Machine_Punk

Woohoo! I'm honored to have your 1000th post in my thread. Thanks for the pics and further description of Oracal 813...that is EXACTLY the sort of stuff I want to do with the vinyl cutter. I appreciate you taking the time to explain. For everyone's education: I completely agree with the 'waiting a while to pull off the mask.' I've been testing this with rattle-can spray paint and it seems best to wait until AFTER the 'dry to touch' times listed on the can, but BEFORE the fully-cured time. It's really tough to be patient about this but the results are much better. I definitely recommend waiting until full cure on the base coat of paint (at least 48 hours), before appyling masking tape or stencils for the design coat of paint. KDub

Thanks to all of you for the kind welcome. KDub

I used to have that on my desktop too--and really liked it. I've been fortunate enough to see that building live and it is very impressive up close.

Thanks. You've pretty much nailed the 2 options I've been looking at in new machines. As posted above, I'm expanding my search to used machines, including Graphtec and Roland. I'm not in a hurry, but I do think this is a direction I definitely want to go with my workshop. KDub.

Thanks. I routinely post on Garage Journal. Aero-1946 are a great couple of guys. I really like their designs. Thanks for the tip on the Oracal 813. I'm looking for something which will stick well enough to give me clean lines, but come off easily after painting. I've been looking more at used machines too. Thinking a lot about Graphtec or Roland. Even if I need to buy the software, I'll probably come out ahead, money-wise. I don't plan to do vinyl as a business right now...it is just a means to the end in my art. Of course, I'm sure I'll cut plenty of fun stuff for me and friends. KDub

Good afternoon. I have a small, artistic metalworking studio, called The Aerodrome Studio. My passion is for building furniture and other projects with the same techniques used to build aeroplanes--solid rivets and aluminum sheet. While it probably doesn't sound to you like I am in the right place, I've been thinking more and more about getting into vinyl cutting and I am still in the process of deciding which machine is going to be best for my needs. I'll do a lot of lettering and designs to decorate metal projects, but I think I'll end up using vinyl a LOT as a painting mask. I'm a serial autodidact--that is, I am constantly learning new things and I think vinyl cutting is the next new thing for me. I've looked at all different levels of machines so far, from the CRICUT all the way up. Trying to figure out that balance between hobby and professional machines which will meet my needs. Looking forward to learning more. If you want to see more of what I do, take a look at my thread over here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122188 KDub.