Taking the plunge!

[DawnStendin]

:icon21: :) Okay, after visiting Val I've decided to take the plunge and order the Wizard 8500. I just called to have the forms sent to me. I am so excited!!!!!!!!! Went to our chamber breakfast this morning and told everyone all about it.
Once you fill out the forms, how long does it actually take to get it? Do those of you who rent have insurance on the thing? Can you insure it with your regular business insurance or through Wizard Int?
Wow, I feel like such a big girl framer!

[PaulSF]

Congrats!! You won't be sorry. Make sure you have help when it arrives. It comes in several very BIG boxes, and requires a couple of people to install.

And one little tip -- change your blades every morning, unless you know for a fact you just changed the blade the day before and didn't do much cutting. Blades are much cheaper than matboard.

[PaulSF]

Oh, another tip. Get several different types of matboard -- normal 4-ply, 4-ply rag, 7-ply, 8-ply, suede-covered, linen-covered -- and do a lot of practice cutting to determine the right blade depth for each kind of matboard. The program defaults won't necessarily be optimal.

[Richard Darling]

Congrats! You'll only wonder why it took you so long to make the decision.

Ditto on the practice. When you have a single piece of the color you need for a customer's order, that's not the time to test your settings for a reverse bevel or a vgroove.

[Elaine]

PaulSF - doesn't your machine tell you when to change your blade??? Changing every day messes up the count - doesn't it??? Or am I missing something on the New 8500???

I change the blade when the machine tells me and it's very accurate - it knows when it needs a new blade!!! Kind of like I know if I need a drink!!

Elaine

[danny boy]

Way to go. I love my cmc and the tech support I receive from Wizard. Nothing but blue skies ahead....

[Val]

I have the blade-change prompt set at 60 plunges, recommended by the Wizard folks. It hasn't failed me yet.
And ditto on the practicing different types of matboard. I've made myself a cheat sheet for the settings.

Dawn............YAY!!!!!!!! You'll never look back!

[PaulSF]

My plunge count is set at 40, but it really seems to vary by the type of matboard I'm cutting. Thicker matboard seems to wear down the blade faster. And even with the plunge count set at 40, the last 5-10 cuts may be iffy. So I'd rather be safe than sorry, and start my mat-cutting with a fresh blade. If after a few cuts, the machine tells me to change the blade, I just hit the button without changing the blade. On the other hand, if I cut 2 or 3 mats and then it tells me to change the blade, I change the blade. Like I said, blades are cheaper than mat board.

[DawnStendin]

Thanks everyone. I will have to remember to review this when it arrives. Im going over to pick it up and take a Wizard class...but Im wondering if it will fit in my suv? Anyone save their boxes that can give me the measurements of them? That would save me the frieght costs

[j Paul]

I have my box stored in my garage at home, but I can almost certainly say that it will not fit in you SUV. Usually with those you only have enough room to slide in a 4' wide pc. of plywood with little to spare. Box is certainly wider than 4' and I know you won't be able to slide it in at an angle either.

Got a roof rack and plenty of tie downs?
Rent a trailer!
Borrow a pick-up from a friend.

[Maryann]

RE: insurance
If I remember correctly, we had to send proof that the wizard was insured before it was shipped. The amount of the rider on our policy was negligible. I wouldn't not want to have it insured.

[Val]

5 boxes:
68x10x11
58x49x10
26x22x19
50x31x5
53x22x4

Like jPaul said, you might want to rent a trailer or borrow a truck.

[DawnStendin]

thanks, I will probably rent a trailer. Just seems like a waste of money if Im going to be there anyway. I sent in all my paperwork, should have it within a couple weeks....Im sooooooooooo happppppyyyyyyyyy!
It will have a room of its own (that has a full size window of course)...with a big sign over the door that says....????

[j Paul]

...install some yellow brick tile, and a sign that says "follow the yellow brick road to see the Wizard" :smiley:

[Baer Charlton]

Hmmmmm plunge count for blade change.... let me discribe two different 60 count plunge counts....

20x30 mat 15 opening 2"x3".....

60 - 32x40 mats oval opening 28x36.

I would think the ovals will start looking a little ragged by plunge count 5 or 6.....

[artfolio]

First up, congratulations Dawn - you won't regret it. I have only had my Wizard a few weeks but it is already making me money and saving time. As I get on top of the more advanced features I am sure it will get better.

I am a nitpicker from way back and my plunge count is now 20 plus I always start the day with a new blade. The blades have a fine film of oil to guard against corrosion and this is lost on the first plunge so any blade left overnight in the machine is dodgy. If I want to do a V-grooove or cut a multiple opening a new blade goes in at the start. As others have pointed out blades are cheaper than card. Also consider that because the matt is next to the artwork any faults are highly noticeable.

Here in Australia when you buy a Wizard the people from L.J. come and instal it, set it up and spend a day or so teaching the basics. Next week L.J.s resident Australian guru will be in Western Australia spending time with recent purchasers, sorting out problems and teaching more advanced techniques. It sound like we get a better deal than you do in the States?

[JBergelin]

Another hint - if you are cutting from the front and need to change the blade slip a small drop out under the head before you insert the blade cartridge - this prevents a small "ding" in the board (remember you are cutting from the front so it shows) from the blade should you press too hard when pushing the cartridge in.

Good luck - I am sure you will enjoy your new "employee" - he/she doesn't complain, comes to work on time, works hard and doesn't call in "sick"

[JPete]

I'd pay the freight. The carriers are insured, I didn't think it was that much. Wizard will tell you what the cost is.

Val, you don't need a cheat sheet, when you decide on the depth, you can set it as a default and name it, eg when I increase the depth to 15 it tells me it's suede.

Ask your business insurer to include it or add a rider.

You'll never regret doing this.

[Val]

I am a nitpicker from way back and my plunge count is now 20 plus I always start the day with a new blade.

Here in Australia when you buy a Wizard the people from L.J. come and instal it, set it up and spend a day or so teaching the basics. . It sound like we get a better deal than you do in the States?Okay, I confess, I ignore the 60-plunge count, and put a new blade in at each "important" mat. and it does depend on the type of matbd...artfolio....L.J.? As in, Larson Juhl? Did you buy (rent/lease/whatever) your Wizard from LJ?? Interrrresting! I wonder if our L.J. offers that service? I will call and ask!


Val, you don't need a cheat sheet, when you decide on the depth, you can set it as a default and name it, eg when I increase the depth to 15 it tells me it's suede.

I have much to learn........set what as a default? What "it" tells you it's suede?

It's really mind-boggling, what all this machine can do, and I soooo wish I could afford to take at least a week off and just go to Wizard University,or have the service that Artfolio does...a Wizard guru come in a teach me! Reading all this stuff here is great, but I'm a hands-on learner....I need to be shown.

[PaulSF]

Val, when you set the blade depth, you can designate a certain blade depth as a default. Next time you cut a mat, click on the blade depth icon, and you'll see. If you want, call me at the store on Monday morning and I'll talk you thru it.

[Val]

Will do, Paul, and thanks. Will be nice to touch bases again....how's Barry, btw??:p Didn't do it yet, did ya?

[PaulSF]

Nope, still haven't done it. Heck, those pictures are probably still in my backpack, which I still haven't unpacked since the trip in January!!

[FramerDave]

I have much to learn........set what as a default? What "it" tells you it's suede?



In the cut screen, click on Blade Depth. When you set that to, say 13 for suedes, you can type in a label for it there. That way the next time you cut a suede, you just scroll through the depths until you get to Suedes. Or linen, 6-ply, what have you.

[Dave]

[quote=DawnStendin;292230
It will have a room of its own (that has a full size window of course)...with a big sign over the door that says....????[/quote]

Dawn ...make sure the window has a view and is really nice! You wouldn't want your most productive "employee" to be unhappy, now would you?


;)


Actually, I'm jealous. Anybody want to trade a two bedroom 52 week ILX Premier Vacation Club timeshare membership at Los Abrigados in Sedona for a spanking new state of the art CMC?

I'm serious!

[Val]

Thanks, FramerDave.....I really should pay closer attention to what's on all those screens..never even saw the "blade depth" thing!

And Dave-Dave....I love my CMC so much I wouldn't even trade it for your time share!
Or would I?......hmmmmmm.......fishing....sunshine......oh dear!

[DawnStendin]

Dave...Arizona...no! Maui in a heartbeat! Actually I guess I should at least get the thing before I agree to trade it away.

I like the yellow brick road idea!

I couldn't sleep last night...partially excited, partially anxious. Reading these posts there will be so much to learn even after Wiz U. Get used to me gang...cuz I'll be brain sucking for a while.

:D

[PaulSF]

I'll make a deal with you, Dave. I'll cut all your multi-opening and oval mats for you, using my CMC, charging you only for the matboard and shipping. And you'll let me use that time-share for one week a year! Fair?

[Dave]

Ya know ...except for the shipping charges I'd take you up on that one!

Is it negotiable?

[PaulSF]

If you were local, heh!

[DawnStendin]

Im confused!:shrug:
It says the Wizard needs a phone line for updates...okay, fine...but does it have to be plugged in all the time, or can you just plug it in to update and then unplug it? Ill have unlimited corners...so how often do you have to update? We have so many things hooked up to phone lines around here so if I need another one I better get on it.

[Val]

I don't have mine hooked up to a phone line. When I need to update my license (every 90 days, the computer will prompt you) I call Wizard and they give me a code to enter. That's all. Unlimited corners are great!

[artfolio]

Hi Val,

Yes L.J. = Larson Juhl who have the Wizard agency here in Australia.

This week I had their Australian guru in the workshop over two days giving me an intense course on the advanced features of the machine and tuning it up.

I have also bought Brian Wolf's design book and C.D. and thoroughly recommend it. If you load the C.D. it sets itself up as a folder in "Load saved matt". Just open the folder, click the desired design and there it is on the edit screen. Adjust the sizes for your job and away you go. Because the design is a "read-only" file you can mess around with it on the edit screen all you like and the original stays unchanged in the folder. After making changes you can save your modified design with another name in your own file or bin it and start over if you make a hash of it.

[Paul N]

Brian Wolf is both very creative and fun!

I would buy any of his CDs or books.