gcextreme

Wow...nice..howd u do that mug?? Whats the process??

Well i just got off the phone with Ordway Sign Supply....and ordered a Graphtec CE5000-60 for $1395..... A bit more than what I originally wanted to spend for a cutter... but hopefully i wont regret it. My next payday is Thursday...and I will order some materials, vinyl and supplies.... will also look for a basket for the cutter... I have been saving up some money for a suspension lift kit for my truck... had to dip into that fund But the way i see it, this is a good investment and if i work hard at it i can double or triple my investment! I just hope all of you guys (and gals) will lend this newb a hand here and there....

OWjones and Dakotagrapfx, you both have the graphtec ce5000 Correct? How much did you pay for it, more than this $1395 sale price??? Can u show me some examples of your work and about how much u charged for them? I have been reading alot on many forums...and pricing work seems to be an issue...some people dont charge enuff and are losing money in materials...etc.. If i am going to get this graphtec ce500 and spend $1400 on it and then another $500 on some startup materials... i want to get stuff started up right the first time and charge enuff to make a profit.. I believe i have enuff potential clients and customers and can make some money from this to justify the graphtec. There are like 5 companies in town that do vinyl work. 2 of them mostly do car wraps and big signs, police cars, etc.. The other 3 do just signs and banners and custom work.... and all of these companies are always busy!! The one that i go to and have them cut my stuff, the lady says she has so many big projects its hard for her and her 4 employees to do the smaller stuff..and she would gladly send the small stuff my way!! These 5 companies are in the big city, about 15 miles from me.... i live out in a small town, and by 4 other small towns, with lots of small town companies and businesses... so lots of potential customers out and about.

Ok so the graphtec only cuts 23" but will do 30'feet long... So u can just turn your lettering/numbering from horizontal to vertical correct???

How do i search that..lol. Are u saying there are people who regeret buying the graphtec?

Tried calling Ordway signs and get no answer....i did get an email from them a bit ago...

Ok so more color choices with the 24"... Hmmm Im really thinking of getting the graphtec...

Guys im litterally on the fence..i have the lp2 in a shopping cart in one browser window and the graphtec in a cart in another window.

Well heres my final choices Laserpoint II 34" with stand and basket and an oracal 651 starter kit and weeding supply kit for $970. Graphtec ce5000 with stand and nothing else for $1400. About a $430 difference... If i go with the graphtec i will love the servos....but will i hate that its only 24"? If i go with the LPII with loud slow stepper motors but be able to do up to 34"... This is tuff.. On one hand i cant justify the graphtec..will i do enuff work and make enuff money to justify it or is it overkill. On the otherhand if i get the LP2 and im doing alot of stuff and may wish i got the graphtec for only $400 more.. I talked to the wife and she says its up to me...she says if i get the better expensive machine and decide to sell it that it would probably be easier and faster to sell than the cheaper one. But she also says the more expensive one will probably last longer than the cheaper one and we can keep it for many years.. Also the auto contouring feature will be a plus down the road. And if i make enuff money i can always invest in a cheaper cutter for larger/wider stuff...

Well sob...i may have to call and order it today?? I have about $3000 in my checkings...but wanted to wait till i got 2 more paychecks . How do u go about deducting this as a business expense come tax time?

That graphtec ce5000 will work with Adobe Illustrator?? Looks like it doesnt come with any software or anything else either ?

That site has the graphtec for $1400... Maybe i will wait another month or two and save up enuff for that graphtec...i really wanted to get something soon to have some stuff for my booth at my bike chapters big bike show...we have tons of vendors and lots of bikes and displays and food and auctions and raffles... Ive had a booth there now for 3 yrs for my web design and graphics and i always at least get one client...hell alot of bikers own their own business and need a website. Even some of the other vendors..plus all the general public that come thru to look at the bikes and eat...every year the bike show has gotten bigger. The first year i was involved we had 4500 people come thru. The second year wr had about 8000. And last year we almost had 10000. This year we have so many vendors and bikes that we are using both hockey arenas at the fair grounds. There are booths for custom painting and patches but none for vinyl graphics...thats why i was in a hurry to get a cutter and get stuff started. Has anyone done any business with Ordway Sign Supply? http://www.signsupply.com/hardware/Graphtec/ce-5000.asp

I see alot in 24"..but a 24" cutter only does 20" right??

Not sure what u mean? It comes in all different sizes....right? I see on the uscutter stuff they habe 12" , 24" and up.

Yeah... i understand... I just dont have an inkjet printer setup...not yet...maybe in the future... I just need a cutter for about 85% doing graphic decals...and 15% heat transfer vinyl shirts..... So im torn at which cutter to get!! ? I would like something bigger than 24"...and will last many years....long enuff to make more $$ to get a professional cutter... Why isnt there a basket option for the SC series??

Thank you.....that helps alot... That gccc expert24lx he mentioned is like $695 (no stand?) and im wanting something bigger like a 31-34". So im torn between the SC 34" the Laserpoint 2 31" or maybe that gccexpert 24". But i dont have an inkjet printer setup. I was just going to start with heat transfer vinyl solid colors.... And getting that large 15" clam shell heat press for the shirts... Any suggestions on what i should get?!

Yeah i saw that disclaimer.... What is jpss?? Should i go with the Laserpoint 2 then?? Im trying to learn as much as i can and make a smart purchase..... I want to be able to do car window decals, signs, and shirts.....and maybe hats/mugs etc.. I appreciate all the help

Oh ok..so i will just stick with a shirt heat press.. But do i need a cutter that does contour cutting for that ? Or will the 34" SC cutter work?

You dont recommend this 5n1 with 11x15 platen? http://www.uscutter.com/5-in-1-Heat-Press

Yeah the larger one... Do i need to be able to do contour cutting to do shirts? I need to make sure i get the right setup.... Im looking to make a purchase before the end of the month... I have a motorcycle show in April that i habe a booth for and want to have a few shirts and decals for..

Would there be copyright issues with "Jeep"?

Ok im thinking of getting the 34" SC with stand...and maybe the 5-in-1 heatpress to do shirts and hats..... Hopefully i can make some money. Looks to be about $1059 with some addons and starter kits. I already have a bud at work who owns a resort wanting stuff. And i know the bikers i ride with will want stuff...and my atv/dirtbike buds will definetly want stuff.

Cool.... I like the firesafe idea....smart...my wife and i have a small one.

Nice.... What type of equipment are u using??