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Looking to produce RC car wraps...suggestions?

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heinen81

New Member
Hello All,

My first post here, and happy to meet you all!

I have been doing straight vinyl for 8 years using LXI Master software on a 24" Panther plotter.

I do this as more as a hobby, and to stay involved in the Motorsports community by lettering race cars, so purchasing a large format digital printer would not be cost effective, at this time.

I am looking for suggestions on the best way to produce printed wraps to be used on RC cars (Print area of approximately 11" x 17"). I have found desktop printer/plotters in the $4500-$6000 range, however since I will not be selling these wraps, and not producing in high volume, that is out of my price range. Does anyone have a suggestion on equipment, that would allow me to create these at a hobby level? I really appreciate the help, as printing options on vinyl is something I am not real familiar with. I did see that solvent ink is preferable to the old ribbon style printers. Thanks again, and I really value your help.
 
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heinen81

New Member
Hi Fred,

thanks for the reply.

That is what I have been doing so far, but would like to get away from for 2 reasons.

1. Lead times. A lot of the guys who create really nice wraps for RC... also wrap real race cars. Those jobs obviously come first, and sometimes I have to wait 4-6 weeks.

2. I have a lot of the fonts and fills cd's already, and truly enjoy the design aspect. I know I could outsource from here to save some time, but there's that level of satisfaction from seeing it through from design to production.

I just wonder if there are desktop printers, that can print on vinyl with registration marks, that could be then cut on my standard plotter. No laminating is needed, so that is one less thing to worry about.

I have researched desktop photo printers, but haven't found one that says outright that it will print on vinyl substrates.
 
A

amw

Longtime Members
I dont think thats going to work. I believe you need will need to have heaters to print properly, the 7010 doesn't have any and I can't imagine it would be easy (or safe) to add some. Look into outsourcing to someone here that can turn it around faster. There is no reason it should take more than a 1-3 days for anyone with a printer to make these for you. If you want "control" it comes at a price....like you already found out about $5000+ for your own printer. There is no easy way around this or everyone would just be printing their own stuff.
I know you're hoping someone will say buy this 200 or 300 dollar printer and you're all set....it just doesn't work that way. We all spend a lot of money to print on vinyl...if you want to do it also, for hobby or otherwise it still cost the same.

Try someone local and you won't even have any shipping time to wait.

Marsha
 
kheebl

kheebl

Member
amw said:
I dont think thats going to work. I believe you need will need to have heaters to print properly, the 7010 doesn't have any and I can't imagine it would be easy (or safe) to add some. Look into outsourcing to someone here that can turn it around faster. There is no reason it should take more than a 1-3 days for anyone with a printer to make these for you. If you want "control" it comes at a price....like you already found out about $5000+ for your own printer. There is no easy way around this or everyone would just be printing their own stuff.
I know you're hoping someone will say buy this 200 or 300 dollar printer and you're all set....it just doesn't work that way. We all spend a lot of money to print on vinyl...if you want to do it also, for hobby or otherwise it still cost the same.

Try someone local and you won't even have any shipping time to wait.

Marsha
Click to expand...

I didn't even think about the heaters, I currently outsource all my printed needs, and just do cut vinyl in house. so that one slipped right by me.
 
TheSnowman

TheSnowman

New Member
If you have 365 print it, you can have it normally in a day or so, and it'd only be $20. Just sayin, if the turnaround time is the issue, that would solve it.
 
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