Best First Vinyl Cutter - Help!!??

By allaneverett on Jul. 16, 2006
Forums: 
General Discussions

Hi -

I am considering buying a vinyl cutter (perhaps a printer/cutter, like a Gerber Edge) to go full bore into sign making as an adjunct to our printing business. I want one that will cut sandblast stencil and Lo-Tac masking for use with airbrush in addition to vinyl for signboards and vehicles. There are so many options and everybody says theirs is the best. I just don't know what to do, and I was hoping some of you folks might lend me some advice.

Also, do I have to buy a laminator also?

Thanks for any advice, Allan

Location: 
United States
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/24/2006 - 12:44

Gerber Edge and Edge 2 are discontinued. You might want Edge FX instead. All Edge printers are thermal resin printers. Check out the Gerber GS15 plus plotter also. Thermal printers are great for spot colors and the prints will last for outdoor usage a long time - 3 to 5 yrs without lamination. With lamination it's 10+ years. The cons for Edge compared to inkjet systems is higher material cost, lower print resolution, slower production speed.

Submitted by foxesfarm on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 14:54

Printer-MI wrote:
Gerber Edge and Edge 2 are discontinued. You might want Edge FX instead. All Edge printers are thermal resin printers. Check out the Gerber GS15 plus plotter also. Thermal printers are great for spot colors and the prints will last for outdoor usage a long time - 3 to 5 yrs without lamination. With lamination it's 10+ years. The cons for Edge compared to inkjet systems is higher material cost, lower print resolution, slower production speed.

I have never used a printer with cutter, but i have tried 2 cheap chinese cutters that are both good for start-ups who want to cut sandblast with out tying up a lot of money in equipment, or who want it as a back up for more expensive equipment.

duluthsignsupply.com has 2 brands, one basic called Master, and a new import called Goldensign. Both have 500g downforce, but the goldensign is much more convienient to use. All the pinch rollers are ganged, so you open them up with a lever on the side, and there are many more control buttons than the Master has. OK, i"m a sucker for buttons, maybe it's a control issue.

Submitted by Nick on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 13:33

allaneverett wrote:
Hi -

I am considering buying a vinyl cutter (perhaps a printer/cutter, like a Gerber Edge) to go full bore into sign making as an adjunct to our printing business. I want one that will cut sandblast stencil and Lo-Tac masking for use with airbrush in addition to vinyl for signboards and vehicles. There are so many options and everybody says theirs is the best. I just don't know what to do, and I was hoping some of you folks might lend me some advice.

Also, do I have to buy a laminator also?

Thanks for any advice, Allan

You only need a laminator if you are printing. If you are printing for outdoor use put more money in your laminator than printer. For outdoor use get a solvent ink printer, indoor get an inkjet printer. Best laminator for the money is a Coda. If you need just a plotter to cut vinyl I have a Mimaki CG160 FX for $3500., It is almost new and list for $7995. nickls@bellsouth.net

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