Whether you are trying to grow your brick-and-mortar business or helping other business owners market their businesses, vinyl signage is necessary.
In a recent study, 76% of survey respondents noted that they entered a store or place of business because of the store’s signage.
Plan your shopping list for all you need to make a vinyl sign. You will need to consider plotter blades, the storage of your materials, and other sign-making supplies. Read on for five must-have tools to make vinyl signs.
1. Self-Healing Mats
At the top of the list of necessary sign-making tools should be purchasing a self-healing cutting mat. Your high-quality cutting mat will be one of your best friends in making vinyl decals and signs.
Self-healing mats are sturdy and, therefore, more durable. Because it’s double-sided, your cutting mat will last you longer, even during busy seasons. As you use your mat, the knife or blade marks disappear, keeping it as good as new for your next project.
If you make a lot of signs, you will likely need to replace your cutting mat more often, but using a self-healing mat will give you a longer life cycle with your mat.
Keep your table safe from blade marks, cut with precise measurements, and keep your plotter blades sharper longer with a self-healing cutting mat.
2. Plotter Blades
There is nothing worse than spending the time to design, set up, and cut your vinyl sign only to find that your blades were not sharp enough, leaving your design less than perfect.
To have a successful vinyl sign creation process, you need to have the best plotter blades for crisp and clean lines.
Plotter blades should be at the top of your shopping list as you consider the materials you need for your next project. These blades vary in size, cut depth, and cut type. With so much variety, you will be able to find the right blade for your cutting machine for the right project.
Commonly, these blades are either 30, 45, or 60-degree angles. Choose the correct plotter blade for the material you are using.
30-degree angle plotter blades are for more delicate materials or thin vinyl. For most standard projects, a 45-degree angle should be the best. If you need a deeper cut for your sign, consider using a 60-degree angle plotter blade.
3. Tools for Weeding
For some, weeding can be frustrating and tedious. With the right weeding tools, the weeding process can be smooth.
A sharp weeding tool will help you work with extracting small pieces of vinyl from your project without damaging the other parts of your sign. This tool will help you remove unnecessary vinyl from your transfer film, giving you a vinyl sign with sharp lettering.
Tweezers can also help remove the excess vinyl from the transfer film or tape. A weeding tool with a ball tip is beneficial for pulling up the corner on a large piece of vinyl without damaging the transfer tape. This tool is also helpful for getting started with weeding your vinyl sign
4. Cutting Machine
To make vinyl signs, you will need to invest in a cutting machine. Before setting out to purchase your first machine, you need to determine the size and frequency of your projects.
Large signs will not work or can take too much time on a smaller machine. Plotter machines typically range in project width from15inches to around60 inches.
The larger size you need, the more expensive your machine will be. So, take this into account before purchasing.
If you are looking to cut vinyl decals for personal use, you likely won’t need a large machine. However, if you plan to make large banners or decals for business signs or buildings, you may need to invest in a large cutting machine.
When making vinyl signs, you may consider a 24-inch or 28-inch cutter for your decals on the smaller side. These machines come at a slightly lower cost but cut larger decals than a desktop-style vinyl cutter.
Commercial and business signs will likely need a pro vinyl plotter that ranges in size and the necessary computer software.
5. Storage
Another item for your signage tool kit is storage for your materials.
Your workspace or craft room can quickly become messy during a project or busy season. Get ahead of the mess by setting up storage for all your materials.
Use material racks to hold your many rolls of vinyl and transfer tape. Consider adding a storage closet to keep the tools or materials you do not use often.
You can even turn a wall in your workspace into a pegboard wall. Doing so will allow you to hang many of your tools and materials on the wall to keep them off your table or floor. Hang up your scissors, a container with weeding tools, and even a container that holds plotter blades.
You will never be without what you need because you will be able to take quick inventory with an organized space to know what you need to purchase or order.
Hanging your materials on the wall or a material rack will also speed up your production time, as you won’t have to search for materials. Everything you need will be right in front of you!
Making Vinyl Signs Using the Best Materials
Creating vinyl signs and decals can be fun and a great way to help local businesses with their marketing. To make the best signs in an efficient amount of time, you need to have the right tools and materials to cut your vinyl decals.
Finding the best plotter blades, weeding tools, and product storage will help you run a smooth business and workspace.
For questions on which product would be best for you and your business,contact us for support. We would be happy to help you choose the correct blades and tools for your next big project.
Simple Solutions International offers a full selection of plotter blades and plotter pens as well as a variety of useful tools for use in plotting and sign making, such as plotter adapters, masking film, spray masks, and other sign making tools and accessories.