American And Proud

And I went with a $2.99 printed on toss away garbage can bag plastic. Made for your front door from Walgreens, I believe I posted a pic of it in that particular thread. And the coca cola version of Santa would not have ended up on ebay, I was not looking to use that for Any personal gains. just my personal Christmas Holiday decorating. There is a difference between grabbing someone elses work from here and posting it up on ebay for less than the original maker was selling theirs at, and trying to print a one off Santa from the 1940's Not for resale just personal use. To enhance my yard display. Legal? Most likely not, but I never took anything from anyone here that put their work into an idea and stole it as my own undercutting them on ebay just to make a buck. So watch away there eddieb.

Carolyn, Believe it or not I have only set it up and made a few of the TEST cuts so far. lol Don't forget I bought 2 toys and have been messing around with FlextSIGN Pro 8.6. Reading through both manuals and watching the setup vids for the CE5000 and watching the Flexi 7 DVDs I got from a friend here. (Thanks again for those. ) On Signs 101 in the flexi section I had asked if there were any major differences in the version 7 and version 8 Training DVDs that givemehelp.com sells and a Merchant Member there replied that he just posted up 3 of the version 8 Flexi Training DVD's up for sale. Description: Flexi Training DVD - List Price: $199 from SAI ! Yours for only $49.00 + shipping What if you were able to gain all the benefits our recognized industry Flexi training classes have to offer without having to ever leave your home or office?Our new Flexi Training DVD keeps you ahead of the game by helping you learn what you want, when you want it! We are bringing the power of Flexi Training right to your fingertips! If you are unable to sacrifice valuable office time to get the Flexi Software knowledge you so desperately need, then the Flexi Training DVD featuring Mark Rugen, is the perfect alternative for you. You get convenient instructions at your own pace on basic topics such as Setting Preferences to advance topics like Rendering Intents & Contour Cutting. With more than 60 lessons and over 8 hours of tutorials, this jam-packed DVD has all the features you

I posted a heads up DEAL in the buy sell trade section that some of you may have seen. Well I contacted Beacon Graphics about it and it was a "For a Limited Time" deal that had ended. It was - Buy FlexiSign Pro and SAVE $800 PLUS Get a Brand New Roland GX-24 FREE!! For a limited time, buy FlexiSign Pro, the industry's best graphic design software, for just $3,495 (an $800 savings) and get a Roland GX-24 (24") Vinyl Cutter absolutely FREE. Click the BUY NOW button to order yours now! or for more information, contact your Equipment Specialist at 1-800-***-**** prompt 1 List Price: $6,390 Our Price: $3,495 You Save Over 45% FlexiSIGN-PRO

I bought that cutter at a local vendor here.(I have the Yellow one) I never asked if they carried those pins , but they sure do look like a cotterpin. The dowels are just the right guage wire. You could cut up some light weight step stakes if needed.

Thanks Carolyn, Your use of a Graphtec on a daily basis and your satisfaction with them was an influence in my choice of one as well. I know you use flexi Starter but I want to add printing to my abilities so I went with the deal I could get on Flexi Pro and the Graphtec from Beacon. Thanks for your input.

Thanks again.

Thanks. I can't yet but hopefully soon. Meanwhile I will keep on Practicing and buying what I will need.

Looks good Mader.

Well I got my Graphtec CE5000-60 and FlexiSIGN Pro 8.6v2 Paid in Full and they are HERE! I even got a few more Extras in with my original Deal I made with Beacon Graphics. Originally I got the Flexi and Graphtec for $3,495.00 Plus shipping that was gonna be another $44.00. I had worked with Donna at Beacon and talked to her about letting me do a good old fashioned "Lay-A-Way" and said I would do my best to have it paid for by Christmas. (I Almost made it too) I actually paid it off in Full Dec. 28th. I got it by UPS 2 days later Dec. 30th. While I was on my Lay-A-Way the Graphtec went on Sale and that sale ended Dec.31st. It Included FREE Shipping Free $100.00 worth of Vinyl and a 1 year warranty Extension to the factory warranty. So as I was about to pay it off I asked Donna IF I have this original deal paid off by Dec.31st will I also get the Extras included in the current sale going on? She looked up our deal and said No problem if you can pay it off by Dec. 31st. So I got the Free shipping (that knocked $44.00 off my original price) I got 2 rolls of vinyl 1 White 1 Black that are 15"x50 Yards each. Plus the warranty extension adding another year to the Graphtec warranty. Not too bad. Beacon and Donna were Great to work with.

Mader Thanks, SBE I can see it HAD potential, but it really Lacks in alot of things IMO. After using Photoshop/Illustrator on and off for a few years SBE just isnt in that same caliber as an Adobe product, the crashing/freezing and the file viewer drove me Nuts, Abobe Bridge renders files for previewing with Quality images and you can SEE, the files in SBE I had files it just showed as a black blob, or really bad rendering, if they showed up at all. It's a shame it will never reach what it Could have been. IF you can Mader, buy a Brand New Printer or Printer/Cutter, I too have been eyeing used converted or can be converted but I can see the benefits in buying a New one for the training, warranty, parts availability after the warranty, and even resale value. And Thanks, I think I did OK Deal wise, I am sure there will be better ones out there but This one was at the Right time for me when I was in the market. I Do URGE anyone in the market for a major purchase to shop around for the Best price and Service down the line you can find. My Flexi Pro is 8.6v2.

Thanks John, Someone here was Kind enough to snail mail me there copy of Training CD's a few weeks ago and I have been watching them. I also plan on taking the training classes that are offered as soom as I find one going on Locally. And if I can't find some going on here I will take a road trip to were they are offered. I also plan on buying the manuals that the flexi guy sells with the training DVD's. (Good bathroom reading. lol) I went with the Pro version because I do plan on buying a wide printer/cutter in the very near future. I will get used to working with Flexi for awhile beforehand tho. I have plenty of time to just sit around Practicing everything before venturing out into the marketplace. I am taking my time Learning before I ever try selling a sign or banner first. I am writing up a Business Plan, and that takes some effort to do. Even with business planning software. I have plenty to do here to get ready for my business venture and will do whatever it takes to succeed.

Everything just arrived about 20 minutes ago fivestar :thumbsup: FlexiSIGN Pro 8.6 is Installing as we speak. I have the Graphtec out of it's box and the stand is out of it's box all laid out on the living room floor ready to be put together, just waiting on the install to complete here. No damage to any of the 4 boxes. OK Install and Registration are Complete! I gotta install the Fonts and Graphics CD next.

I have a complete woodworking shop in my garage bigjimt with all those tools you mentioned. I have 3 tablesaws 2 are Vintage Delta Unisaws. The New TS is one of the new Craftsman "Zipcode" saws as they are affectionatly called by woodworkers. Made by Steel City. My Delta Unisaws are a 1941 Unisaw that is Complete and All original, Switch, Motor, The Rare and Desireable Cast Iron Goose Egg Motor Cover, Fence, the vented dust doors on the fronts, (I have actually collected 3-4 Extra dust doors over the years as other Delta machines use them too) and even the blade guard. The 1939 has the Real Rare SOLID Dust Door. (No vents) Needs a going over and a fresh coat of Delta Gray paint. They all need a fresh coat of factory gray paint, but all are in top notch working order. My other Delta Unisaw I had trucked in from Colorado to Chicago. It is a 1939 Four Footed Unisaw (First year they made the Unisaw.)and it is also Complete except for the original blade guard. If you know about Vintage Delta woodworking machines you know how Rare the First year 1939 Unisaws are and had the 4 cast iron Feet and after that, 1940, they had a solid cast iron Plinth at the base of the saw so the 4 feet were Only on the first year built 1939 unisaws. Anyone that does not know about woodworking, the Delta Unisaw is still built and sold to this day. I have most any woodworking machine one could ever need to built Fine Furniture down to the dog house and anything in between. I am setup with all modern machines but have a passion for the vintage Delta woodworking machines and am collecting them with as many of the original accessories I can get my hands on for each machine. Vintage Delta machines I have so far are the 2 Unisaws, a 6" jointer on an original art deco cast iron base, 2 of the 1640 lathes one has Every option that was available in the day and there were LOTS to choose from. The other 1640 has a large number of them as well, but I need to find the wood and cast iron legged stand for it yet, they pop up on ebay for 200.00-300.00 now and then, Delta drill press I had shipped in from an old hardware store that the yellow delta paper factory tags were still on the press. Oh and a 12" vintage Delta Disk Sander on the steel flared foot stand. I have a modern day 24" bandsaw but am looking for a vintage Delta 14" band saw on the art deco cast iron stand/base. The Quality of the old American Made Delta machines and the Beauty in the castings you just can't get today and I love collecting them. There is a great forum that is for us collectors of vintage woodworking machines of all kinds and brands. Great source for parts and even guys who make reproduction parts. My modern day Lathe is the Powermatic 3520B with the bed extention. I LOVE my Tools. I also own metal working machines as well. The modern switch has been replace with an Original. http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/AmericanAndProud/Unisaw%20Start/Beginning-Garage-Door-Uni-S.jpg[/img] This jointer in in "Clown Paint" from a School, they always painted them funky colors instead of just leaving them the factory gray. I have alot more more but won;t show anymore here since its not a woodworking forum, But they will be used in Sign Making. OK 1 more, of my Powermatic 3520B Lathe.

Your Right, Sorry to the OP. I guess bad cell phone pics or any bad pic is a pet peeve of mine with Digital its so Easy just to Delete and reshoot it. Out of focus pics are the worst. I am no photographer by Any means I just delete a bad pic and take another if Photoshop can't help it a bit. And it can't do much with a pic that is out of focus, light or too dark it can do Wonders to a pic.

Your own personal business Portfolio with good quality in focus no glare pictures will help to sell your work and the more you do you only put your best work and best shots in it.

And most people I think say sure give me that FREE phone with that 2 year service agreement. You know the jack of all trades but master of none phones. lol The majority can take a pic IF the conditions are just Right and you actually know enough about photography to know what they are, and how to compensate when they are not. A small point and shoot digital camera will get you much better results for the average point and shooter. And they easily fit into your pocket and are not expensive, and don't require a 2 year agreement either. lol

Oh come on John, you gotta come out of that dungeon basement once in awhile to have heard of Michael Vick, the Football Quarterback that went to federal prison for Running and Funding a Dog Fighting Ring and killing the dogs that lost. Even if your not a NFL Football fan it was ALL OVER THE NEWS FOR WEEKS! Mader I have a cell phone with a camera and Never use it as one. More often than not anyone taking a pic with a camera says "please excuse the crappy pics they were taken with my cell phone" Best thing to do if the pic turns out like garbage is Delete it and retake it. Thats the beauty of Digital. I take my Nikon D50 DSLR with me to take pics.

Is that the New "Ghetto Sheik" that is all the rave. Come get your Gov. Cheese and a new Chanelier! LOL

Is Michael Vick at it Again!? Cell phones as Cameras should be Outlawed. Can't really comment on your work because you can't really see it. Hope Vick paid you very well.LOL All kidding aside try getting a better camera to take your photos, phones are phones and should stay what they are and do best. IMO

Spend on buying the stickers you need locally. That way your supporting your local economy. (Smart move Polically) By the time you learn to use the cutter and software your election may be over and done with, and you can put that time spent into doing good Political things for your local people you hope to represent. UAW Emblems or Logos? You better also learn about the Copyright Laws and if they apply to what you want to make and hand out. Thats all you would need to do and someone make a stink you Stole the images without Permissions. Just a thought. Good luck.

As you said, get any Permits the town you setup in Requires. You will need to setup a Deal with the Property Owner and they will want a Fee or a % cut in sales from what I have heard. I would have More than just Political stuff on hand, would people in your area flock to buy political stuff? Around here I could see a few sales when it's during the Presidential Election, but once thats done the fever for anything Political dies out until the next election. Small town elections I don't see generating enough sales on a stop and drop anchor cut on the spot in a random parking lot to make it worth while. I don't see a walmart or any franchise wanting any political controversy to start up in their parking lot, maybe a busy gas station and the owner has the same views as whatever your selling. (I haven't looked at your site) Good you can take credit cards on the spot, that helps generate impulse buys. Maybe target the younger adult drivers for window decals and pickup truck owners or advertise truck lettering on the spot as well as the political stuff, to add to your potential sales? Check your local flea markets for the vinyl cutters working there and see whats selling and whats not maybe. Good luck. Oh a EZ-UP pop up tent with some Banners made might draw you some Attention and keep you and your cutter out of any bad weather. Some even come with walls that will help block the wind.

Thanks.

I don't think they Need to supply one Rodger. I call I get through, if not I have left a message or email and have got a Return phone call or email back within the hour. I have called to mention a savings to MY advantage and without a fuss a newly revised sales order is emailed to me while still on the phone reflecting the savings. (Im my case it was Free shipping that saved me $44.00 and added a 1 year warranty on top of the manufactures warranty to the Graphtec Cutter and added $100.00 worth of Free vinyl to my order.) Not alot to complain about there IMO. I don't think most vendors/suppliers feel the need to supply one either. There are Plenty of Sign and T Shirt Forums out there, I myself visit 5 or 6 forums on sign making and a couple T Shirt forums. Some I just read and learn from, others I also post and help when I can answer questions. I will also post helpful advice, like I have done here. Lets be honest this forum is not by the goodness of anyones heart here, it lessons the CS burdon by fielding questions by members and is cost effective over hiring a full blown customer service staff that would be on staff during normal business hours. If this forum shut down the emails and phone calls would sky rocket for tech support and general getting started questions. We are Free tech/answer support here. (by "we" I mean those that choose to participate here on a regular basis.)

Corel DRAW X4 Suite can be bought on Ebay for $70.00 every day, I got mine for $49.99 with Free shipping.