out about the passes?

    I'll be in Maui in a couple of days, figured it was just the $25 fee like always. Only restrictions I'm seeing in the 1.50 reservation fee for a sunrise.


  5. Hi Everyone, as an FYI the training DVD is on sale for the month of April for $99.

    Now my question is, I don't have Flexi but have the software included with the CE6000 plus I bought and want to know if there is enough overlap between Pro Studio and Flexi to justify the DVD.

    From what I keep seeing, Mark is the go-to Flexi trainer and was hoping the rebranded software is close enough.

    Thanks!


  6. Finally got around to getting this thing cutting last week, been having to fight the wife over the laptop usage so I just went out and bought a used old tower for cheap and it seems to be working well.

    I can say I'm truly amazed by the graphtec and was cutting within about 30 minutes of messing with the setting.  Still learning but I've cut out a few plain text decals and they turned out great.

    • Like 2

  7. Go directly to graphtec, I'm just starting out and went right to it and don't regret it. Bought it because I already had people committed for $300 in sales so it was an easy choice. Had it set up and cutting within an hour.

    I do this as my side business and would rather spend my time making money than fighting the machine. Since I've gotten it, I've gotten all kinds of requests from friends for stickers and shirts (got it with the heat press).


  8. Playing around with screen printing is what bought me here. Shelled out about $100 on materials and built a couple wood screens.

    They work really well and I have 2 screens currently set up to be used on a press I built but it's only for bulk runs of stuff and of course everyone that wants to buy some of my stuff wants it customized, which is what lead me to buy a vinyl cutter.

    I'll probably keep up screen printing a little but I'm guessing my focus is going to go more towards cutting if/when I finally have some time to get my cutter running. The trends I see with people right now is customized everything and anything.

    • Like 1

  9. On 3/16/2019 at 5:54 PM, TrackHawk707 said:

    You might have already gotten your answers but I’m near here and I’d like to say jump in. I started with a titan and very quickly upgraded to a graphtec. Well worth it and I used money out of my pocket for both machines but in the end the machines ended up paying for themself. 

    Hope this helps! Good luck. 

    I jumped in with both feet and bought the graphtec, just finished putting the stand together as it's been in boxes in my basement for the last 2 weeks because my day job takes over my life this time of year. Hopefully I'll be cutting some trial runs this weekend.

    • Like 3

  10. On 2/26/2019 at 8:42 PM, MZ SKEETER said:

    You have Flexi 8.1  and Graphtec Pro Studio software,,  (Also Flexi) and they both have great editing tools.  Put the design on wire frame.  You can see what needs done.  You have HELP at the top of each layout screen,  Time to learn what the tools do.  Those Flexi tools are like magic.   The only way you learn is to try it.   Plenty of edit and undo, if it isn't quite right.   You have had Flex 8 for years and years.   Flexi training discs and lessons have been for sale for many years.  You can learn very fast from Mark Rugen   http://givemehelp.com/training-needs/  Or Go to Ebay and buy the discs.   That is exactly what I did. If you don't know how to use the tools you  already have, it is time to invest, to learn them. 

    Skeeter, does his discs work with the graphtec branded software too?

    Just got my cutter last night and if it's worth buying the CDs I'll grab them


  11. Yeah, then my compressor definitely won't work as it's just 2.6 cfm at 90 psi. It's great for nail guns but not automotive. I'll have to keep an eye out for a larger compressor.


  12. Thanks guys. I'll take a look. 

    Do you need a large compressor? I've got a 175 psi 6 gal pancake that's perfect for woodworking but probably too small for anything like sandblasting. I may be able to steal my brothers 40 gal since he's in the middle of building a house and I think it's just in storage.

    • Like 1

  13. 7 hours ago, Wildgoose said:

    I second the rabbit hole. Blasting is fun. I don't recommend letting your wife see what can be done. It's a tradition now to do pyrex sets for our friends kids weddings. It looks sweet to put the new family name so you can see it through the bottom of the cookware. 

    It's a doubled edges sword, show her what can be done and she wont care if I buy the tools to do it BUT then I'll only work on stuff for her. I'm already in the middle of building a built-in mudroom bench that she was sure to remind me last night needs to be finished before I mess with the cutter haha.

    For sandblasters, what are you guys using? Just one of those cheap harbor freight ones or something else? I wouldn't think you would need anything fancy to blast on glass but maybe I'm wrong.

    • Haha 1

  14. 11 hours ago, Dakotagrafx said:

    The paint mask can also be used for light glass etching with a sand blaster 

    Maybe I'll have a reason to buy a sandblaster now. In the meantime my wife had already bought some of the etched glass look spray paint that I'll try out eventually.

    And uscutter is fast at shipping, went out today and is scheduled for delivery on Saturday. Good to know it's really fast to the Midwest.

    • Like 1

  15. 6 hours ago, Go-C Graphics said:

    This is my personal opinion.     

    You're starting off with WAY too much.    For example why do you need 15" and 24" paint mask?   

    Going down the list......

    - Drop the cutting strips until you need them.   Graphtec is a super nice machine and you won't be cutting into the strip if you leave the sensors on.  

    - Just get the 24" roll of paint mask if you're really going to use it. It sounds like you're most interested in shirts.   I'd stick with vinyl and shirt tell you learn the trade then dive into paint mask.   

    - Drop the Poli-flex and just stick with the tried and true siser easyweed.  

    - Drop the Orafol plotter sample pack, Oracal 631, and all the transfer tape you have in your cart.    

    -I'd get a 24" roll of Oracal 751 in black and white,  Few colors in 651,  Rtape 4076-RLA transfer tape (I like 30" wide rolls).    Learn on the basics: good vinyl, good paper transfer tape

    Those would be my suggestions.   You'll get overwhelmed with all you've got going on.  It might look easy but just trying to apply transfer tape can be hard for a beginner.   

    Thanks for the input. I probably am starting off with way too much, I was just hoping to save on future shipping costs.

     My plan is to learn on the vinyl the move on to the paint mask. I got the mask so I could add a custom painted aspect to my side woodworking business but also look to make money off of vinyl and shirts.

    My end goal would be to use the 24" stuff but I bought some 15" mainly to practice on.

    I'm sure I'll be hitting up the shop again when I realize what I like and don't like, I was just trying to eliminate any small follow-up orders right away.

    Now thinking I wish I bought some different brands of transfer tapes but I'll make sure I do that on my next order.

    Thanks for the input!


  16. 43 minutes ago, Dakotagrafx said:

    it's either get under your skin for life or drive you nutz 

    I'm hoping since I'm starting with a nice machine that I'll get hooked for life. I've dabbled in screen printing and vector images before but nothing like this.

    • Like 1

  17. Dakota - Thanks for the tip, didn't know there was a discount and the 3 pack here seemed pretty cheap so I figured that was best.

    Wildgoose - I'm really only planning on basic t-shirts right now.  I may just keep the clamshell and use it for basic t-shirts until I can pay off the goodies I'm buying now.  I will definitely look towards a nicer press in the future.  And I only put the cutting strips in there because someone mentioned they are good to have on hand along with extra blades.  I'll ditch for now until my next order.  And I just chose poli-flex because it was on sale but if the Siser is a lot better I'll switch it out. I'm starting to realize that the vinyl is the cheapest part of this whole endeavor and don't want to waste my time on stuff that doesn't work (which is why I'm just shelling out the money for a graphtec to begin with).

     

    • Like 2

  18. So I'm coming back here hopefully one last time before I place my order.

    I called US Cutter and they will not upgrade any parts that are part of a bundle.  So my new question is, should I buy the graphtec with the vinyl bundle and add a swing away press or is the clamshell good enough?  From what I've been reading most prefer the swing away and since they are on sale right now I'm almost leaning towards getting the vinyl bundled one and adding the press separately.  

    But if there really isn't that much of a difference, then I'll stick with what I currently have and use the cheap clamshell until it dies or I get enough orders to justify buying a nicer press.  It will primarily just be used for shirts for my buddies and I for now until/if any demand for my shirts is there.

    This is my newest cart, the blades are out of stock and I'll be picking up a clear fiskars ruler and cutting mat locally.  The only thing I can think of changing would be to just add a 100 yard roll of 15" transfer tape vs the two 10 yard samples.  I just wasn't sure if I should go high or medium tack so I grabbed 10 yards of both.

     

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  19. 6 minutes ago, haumana said:

    Got it!

    Hmm... for $200 I'd put the money towards stuff that I would actually use, rather than a package that they're going to send me stuff I don't want.

     

    So is the sign shop starter kit not worth it? Could be one of those things they make a ton of money off of us new folks from. 

    I'm fine dropping the kit and picking up some individual parts and tools. It probably would be better but I figured I would use the included vinyl in the kit to practice on.


  20. I added the starter kit to get some tools as well as some extra vinyl, which is 199 as mentioned above. I added the carrier because I saw a video that said cutting the scraps are easier with a carrier. Maybe that's just die to roller positions on a cheaper cutter?

    Maybe I'll throw some cheap 12" on there too to play around with.


  21. So this is my current shopping cart (although I see the blades are now sold out).  Anything I'm missing or anything I really don't need?  And shipping is just a flat $87 for this whether it's just the machine or all the stuff with it.

     

    image.thumb.png.a73486342b0aec2c7a23096e5538f08d.png