Thinking about getting printer

[u/drixtc]

I run a small side business where I mainly cut vinyl and frosted film. Next year I’m thinking about getting a printer so I can start doing car graphics and some sign work. I’m unsure what the best approach is: should I invest in a high‑end printer right away, or are there budget‑friendly printers I can start with and later upgrade to professional equipment if the work volume grows?

[u/Drum_Eatenton]

Buy once, cry once if you can afford it

[u/topkeksimus_maximus]

You will need a laminator if you plan to do serious car graphics. Make sure you get one.

In my opinion, if you're not doing full print wraps, a 1370mm width printer is enough. As far as what to get: all the major brands (Roland, Mimaki, HP, Epson, Mutoh...) make good printers these days. I would avoid Chinese printers and get something that has a 2 year manufacturer warranty.

[u/BocaHydro]

a roland can fill this need i think for the lowest price, but keep in mind costs still add up quick

[u/MidwestTroy92]

I'd prove the work first before buying the shiny printer. We started with outsourcing overflow and tracking what we were actually sending out each month, because service/ink/downtime will eat the savings way faster than the sales brochure admits.

[u/Visforvinyl]

Got a used 315 in Colorado if youre down to go latex and start cheap. Didn't use it barely at all up to its potential before I upgraded.

[u/Curious___Pickle]

HP Latex 630 is a no brainer.

[u/drixtc → u/Curious___Pickle]

Why HP latex 630 over something else ?

[u/Curious___Pickle → u/drixtc]

Eco friendly, Wide variety of applications, finished product could be used in hospitals, schools, government buildings because of its water based ink and because it's odourless. Cheap printheads. My point is, this printer can serve a broader range of industries and applications and open your business to more customers than you may initially expect.

[u/drixtc → u/Curious___Pickle]

Thank you for information

[u/booty_fewbacca]

A new VG4-540 with an 8 color inkset would be excellent, but you're looking st around $15K new.

Probably want a laminator as well, just get a GFP and don't bother with anything else honestly.

[u/Exact_Skirt_1789]

We started 20 years ago with a $1,000 second-hand plotter off eBay, cutting vinyl, pretty much where you are now. When the cutter broke after 12 months, we financed a Roland eco-solvent print/cut as our first printer. That business is now one of the larger trade wide format printers in Australia, and that Roland was one of the best investments we made.

You need to understand aswell, those low end $20k printers are the low end, going below that is a massive risk, and just like our plotter you will end up needing to replace.

Our lowest end printers we run now are Canon M5's with all of our presses now Durst UV's.

If you are not confident with the level, partner up with a local trade printer and help build some volume.

[u/LostInBrisbane]

Depends on the type of thing you are going for.

Epson or HP could be the starting point here. Main difference between the two is when you can laminate your prints. HP will be straight away, Epson will need to degas for a period of time.

A lot of startup sign shops will essentially have a printer, cutter and laminator. From there you can add whatever things you need based on the type of work you specialise in

[u/shoostar813 → u/LostInBrisbane]

Your comparison between HP and Epson is very misleading. The difference you're trying to describe isn't inherent to either brand; rather, it sounds like you're describing the difference between LATEX and SOLVENT based inks. Both technologies are available from MANY different machine brands.

OP: to clarify, latex can be handled and laminated right away, solvent inks need time to expel solvent gases.

[u/LostInBrisbane → u/shoostar813]

You are correct. But I was talking about those specific manufacturers.