Full Version: Wraps vs. Press
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.
From: gt350ed [#32]
4 Mar 2007
To: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#29] 4 Mar 2007
Actually, while mugs are in our mug presses, at about 5 minutes per, we are running our laser throughout the day on a variety of high margin projects.
The bottomline is do what works for you. Mug Pro presses work for us. Wraps may work for others.
BTW, no one has mentioned wraps for steins. Since we do quite a few steins, and we do them in the same press as the 11oz and 15oz mugs, we're even more convinced that the Mug Pro press is OUR way to go. And we have 6 years of being continuously online to prove it.
From: gt350ed [#33]
4 Mar 2007
To: gt350ed [#32] 4 Mar 2007
Hi! I'm Ed. No, you were Ed last time, I'm Ed! And that guy over there running the mug press....that's Ed. So, who's the laser operator?
Oh, that's Ed, as well.
Let me introduce you to our Graphics Dept.
"Hi Ed!!"
From: UncleSteve [#34]
4 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#30] 4 Mar 2007
With an order for 1000 identical mugs, I wouldn't even THINK of doing them myself. There are real options to just broker the job and have them printed by a promo product supplier.... ;-)
MUCH less time, similar profit and NO electricity cost... You are figuring the cost of running either ovens or presses to make the 1000 mugs, aren't you? :-$
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#35]
4 Mar 2007
To: UncleSteve [#34] 4 Mar 2007
MUCH less time, similar profit and NO electricity cost... You are figuring the cost of running either ovens or presses to make the 1000 mugs, aren't you? :-$
Yes, but there is a time factor also. One would be able to offer faster service doing it themselves. A point that customers would appreciate I think.
Also, I get nervous handing over control on some things. I always have. But that's just *ME*.
From: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#36]
4 Mar 2007
To: gt350ed [#32] 5 Mar 2007
exactly...
From: jpkevin [#37]
5 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#1] 5 Mar 2007
This is a great discussion, that every person who is considering doing mugs should see.
There are definite pros and cons to both presses and wraps, depending on what your business model is, but you need to be informed before you purchase.
I personally like the wraps for the following reason. It allows someone to test the mug market for a very reasonable entry amount, and then increase your equipment as your production requirements increase.
The bottom line is that you need a production mode that matches your business model. For some people, that may be presses, others it is wraps, and some may do both. One thing I know is that generally one's business is fluid and ever changing, and it is good to know the options available.
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#38]
5 Mar 2007
To: jpkevin [#37] 5 Mar 2007
It may yet be a few weeks before we pull the trigger on this....I'm still waiting for my system to arrive. But eventually we'll be mugging it up with the rest of you :B
From: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#39]
5 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#38] 5 Mar 2007
JPKevin gave me a great lead on a convection oven at Wal-Mart, it's less than $80 and they usually offer free delivery. It will hold at least 5 wraps, maybe more.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4012129
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#40]
5 Mar 2007
To: Laser Image (LASER_IMAGE) [#39] 5 Mar 2007
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#41]
6 Mar 2007
To: ALL
I guess I have my Saturday plans set! So be ready for more questions...
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#42]
6 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#41] 6 Mar 2007
A new frontier. :-)
After many years of performing sublimation, I never get tired of peeling the transfer paper off of a substrate and seeing the impressive, vibrant results.
I'm running sublimation transfers as we speak (type).
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#43]
6 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#41] 6 Mar 2007
Jim,
You are going to have SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo much fun once you get it set up....it's so easy a cav.....er you won't have ANY problems.....well maybe one or two during your learning curve. The sublijet IQ driver works almost by it's self.
After doing this for a year, outside of challenges I have created my self because of my time in the learning curve I have had only ONE time that I had a color correction problem.....and that was with the EE logo in David's shadow box.
I know there are a lot of more experienced folks that will help you, but I am happy to help you in anyway I can. Good luck. Have fun.
My next adventure begins in about a month with the arrival of *my* new toy...er I mean tool, the Vision Max Pro. Now you wanna talk about questions?????? ( insert laugh here).
Have fun
From: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#44]
6 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#43] 6 Mar 2007
Thanks for all your help at the show, Chuck. Matt was a really decent guy, and didn't sell me anything I didn't need (...let's face it, the guy actually talked me out of spending even more money on the 4800!)
Can't wait to dig in on Saturday!
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#45]
6 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#44] 6 Mar 2007
Jim,
My pleasure. Matt IS a great guy and honest to boot. Add to that the he knows his stuff......you are in good hands.....
From: jpkevin [#46]
6 Mar 2007
To: Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC) [#44] 7 Mar 2007
Hi Jim,
Here's a good tip. Go to a fabric store and buy a couple of yards of 100% white polyester fabric. You can get it for a few dollars a yard. It works great to practice on to get up you confidence before you start on real products. It is also good to try the different Powerdriver settings on it and see the difference in the images for each setting.
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#47]
7 Mar 2007
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#43] 7 Mar 2007
That color correction problem was not even Chuck's fault. The blue in the logo that I sent him is different than the blue that we see. The original blue was darker than what shows, when converted for web viewing it lightened horribly. It was altered to get what you see, but is still much darker in the vector format that on the screen.
Of course I sent him the original and he was trying to achieve what he saw on the screen. It was so long ago that we chose the winner I did not remember the problems until he started having problems. You could say that the correction problems were caused by me, not the PowerDriver.
Show messages: 1-7 8-27 28-47 48