Truckntran

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Everything posted by Truckntran

  1. Truckntran

    At Walmarts again last night

    The Dollar Store here in Pearsal , TX had a fresh rack of nice looking printed shirts...at least they looked like print, couldn't tell if they were printed digital transfers or DTG....$6.00 and they were huge designs.. Nice looking hot rods, trucks, and some religious....I got a kick out of the AMERICAN Trucks one tho....it had a blue field of mag rims and stripes of mostly Chevies, but someone slipped in a 80's Toyota 4 x 4 ....cute. All were made in san salvador I think...Tees were some unknown brand. But my local Alco in Coleman has been clearancing good Gildan pocket tees for $3.99...
  2. Truckntran

    Tri Axle HD Tow Truck

    Gotta love those TOW TRUCKS! (I used to drive one...) Hope they paid ya well, it looks great!
  3. Truckntran

    4' x 8' aluminum sign

    Man do I need to up my prices!!!! Oh wait, I see you sold a total of EIGHT 4 by eight!!! Congrats! I have a 4 x 8 to do, of course it is for a buddy, two sided,reflective......wonder what ya'd charge for a sign like that where you are....? You're gonna love that Graphtec. I need to take someone here to dinner for the deal I got on one....
  4. I have a buddy who wants a very simple two sided sign in front of his house advertising his handyman biz.. I have the sign all laid out, but am wondering just how durable vinyl letters on top of reflective are gonna be in the hot Texas sun.... What vinyl wouyld you recommend for a simple white billboard with black lettering and a very simple blue logo? Would outlining the letters in reflective last longer than making the whole sign reflective, or should I do it like the road signs, reflective background and vinyl or ....Painted letters? I am still deciding on a substrate as well.. any thoughts? Durability is key...with reflectivity being another major factor.
  5. Truckntran

    Which Machine is Best

    I have total weld and punch thru..
  6. Truckntran

    Which Machine is Best

    did you download the all cutter version? it has alot more features than the regular SignBlazer version. This is the one I am using.....: http://support.uscutter.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=30&nav=0,4 I'd just like to be able to access the help files from within the program, and eventually I will want the full feature program if it ever comes back...I have tried a few other trial version programs (VMP and Signmate) and SB blows them away for ease of use and intuitive learning..
  7. Truckntran

    Which Machine is Best

    Or, if you are daring, buy a USED machine somewhere.. I thank my lucky stars I was able to get a used Graphtec off here, and it blows away its predecessor, a used Roland Stika sx-15. And you'll need software, the free trial download of Signblazer rocks big time, I sure hope someone makes the pro version available for sale again in the future. However if you aren't good with techie things, even a new cheap cutter will be a trying experience, unless you have great customer service and someone to walk you thru setup. Used stuff will have you completely on your own, which can be pretty bad.
  8. Truckntran

    Where to find 12" vinyl?

    I used to special order engineer grade reflective in 12 inch from Mohawk Graphics in Albany, NY before they faded away... For Oversize Load signs it saved having any waste and was well worth it for me...If anyone knows where I can get the same stuff today I am interested....
  9. Silly question, how'd ya get sample rolls? I sure could use some free samples!
  10. Anyone know of any good flames on the web ? Got a potential customer looking for flames in a paint mask form for a Harley..don't know model yet, but wouldlike to have something to start from....running signblaster and a 24 inch Graphtec at the moment. Myself I would just draw freehand and mask out with fineline tape but he wants a paint mask...
  11. Truckntran

    Burrito Shop SIgn..

    Here's a sign I just finished today for a friends Burrito Shop.. They were gonna put up a stenciled sptay painted homemade concoction but I convinced them not to.. It is on a sign board they had out back, all Avery vinyl, reflective behind the top section so it can be seen in the wee hours when they open.. Dimensions are 2 by 3 feet. I am trading it for some post hole digging, as I am not really set up for retail sales anyhow....What would this sign cost if it was a retail job? I used about 6 yards of standard vinyl and 2 of reflective...and a LOT of transfer tape. Also the punchout function in the Trial signblazer I was using did not produce exactly matching cutout s in the reflective to the red letters I inserted...Is this something inherent in the program or is myu Graphtec showing its age? I was worried about the letters on top of reflective curling prematurely so I inserted them.. the lettering in the blue section is layered right over the blue. (and Open is reverse weeded in the red oval.._ ANy suggestions on how to do it better appreciated.
  12. Truckntran

    Burrito Shop SIgn..

    Thanks for the compliments, guys.. On the plural/ singular issue.. I'm a bit of a stickler for that stuff myself, but that is what they wanted.. I had a hard enough time convincing them to use the Omega panel instead of a big ol chunk of white polyethelyne truck bed liner they found.. Of course this is in a town where most folks use spray paint on used truck hoods to make their own signs, if ya know what I mean..! 168 for a pair of signs or one? And with substrate or without? The more I look at 'em, the more things I see to do different next time...
  13. Truckntran

    "Teach Em To Fish" Manual Tracing - Lesson 1

    I tried to look at the tutorial, at my local library on WIFI.. WHen you DO something, it goes so fast I can't see what you are doing, but when you have a text box, it takes forever to get to the next thing..(possibly a speed problem on my end?) ..In spite of that it was a great learning tool, think I will give it a shot, might even download inkscape too. I have been tracing in signblaster using paint to modify the images to what I wanted, this looks easier. In any case, THANKS!
  14. Hey guys.. I'm new to buying sign stuff here in the Abilene, TX area.. I have a small sign shop and need someone local I can get stuff like Coroplast, one and two side plywood sign board, lexan for lighted sign faces, and of course vinyl... WHen I was in upstate NY I used Beacon and a local place that since went out of biz ( mohawk graphics) but I can't seem to find anyone down here and the local shops are kinda sticky about revealing suppliers. (got a 24 inch Graphtec, Signblazer, etc , and do both vinyl and painted signs.Recently entered the printed apparel market too, with a new to me Hotronix Clam.)
  15. I don't get it ..how do they make money at that site?? all that for FREE?? related question... any way to ensure that the downloads from similar sites are virus free? I have been avoiding stuff like this as not knowing the place i haven't a clue whether it is clean files or not..
  16. Truckntran

    What would be a good price for this?

    Not to be a smartxxx but that sticker is commonly available at most truck stops, or one VERY similar. I think the last one I bought was priced under $20. Now if you are making a one off with your own artwork, probably at least $50.
  17. Truckntran

    BIRTHDAY GRRRRRR

    Heck, I bet nobody here can spell Canandaigua to get it on your packages...Kinda like spelling Schenectady or even Stephentown..... So if you don't get anything, try moving to a simple place to spell, like Troy, or Albany...lol.... ;D Happy Birthday anyhow!
  18. Truckntran

    newbie from NH

    Since the last time I posted, I have traveled 1800 miles away to central Texas, and on the way I picked up a used Graphtec from a member of this forum. (and a heat press in KY, but that's a different thread. ) Anyhow, it is amazing the difference between the hobby level Stika and the professional Graphtec. If you can swing a Graphtec 24 inch cutter, I'd definitely go for it over a Stika.
  19. Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone has experience with both the DR Stika and Flexi Starter.. I love the DR Stika, I can run it in my sleep, but it has limits that I need to go beyond... I'm looking to upgrade from my SX- 15 to a real 24 inch cutter but want to get started on teh design end too. If I get the Flexi Starter.... will it: Import different format files..(Like for instance I can't import an .eps file in DR Stika, only jpeg and .bmp I think) Do Welding.... Enable me to cut out part of a drawing...(For instance I cannot get an arc right now in DR Stika unless I make a circle that goes beyond my cut area.. ) Allows warping of text... This is a big one for me, I want to be able to arc letters, and arc either the bottoms or the tops of letters, and DR S only lets me angle them, never an arc or curve... Which really limits ya on signwork. Or should I look at another brand..Tried Signgo and hated it.. IF money were no object I'd go out and buy Flexi Pro but my stimulus check seems to have been lost in the mail or they crushed it in somebody else's Clunker..lol..
  20. Truckntran

    Graphtec or Roland?

    I don't know if this is relevant, but I went from a used Roland Stika to a used FC 3100 Graphtec and an totally blown away by the Graphtec's speed and how quiet it is compared to the Roland. The Roland was starting to have tracking issues as well, which is why I wanted to upgrade...I would bet a larger Roland wouldn't have the issues I had with the "hobby grade" Stika, which DID serve me well for 5 years and another owner before me used the pants off it for a few years too. The Graphtec is also well used but it is still functioning 100 percent from what I can tell so far.
  21. I tried the trial version of Signblazer and am totally blown away with all it will do. For a guy who has been using DR Stika, it is amazing. Even without the help files, I have been able to figure out how to arc text, I love the distort feature, and the bezier tools and node edits are simply incredible. I got it working within minutes of loading it on my desktop, picked out the Copam2500 driver just to see if my Graphtec would work with it, and Voila, we are cutting signs.
  22. Truckntran

    Another New Guy With Basic Questions

    If you google Vinyl Lettering or signs, or cutting vinyl you will eventually get to a couple or more Youtube videos that will teach ya more in a minute than we could here.. Look on Youtube for videos by Rapidtac.....A guy named Roger shows how to apply the cut letters.. also Imprintables wearhouse has several nice ones. If I had 'em bookmarked I'd give ya a link. but I'm sure someone will any second now. And Welcome! You'll be an old hand in no time.
  23. Truckntran

    Apply vinyl without a heat press?

    I am the guy who got that $100 Hotronix on Ebay... It is an older one and needed some tinkering to get it to work.....but like the guys said... keep your eyes open and be willing to take a chance...you might just find another $100 Hotronix. I do need to add that heat press cost me two nights in a motel, as they guy wasn't around when I was driving thru the area, and I had to wait until he was there. so it was more like a $200 Hotronix. After using the "real" press I can't really see how you could acheive anywhere the adhesion of transfer to shirt with a hand operated iron. But, I can't argue with success!
  24. Truckntran

    Where do you buy blank shirts?

    Does anyone know of a place that sells t shirts by the box, overrun stock from bulk printing orders, left over shirts, for like a buck a shirt? I had a long talk with a guy who was in the shirt biz a few years back and he told me ablut a place they ordered from but he couldn't tell me the name of the place.. The place would do screening and transfers too and these were the left overs from large orders that they didn't print.. ?? All mixed sizes and colors, sometimes a good assortment others not so goo, too many smalls, etc.
  25. "I just want to let people know it is OK to make a Profit..." In a nutshell... that's the real deal!