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Heat Seal - Heat Press - Whatever you want to call it! => General Heat Seal => Topic started by: JayzTeez on June 25, 2012, 03:47:51 PM
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Im looking into purchasing a cutter. i would use it for names and numbers on back of jerseys and i would like to make up those stickers that everyone wants with there kids name on them for the back of there car windsheild. my question is what brands are the best and affordable and where do you buy the material and what do i need to buy with it. thank you in advance.
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The GCC Expert 24 would be the least I would buy. I tried cheap cutters from US Cutter and they both broke within 6 months. Calendered Sign Vinyl for windows and heat transfer vinyl for shirts. Lots of vendors for this stuff.
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We've been running a Roland GX-24 for six years now. No complaints, it is a good little cutter. Like Gerry said, suppliers are all over the place.
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I'm looking for a GX24 myself right now, my old Roland PNC1100 is about 17 years old, and it won't run on a current Mac; if not, then a Graphtec CE5000-60 (that's their 24"). I can't find any real complaints on either of these 2, and my Roland track record says a lot to me. I have some Roland music equipment too, and it just won't die.
Steve
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My GX24 has worked perfect for a few years now, my previous Roland 24" cutter lasted 10 + years, Did signs originally but now I cut names specialty numbers out of Stahls material with it.
I'll never screen a name again.
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We have 2 graphtecs. 5000 and an fc8000
8000 is a rock star.
5000 is ok, but you need to undertand where to put stuff for the eye.
software seemed easier than roland
neither has burped in a year.
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I have both Graphtec and Roland and though I'll admit I'm still learning the Roland I believe that the software is a tad better (more powerful) with the Graphtec.
That's not to say the Roland is a slouch... in fact the Roland software is better in many facets as well. Just think the Graphtec edges it out overall.
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Roland or Summa. Spend the extra money and buy it once. I have a GX-24 and it has run flawlessly for over two years. I use the plugin for Illustrator and go.
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Summa is probably doing the best cutters.
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Thanks so much for all the replies. i am leaning towards the roland gx24. what all will i need to buy to get this up and running? i currently run corel draw x4 and what supples do i need to get to start out for stickers and heat applied film? thanks
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Cutter, Films, Tweezers or Pick Tool, Vinyl, Transfer Tape when doing stickers, signs, etc.., Heat Press, Cover Sheet and some patience to weed.
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Thanks so much for all the replies. i am leaning towards the roland gx24. what all will i need to buy to get this up and running? i currently run corel draw x4 and what supples do i need to get to start out for stickers and heat applied film? thanks
Especially for stickers I would choose a Summa. Many of their cutters can dye, contour cut and flex cut. Flex cut allows you to cut right through the backing paper of the vinyl sticker, which is a great feature.
http://www.summausa.com/downloads/dseries.pdf (http://www.summausa.com/downloads/dseries.pdf)
Most Graphtec and Roland cutters cut only though the vinyl but not through the backing paper.
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What kind of budget do you have?....
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I have an ioline 1100 and it's a tank as well. I've had it for over 10 years and it's great.
Somehow I tricked the computers here into thinking it was a laser printer and I can use it over the network on a print server.
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I'm on a Mac, and use the Illustrator plug-in for my Graphtec 24" cutter. Very easy to use, fast and accurate. One advantage of the grit-wheel type feed is you can use small cut-off pieces. I'd say the one disadvantage is, especially with smaller pieces, is you do have to make sure they're feeding squarely.
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would like to stay around 3000 for unit and start up supplies if possible.
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would like to stay around 3000 for unit and start up supplies if possible.
wow yeah go with Roland or Graphtec then.
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Go for a Summa. There is nothing better out there.
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ok where is the best place to buy the supplies in the northeast ? im from central penna. i want to do stickers and heat applied what do i need?
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Loving my Graphtec 5000.
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ok where is the best place to buy the supplies in the northeast ? im from central penna. i want to do stickers and heat applied what do i need?
I second Graphtec we have had ours for 5 years with no issues at all.
I would recommend beacongraphics.com (http://beacongraphics.com) they are in Jersey and have an awesome inventory which has never been back ordered on us ever. Grimco on the other hand sucked and always had back orders or miss shipped items. Then there is also garston.com (http://garston.com)
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I just thought I would mention that you can die cut with both the roland and the graphtec, though it requires putting the material on a sticky sheet. One part that bugs me is that I can't seem to do both layers of my sticker material at the same time, I have to make two cuts to make the cut nice and sharp.
Before I bought my graphtec, I bought a summa d60 (at least that's what I think it was) off of ebay and it would have been awesome if it weren't for the fact that it wouldn't interface with my computer even after building a special serial cable. The manual said that it would contour anything anyhow, even if you fed the sheet crooked or if the print itself was somehow skewed. It didn't flex cut though. After having to deal with a terrible seller that tried to blame the thing not working on me, I decided to bite the bullet and buy a new graphtec. Thankfully, the seller didn't even know what connections the summa had, leading him to list it as usb when it was only parallel or serial, let alone how it worked so I was able to return it.
Actually, if your budget is 3 grand, I would consider increasing it the 500 to get the summacut D75-R. I have been seeing heat presses go for less than $500, how much difference is there between brands, in terms of reliability that is.
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I have been seeing heat presses go for less than $500, how much difference is there between brands, in terms of reliability that is.
I think that the difference between a $500 and $1500 heat press is generally how long it will last, and how even is the heat. A hobbyist or printer with only occasional need may do fine with a Chinese cheapie, but anyone who needs it on a regular basis would be better served with a good, brand name press.
It is also worth considering a larger 16 x 20 which raises the price.
Also, generally, "swing-aways", or "slide-outs", with their vertiacal closing movement offer more consistent pressure than "clamshells" which by design, hit the back first.
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ok where is the best place to buy the supplies in the northeast ? im from central penna. i want to do stickers and heat applied what do i need?
Imprintables Warehouse is in Carmichaels PA. http://www.imprintables.com/ (http://www.imprintables.com/)
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I just purchased the Roland GX24 a few mins ago as well as film and a carbide blade from Imprintables ! thanks stitches they are awesome to work with. i cannont wait till it comes tuesday. thanks everyone for all the advice.