I need to letter a bunch of dumpsters. Looking at a lettering co. online, it's gonna cost $200-$250 per can to do what I want. My question is, should I buy a cutter and do it myself? Looks like $500-$1500 + materials. Anyone with experience with these non-commercial cutters? How hard are they to set up and is the software compatible with and idiot? I'd only need a couple different single color patterns. Thanks!!
Yep, my sign guy can do a magnetic stencil, however since everything will be new I figured I'd see how much it is to make them look nice.
I'd go for paint and stencils. However for future reference, I have a Cricut explorer 2 air or something like that, works great for making die cut vinyl stickers. I can download logos and make my own stickers, etc. multi color stuff is a pain but the printer will cut up to 12" wide and can do about 36" at a time if you have the longer cutting matt. You can get a pretty wide variety of colors to cut. I have been using Oracal 651 for most of my vinyl as it's their semi permanent vinyl. Printer is about $200 (check Walmart, at the time they had the best price on the unit) and I found a cheap local shop to get my vinyl, like $11 for a 15' roll or something.
I'd get a batch of stickers made. Then at the 3 year mark sticker over the old stickers with a bigger sticker.
If you want to go to screened on rectangular stock I bet the stix would be a lot cheaper than die cut.
I gotta do 50 cans on 3 sides. No way I'm paying $10K. Looking like my original magnetic stencil plan is the way to go. I thought about the vinyl because my sign guy suggested it. I also don't think the printed would hold up as well as the die cut in the FL sun.
Have an art contest. Get people to paint them for nothing. Have them include your company info as part of the painting. You could be the company with the fancy-painted dumpsters.
check out a Brother Scan-n-Cut. they are about $300 and supplies are cheap on Amazon. only restriction is the largest size you can make is 12" X 12". extremely easy to use. i use one to make #'s and decals for my bikes.