1st Printer Purchase...48" PrismJet (Mutoh)??

[TheSellOut]

Curious on your thoughts! I have stacked vinyl for the past 8+ years and I am now looking to expand my business into the digital print market!

I am looking to purchase the total package which for most models that I have looked at...Roland RS540/640, Mutoh 1304/1604, Epson GS6000 along with a comparable laminator and cutter will be in the range of a $28,000 to $30,000 investment!

Then there is the $20,000 option of the SW Prismjet 48" printer with a 54" laminator, and a 54" cutter. Now to me this doesn't seem that bad for just getting into the market. For 1 it's $10,000 cheaper and I would have room to upgrade the printer down the road since I would be getting the larger cutter and laminator.

It would give me the capability of doing 4x8's in one shot and as far as wrapping...I would like to get into it but its not something I offer at this point and I won't offer until I get a couple under my belt and feel confident in my ability to put out quality work.

Well there it is...have at it...tia

 

[J Hill Designs]

My only thought is that you wouldn't be able to do full-bleed 4x8's cause (correct me if I'm wrong) the 48" can't print full...right?

 

[bob]

My only thought is that you wouldn't be able to do full-bleed 4x8's cause (correct me if I'm wrong) the 48" can't print full...right?

Yes it can, but only in unidirectional mode. Not a big price to pay for those odd times you have to do a full 48" print.

The 48" Value Jet can handle media up to 51+ inches wide. Doing a full bleed on a 48" banner only requires a 46.5"-47" wide print since the traditional finished size of a 48" banner is 46". All you need is 1/4"-1/2" over print.

I've been herding 48" printers since I started printing some years ago and can't recall the last time I wish I had a wider printer. When I bought my last printer a while back I contemplated stepping up to the 54" model but I really couldn't justify the extra few thousand dollars for something I've yet to need.

 

[luggnut]

most of the time i don't do full bleed color prints on polymetal because the edges can give you trouble... so 47" or 47.5" would be all i would use most of the time. i have a mutoh falcon that only prints about 46" and only excepts 48" media or less (that does kind of suck) , so the new prismjet (valuejet) would be my next printer if i were buying today. if it can get full bleed in unidirectional like bob said.

 

[J Hill Designs]

 

[Jackpine]

"the new prismjet (valuejet) would be my next printer if i were buying today. if it can get full bleed in unidirectional like bob said."

SW has a great price and 48" or 51" material is not difficult to get. Many suppliers will slit a 54" or 60" roll.

 

[TheSellOut]

Anyone else?...Bob is correct (If I was a smarta$$, or if I knew him better, I might say something like "Well, when is he not" lol) it does print the full 48" in uni-directional mode.

At this point I am 95% sure that I am going with the 48" Prismjet w/ take-up, 54" EnduraLam, and a 42" Q Series Cutter, ink, 48"x50yd roll 3651 & 48"x40yd 13oz. banner roll! all quoted at $18,665

 

[J Hill Designs]

You should try and have 'em throw in lam for the 3651

 

[TheSellOut]

I will either try that or say throw in the S&H ($750) and I will purchase this package today(an actual day next week)

 

[trakers]

I went through the same thing when I bought my cutter years ago. Sure glad I went name brand (Graphtec).

Then I went through it again just a few months ago with the printer. Loved the price of the PrismJet, but I am *so* glad we got the genuine Mutoh.

Fellers did an excellent job in helping me make an educated purchase, in getting the order placed, in having Gary to assist with all the delivery related stuff, in sending out Scott to install and train (priceless for a printer noobie), and in helping with dumb questions when I have them (like needing a profile, just today).

I have also talked directly to Mutoh with some questions with excellent results.

I think SW has to take care of all the service related stuff if you have an problem. Probably not an issue unless the go out of business, but I still like being able to talk directly to the manufacturer.
.

 

[LenXIII]

I must not do the same type of projects as everyone else here, but I do a lot of 4x8 prints and banners, and by no means is the finished size on a 48" banner 46". To do a proper 48" banner you need 50" (allowing for the 1" folded hem on each side.) Also, some of my clients that order 4x8 PSA prints request a 1/4" bleed making my finished print size 48.5"x96.5." I use the 64" mutoh, but even a 54" would do 99% of my jobs. I think a 48" printer would greatly limit the type of projects you can produce effectively. Ofcourse, this all depends on the type of clients you have. Just my opinion.

 

[dortonracing]

talk to rhonda at signwarehouse.com ext 2118. . I just bought a 64" cheaper then the price your getting for the 48 + you can just use your old plotter.

 

[TheSellOut]

I went through the same thing when I bought my cutter years ago. Sure glad I went name brand (Graphtec).

Then I went through it again just a few months ago with the printer. Loved the price of the PrismJet, but I am *so* glad we got the genuine Mutoh.

Fellers did an excellent job in helping me make an educated purchase, in getting the order placed, in having Gary to assist with all the delivery related stuff, in sending out Scott to install and train (priceless for a printer noobie), and in helping with dumb questions when I have them (like needing a profile, just today).

I have also talked directly to Mutoh with some questions with excellent results.

I think SW has to take care of all the service related stuff if you have an problem. Probably not an issue unless the go out of business, but I still like being able to talk directly to the manufacturer.
.

I bought my plotter, a 30" Panther, off SW 5 years back when I started the biz and I used a Vinyl Express plotter for three years before that with no problems! Supposedly the 48" PrismJet is the same machine as the 54" Mutoh in speed and quality of print so I have no worries there, whether SW slaps their sticker on it or not.

I do, however, worry about the installation & set-up for that is all on me! SW doesn't send a tech out to train you, unless you pay an additional $2200. All you get is some videos off their website on how to set up and run the equipment and since I haven't run a printer or laminator in about 5 years...that kind of scares me!

You do get Premium Tech support(front of the line pass) for 90 days thou, and I am pretty good at trouble-shooting so I do feel confident in getting it up and running!

 

[TheSellOut]

talk to rhonda at signwarehouse.com ext 2118. . I just bought a 64" cheaper then the price your getting for the 48 + you can just use your old plotter.

I will talk to Rhonda, I friend of mine suggested that to me earlier today! That price also included a laminator thou and I really feel that having the cutter with the registration sensor will save me alot of headaches. Besides with a new plotter I can set my old one up in my van to take on the run! I have two clients with locations all through out an hour and a half radius drive of my shop.

 

[TheSellOut]

I must not do the same type of projects as everyone else here, but I do a lot of 4x8 prints and banners, and by no means is the finished size on a 48" banner 46". To do a proper 48" banner you need 50" (allowing for the 1" folded hem on each side.) Also, some of my clients that order 4x8 PSA prints request a 1/4" bleed making my finished print size 48.5"x96.5." I use the 64" mutoh, but even a 54" would do 99% of my jobs. I think a 48" printer would greatly limit the type of projects you can produce effectively. Ofcourse, this all depends on the type of clients you have. Just my opinion.

When ordering banners they have always come finished at 46"t and I have never had a customer complain (now watch 2maro someone will)! And my work must be different, I do get a lot of 4'x8's but never with the request of a bleed for I am usually appling it to a substrate. I figure if I can keep this printer running at close to full bore, than I should be able to purchase another bigger and better machine!

 

[Stealth Ryder]

Good buy...

 

[dortonracing]

I was looking at the 48" myself, only reason i didn't get it was because i got such a good deal on the 64". Tell her you dont want the warranty it comes with you want the true 2 year full warranty because other wises it just a 1 year parts warranty. One down side i saw about the 48" was no take up system, which isn't a huge deal but something i wanted for those long banners. The 48" takes like 51.2" Media and prints the true 48". They do have Free Classes once a month you can go to, Thats what i plan on doing for the next one on nov 21st, Make sure what every you get you get flexiPRO, If your using LXI its alot of the same things but made for printing. Have anymore questions just let me know. I have done alot of research the last month, and order mine

 

[Stealth Ryder]

Soooooooooo, which Printer did you go with?