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  1. Should frosted vinyl be installed on the interior or exterior side of windows on storefronts?

    Question says it all...thanks for your input!
  2. 12'x6' sign without seam?

    We have a client who wants a 12'W x 6'H sign without any seams. I'm able to source an aluminum panel this size from Harbor, but our 63" printer isn't large enough to do it without a seam. I've checked with all of our trade printers and none of them are able to provide/ship panels this large...
  3. Gold metallic vinyl that is translucent (for backlighting)?

    We're making a sign that will be two layers: Bottom Layer - Gold metallic that will be translucent so as to be backlit Top Layer - Navy blue that will not be translucent We're trying to find a vinyl we can use for the back layer that will be a nice, bright gold when backlit vs something that...
  4. What kind of panel would you use for this post?

    A local farmer would like to hang a 6'W x 4'H sign from the post pictured below. I have concerns (that I've talked to him about) about the sign breaking away from the post with a strong gust of wind. For some perspective you can see the fence post below the sign post. The arm the sign will...
  5. Who do you guys buy your Flourescent -> LED conversion bulbs from?

    We've been getting them from Glantz but I feel like I've seen some on here talk about some other options but despite my best search efforts, I've not been able to find them. Any help would be appreciated, whether friendly or snarky! Thanks guys.
  6. How much do you guys charge to replace sign bulbs that require a bucket truck?

    We recently purchased a bucket truck and now have an opportunity to service signs that require bulbs to be replaced but I'm not sure what to charge. How much are you or others in your market charging for this kind of work? I'd appreciate any insights! Thank you in advance.
  7. Does anybody know where I can order Clevis Pins w/ Grooves specifically for Graphtec plotters?

    I'm looking for the clevis pins used in the rollers similar to what you see in the image below. They appear to be 1 1/8" in total length with a head size of around 1/8". I'm having trouble finding the exact size from hardware stores and websites and the rollers I'm able to find for the...
  8. Where can I get a black PVC Post & Rail kit?

    Harbor only offers white/beige and I haven't been able to find black anywhere else. I know there are black vinyl materials for things like decks so it doesn't seem to be a material limitation. Any help would be greatly appreciated...thanks!
  9. What makes Roland printers so much more expensive than Mimaki?

    I'm getting ready to buy a new printer and I'm looking at the Roland VG2 vs the Mimaki CJV150. Roland clearly has better marketing materials than Mimaki does but as far as feature sets and print quality, I have found strengths of both systems. What is it about Roland systems that justifies...
  10. Mimaki Owners - what daily maintenance do you do on your printers?

    Currently we do maintenance once we notice issues with our prints, but I've been reading that some do maintenance every day. We've printed out the maintenance guide for our JV33-130 but there's a ton in there and it wouldn't be reasonable to do everything we see in there every day. What sort...
  11. What hourly rate do you charge for jobs that require two people onsite?

    We charge $75/hour for work done with one employee but I always question what I should charge for two employees onsite. I could see charging double ($150/hour), but I also think reducing the rate for the 2nd person may make sense. How do you handle this?
  12. Has anybody ever done an install on an Indy-style race car before?

    One of our clients we do other work for has done well in their career and recently purchased an Indy-style race car as one of their newest toys. (pictures below) They'd like to get a full wrap on the thing and I'm trying to figure out how to go about pricing it. There are a million curves so...
  13. Is it okay to use unprinted cast vinyl for a white wrap?

    We're currently doing a job where they want several parts of their car to be wrapped in white, but they don't particularly care what specific shade of white. Is it okay to use unprinted Avery 1105 for this? Or should we use a more expensive color change white vinyl? Thanks in advance for your...
  14. What would cause laminate to separate from vinyl during install?

    Every once in a while we'll be doing an install and when we lift the vinyl to reposition it, the laminate will separate from the vinyl. Helpful information: Vinyl Type: Avery 1105 Laminate Type: Avery 1360z Print: Eco-solvent We always let jobs degas for 24 hours before laminating Any advice...
  15. How many of you could leave your shop behind for at least a month and not have any issues?

    Some of you know my stories, others do not. I purchased a sign company 16 months ago that I added as a division to my pre-existing marketing agency. In the past 16 months, it's felt a lot like drinking from a fire hose between learning the industry, hiring the right team, and trying to scale...
  16. Where can I get a large table for production work?

    We're getting ready to expand our office from around 1,200 sq ft to just a bit under 3,000 sq ft and one of the things I want to do with the space is add a 2nd production table. The one we currently have came with the company when I purchased it so I'm not sure where it originally came from...
  17. Wholesale supplier for custom neon signs?

    Hey folks, Do any of you have a source for wholesale pricing on neon sign fabrication? Thank in advance for any pointers!
  18. Where can I find street sign connectors/adapters for poles that are 1 7/8" in diameter?

    I'm looking for connectors that are 1 7/8" in diameter that mount on top of the poles that I can then connect street signs to. It looks something like what you see in the image below: Thanks in advance for any help!
  19. What would cause vinyl discoloration like this?

    A client of ours who we do vehicle wraps for has reported that several of their wraps from 3-4 years ago have before to show discoloration. These were done before I bought the company so I don't know the exact materials they used. Is this due to washing incorrectly? Degassing? Something else...
  20. What's the lowest cost printable vinyl + laminate combination for flat signs?

    A local politician has a bunch of ACM panels he wants to re-use and a full color design. Typically we'd use an Orafol/Oraguard combo but we want to reduce the cost on these as much as possible so I'm trying to figure out what a less expensive material option would be. The election is in...
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