Help in Choosing An Entry Level Solvent Printer

[artaddict]

Hello Friends, I have been in the sign making biz for over 13 yrs now. I worked with plotters all this time, but i realised about 3 yrs ago that the digital printing is taking over the business. Hence i started designing with photoshop and outsourceing the prints. I do lots of work for cars and trucks here (Guyana, South America). Recently i cant stop thinking about entering the market with my own machine. I have searched and searched online for a good deal but is still not sure. I have had prints done with mimaki jv33, roland and mutoh. I love all the prints produced. Another thing is my budget. I can spend about $6,000 dollars. Any advise would be great. Thanks .

 

[Scott Reynolds]

You can get a used JV3 for 6K, (well in the states you can). Or you can put the 6K down on a mimaki or roland. You can save up another 4-5K and start looking for a used JV33.

I made the mistake of getting an "entry level" printer. I out grew it in a couple of months and had to start looking for a larger / faster printer. I would say to keep saving and buy a larger printer seeing that your already established in the industry.

Or, put the 6k down on a new printer. Your ballparkish payment would be in the $220-$340 range, depending on length and terms.

 

[artaddict]

I respect for comment Scott. i just wish there was a company which could have allowed hire purchase to this side of the world. Its not easy here to save up 6ks (not having the printer i mean)...I am looking at the 54 inch mutoh at Sign ware house...What do you think of them?

 

[rjssigns]

Check into WIT Color. There are threads regarding this printer. http://signs101.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95918

 

[ligonr]

mutoh printers are great but what kind of printing are you doing and what is your application that will also help define what kind of printer you need

 

[signworldusinc]

With your experience and budget, I recommend getting a used Mutoh printer as it will be suffice for your needs. You can probably find a good deal on a used printer if you shop around and do your research first before purchasing. Make sure the nozzle checks are firing at least 95% and have them send a picture of the tests they run on said printer. When we first started, we had one small Roland printer and after upgrading to our first Mutoh VJ-1614, we gained almost twice the speed in printing without any quality lost. It was definitely a good investment for our company, we now have a warehouse full of nothing but Mutoh VJ1614’s and VJ1624’s doing our print work :Big Laugh. We sold a few used Mutoh 64” printers around that ballpark price range and honestly, as long as you are keeping proper maintenance, they should run just as good as a brand new Mutoh printer.

 

[artaddict]

Thanks for the heads up signworld.I definitely like hearing these success stories especially ones that align directly to my biz. WOW a ware house full ! I wish i could work for you man! Do you have any used that you can probably sell to me here ? Another question in terms of ink , do you use the bulk ink or cartridges?