Hello good people of Signs101. I've been visiting this forum for years now. It's been very informative. I am looking at buying a small machine for doing decal samples and designs for my business. I already have a local guy and online vendors that will do quality work for me, but for one offs, personal projects and samples for prospective clients, I'd like something bigger.
I found this in a pawn shop. It comes with the stand, no software, no return policy, and they want 679 dollars for it. My questions are as follows:
1) How old is this thing? I need it to play nice with a Mac work environment.
2) How much is it worth? I have been looking at the CE6000 series, but for a third the price, if it works, is it worth a try? And what would you pay?
3) Is there any basic software or plugin I could download to get a test run going. I have vinyl sheets and rolls, so I can test it, but without software, I don't know what I'd be able to do to challenge the machine and be sure it works.
4) Besides looking at it from the outside, is there anything under the hood I can look at to be sure it was treated well (enough)? I'm thinking telltale signs of a dying motor, a mileage counter of sorts, and general giveaways that this was abused or mistreated.
5) this should have been #1, but should I just hold out til I get a new graphtec?
6) I'm also willing to do a refurb from a trusted source. Anyone know a trusted source? I'm thinking Stahls, Signwarehouse (except I emailed them for more info and never got any info or a call).
Pic below. Thank you again for any advice or help.
I found this in a pawn shop. It comes with the stand, no software, no return policy, and they want 679 dollars for it. My questions are as follows:
1) How old is this thing? I need it to play nice with a Mac work environment.
2) How much is it worth? I have been looking at the CE6000 series, but for a third the price, if it works, is it worth a try? And what would you pay?
3) Is there any basic software or plugin I could download to get a test run going. I have vinyl sheets and rolls, so I can test it, but without software, I don't know what I'd be able to do to challenge the machine and be sure it works.
4) Besides looking at it from the outside, is there anything under the hood I can look at to be sure it was treated well (enough)? I'm thinking telltale signs of a dying motor, a mileage counter of sorts, and general giveaways that this was abused or mistreated.
5) this should have been #1, but should I just hold out til I get a new graphtec?
6) I'm also willing to do a refurb from a trusted source. Anyone know a trusted source? I'm thinking Stahls, Signwarehouse (except I emailed them for more info and never got any info or a call).
Pic below. Thank you again for any advice or help.
