Used Printer Advice

[uneedasign]

Wanting to get into digital printing on a shoe string, I purchased a used Colorspan DM4200, without doing enough research. My question is, should I sell the printer and cut my losses, or is this printer good enough to get my feet wet. UV inks with heads and tube is about $2,500.00.
Thanks in advance,
Mark L.

[eye4clr]

My personal experience with the ColorSpan water based printers has not been good.

Myself, i'd look for a used Epson 9600 or HP5500PS.

So, my vote is - sell it. In fact i'd pay somebody to come take it.

[lilb93]

Actually on E-bay one sold about 20 miles from me for 39.00 on Saturday.

[mastersignwizard]

Originally Posted by uneedasign

Wanting to get into digital printing on a shoe string, I purchased a used Colorspan DM4200, without doing enough research. My question is, should I sell the printer and cut my losses, or is this printer good enough to get my feet wet. UV inks with heads and tube is about $2,500.00.
Thanks in advance,
Mark L.

Digital printing is not a cheep thing to get into (depending on what you want to do). If you want to make posters then a water based ink is ok but if you want to get into doing signs no matter what way you look at it it's about $20,000. If you cant afford to get into it then you will want to look at buying your prints wholesale.

It is far less stress on you to buy digital prints from someone that is setup to do the digital printing than it is to go out and buy a printer not know what you are doing and how to do it or what you are getting your self into. Sorry to sound like I am bursting your bubble but it's kind of like being able to afford new tires and not having a car....

Dealers will tell you that you can get into it for about 13,000 - 16,000 but that is for just a small 30" printer. What they didn't tell you is that there is a lot more to it.

Feel free to ask questions here. I am sure that everyone will share there experiences and knowledge.

[uneedasign]

Thanks for the advice, I now wish I would have started with a Gerber Edge. As far as the printer goes, the Local art college might be willing to accept as donation for a write-off, so at least I won't actually loose money.
Thanks again.