Full Version: Wraps vs. Press
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#11] 4 Mar 2007
Go to the top of this page and click on "Special Deals". Then scroll down to the Cactus banner. Mick gives EE members a 10% discount.
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#13]
4 Mar 2007
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#12] 4 Mar 2007
From: precisionlaser [#14]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#13] 4 Mar 2007
Doc,
I visited a company on Friday that does a lot of mugs. Their set up was a gang of Epson C86s/Artainium Ink Bulk Systems/mug wraps and several (about 12 if I remember correctly) Hamilton-Beach convection ovens. I discussed this set up with them, and they said that the multiple C86s were a lot cheaper than a larger printer and gave them critical backup when one unit fails. I asked them why not use a conveyor oven and again they had a good response: backup and convenience...apparently a conveyor oven takes up a lot of space and takes a while to heat up to the correct temp.
I've also spoken to other "grey beards" in the business and all of them are unanimous: if you're going to do volume, use wraps and ovens.
For what it's worth...
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15]
4 Mar 2007
To: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#9] 4 Mar 2007
Gary,
With a press and a satellite, one could do the same quantity of mugs in 60 minutes......including prep.......
What an interesting discussion this has become.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#16]
4 Mar 2007
To: precisionlaser [#14] 4 Mar 2007
I wonder if they are the same ones that steered me to the mug press? ( insert devious laugh here).
For what it's worth...
Your experience is worth a lot Mark. Keep it up.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#17]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#1] 4 Mar 2007
Jim,
It will be interesting to hear about your ultimate decision.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18]
4 Mar 2007
To: ALL
Don't forget that there's opportunity in wraps for objects other than coffee mugs:
http://laserreproductions.com/heatwrap.html
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#19]
4 Mar 2007
To: precisionlaser [#14] 4 Mar 2007
Sounds like quite an operation, Mark! Unfortunately I don't have the room for all that additional equipment....but I do like the sound of their oven-of-choice. A quick Google found the unit at Walmart for under $80! Judging by the size of it, I'm guessing about 4 mugs will fit in it at once....correct?
EDITED: 4 Mar 2007 by GREAT_ATLANTIC
From: precisionlaser [#20]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#19] 4 Mar 2007
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#21]
4 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 4 Mar 2007
This setup runs about $1,200 Chuck? Might be able to make that happen if (...and that's a big if) a large order were placed. But Murphy's Law could also put me firmly in the hole if we were to rely on 5-10 mugs at a shot, particularly with a new market for us.
EDITED: 4 Mar 2007 by GREAT_ATLANTIC
From: Mick [#22]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#11] 4 Mar 2007
EDITED: 4 Mar 2007 by MICK
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#23]
4 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#18] 4 Mar 2007
Do you use a press in your sublimation business, David?
Pretty interesting to see that other sizes of wraps/products are available.
From: Mick [#24]
4 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 4 Mar 2007
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#25]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#23] 4 Mar 2007
I don't do many mugs. Mostly plates for award plaques and name badges.
When I do press mugs, I have carte blanche at a friend's shop who owns a Novachrome Mug Pro. Older model, with less top to bottom coverage than the newer model, but it's a very nice press.
I try to keep the image area to about 2.875" tall, which is ample for most applications.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#26]
4 Mar 2007
To: Mick [#22] 4 Mar 2007
Get out the wet noodle, but throughout the ARA show I never did lay eyes upon the SmartPress.
Any pictures?
From: Mick [#27]
4 Mar 2007
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#26] 4 Mar 2007
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#28]
4 Mar 2007
To: Mick [#24] 4 Mar 2007
Mick,
You have a good point.
From: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#29]
4 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#15] 4 Mar 2007
You are right but you are working for the entire 60 minutes, non-stop, and are getting nothing else done in the mean time. I, on the other hand, have the whole time the mugs are cooking to work on other projects. I can make twice as much money in the same amount of time.
And, if I had 4 sets of wraps and two ovens I could do a gazillion times more mugs than you could with your press.
Best of all, my 4 sets of wraps and two ovens only cost me $360 - how much was your satellite again? :)
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#30]
4 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#21] 4 Mar 2007
That is correct Jim. But if you truly are looking at the potential for a 1000 mug order..........
I can see that Ed and myself very well may be in the minority as this thread progresses, and I DO know there are lots of folks that have more experience than I, and ultimately it is a decision based upon personal preference......but the press, while more expensive just seems so much less cumbersome to *me*. Plus it has less of a foot print on your workspace than an oven.
Ok, I believe that has added up to about 6 cents now. I'm still offering change if you want it. :B
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#31]
4 Mar 2007
To: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#29] 4 Mar 2007
Gary,
This comes down to a work style. For *me*, I tend to not work as efficiently when I am jumping between jobs or projects. I find it is more efficient and a better use of my time for *me* to focus on one project at a time.....
I see your point, however as I mentioned to Jim, ultimately it comes down to a matter of preference in tools.
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