Newbie seeking some help on getting started

[dustinhilton 0]

Hello everyone ive recently made my mind up that i want to start making signs and decals.. mostly decals anyways i have searched and searched and i know this has been asked a million time but please dont shoot me for asking it once more. What is a good cutter for a reasonable price my preferred price range is $300-$700 solely for the cutter just to get started. Ive been looking at a gcc xpert II 24" which is priced reasonably in my opinion at $500 i know i can spend a small fortune on a cutter but right now my money wont allow me to spend thounds of dollars just willy nilly. I was hoping to work myself up from something small and up to bigger and better things. I would prefer a name brand cutter so parts and sich would be easy to find of and when i would have to find them. Iv read somewhere that Gvv xpert was a good cutter but i only saw it a couple times and havent seen gcc mentioned on anything iv read today. Any and all help is greatly appreciated in advanced

[Command 97]

Hi there Dustin,

 

If i were you I'd take a strong look at the following refurb Pcut UScutter has on sale for $250 right now. Its got a 1 year warranty, but needs to have a stand / roll holder built for it. The Pcut has a long history of being a fairly good midrange machine and uscutter provides relatively good support for such little $$.

 

The GCC isnt a whole hell of a lot better IMO.  After you know this is what you want to do and are comfortable, pick up a Graphtec when the time comes

 

http://www.uscutter.com/Refurbished-Creation-PCUT-Cutter-Plotter

[dustinhilton 0]

Thats suppose to be gcc xpert not gvv sorry i habe fat fingers and hit more than one key at a time pretty often

[Command 97]

Yep,

 

I knew what you were getting at as you can see in my reply. The GCC experts roughly the same quality as the PCut. They are both mid-range stepper cutters. Both can provide good detail and should prove to be reliable enough.

 

If you can afford a new/secondhand graphtec 24" CE5000 or CE6000 or a roland 24", they are far superior machines at a higher cost than you are willing to spend. That's why I said start with a simple machine and save up for when you can stomach dropping $1200~ on a good quality machine. (I always recommend Graphtec as they are reliable and have an extremely high resale value)

[dustinhilton 0]

Alright thanks a load i looked at the uscutter but wasnt sure on it either i know more about brain surgery than i do vinyl cutting and i know practically nothing about brain sugery. I wasnt sure on which way to go i do know i want a graphtec in the future but i want to work my way up to it and make sure this is something i want to do for sure before dropping some major money on a machine

[dustinhilton 0]

I just looked at the link you posted and i think thats what im goin to go with its a little cheaper than the gcc i priced which will allow me to get some supplies to tinker with too

But that one in the link is a decent cutter you said?

[jaybyrd 3,770]

Ive seen 2 gcc experts in the last month die of what appears to be motherboard failure. Neither made it to the 2 year mark.

[dustinhilton 0]

Us cutters it is then plus iv heard their customer support is really good to so thats always a plus

[Wildgoose 4,200]

I don't know what your location is but there is an older Summa D60 in my area for $500 right now. That's a Servo machine built to last a century. 

[Command 97]

I just looked at the link you posted and i think thats what im goin to go with its a little cheaper than the gcc i priced which will allow me to get some supplies to tinker with too

But that one in the link is a decent cutter you said?

 

The one in the link is a decent cutter. It's an older model, but is a lot of the same components as the laser point. I think it has more metal as opposed to plastic. I was contemplating getting it when I first started out and had done the research back then.

 

The Summa Goose is talking about is a real beast of a machine that is worth considering if you are in his geographical area.

[dustinhilton 0]

Im in arkansas

[Wildgoose 4,200]

That's a long ways away. Oh well. 

[dustinhilton 0]

Well i am now the proud owner of a 36" creation pcut im happier than a fat kid with a plate of waffles

[MZ SKEETER 4,709]

removed

[30-284 86]

I think that is a basket only no stand.

 

Donn

[MZ SKEETER 4,709]

I think that is a basket only no stand.

 

Donn

Your right,,, They used to have the stands and basket.  I will delete it.

[dustinhilton 0]

?

[Command 97]

Good luck and have fun with it Dustin! Welcome to the madness.

 

Those who have failed before you are always willing to help and are at the ready 

[dustinhilton 0]

I ordered some oracal 651 but my question is whats a good application tape? I bought some perfectear 575 medium tack transfer paper i wasnt sure exactly what to get so i kinda just winged it on this any help is much appreciated

[slice&dice 2,450]

Transfer tape (or Apptape) varies, there are individual preferences for one vs. another -- and you'll just have to see what works for you.

 

Get a good apptape dispenser. That's key.

[dustinhilton 0]

Ok another question i feel like a complete idiot now. But the cutter did not come with a stand so i was goin to just use it on the table until i get the money held back to buy one. Is this going to hinder me or keep me from using my highly anticipated new toy

[Macon Innovations 228]

No, But its going to make it a real pain to do anything on a larger scale......You are going to have to figure out a way to feed the vinyl into the machine for starters.....