Roland FJ52 Value ?

[NikGrey]

I thought for a few hours I would be able to pick up a bargain with a machine, now I have more details I am unsure - for certain I will not be spending this much on a machine that's not working.

Roland FJ52 which has been converted to use Eco Solvent Inks.
Extra take up roller to help with larger prints.
It has been standing for a 'few' (Don't know how long) years so will need new heads.

The Fella said he was going to advertise it for £1500 (so I think he is expecting me to offer slightly less than that).

What is this truly worth though ?

ok, it's worth what someone wants to pay but you know what I mean - the market value.

[Angloman]

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[TD="colspan: 2]I have a working model fj52
still printing well.
assuming yours still powers up and does a head clean your problem starts with the feeder tubes if they contain no ink. Dried ink here is difficult to remove. above the heads are the ink reservoirs. If they are half full with ink then your tubes should be ok. below the heads are two pumps linked to the docking station. seperate one tube from the docking station, make sure the heads are reseated, and use a spare piece of tube and a hypo syringe to pull ink through the head. check inside the head caps to see which colours are coming thru (or not as the case may be). Repeat with other tube.
If no ink comes thru your heads are blocked or starved of ink.
Heads fail after 6-12 months so this may be part of the problem.
spares from
http://www.digiprint-supplies.com [/TD]
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[RogerC]

I have just looked into this model a little on Google and one thing strikes me from the off. Apparently this machine has no heater strip which, unless you have a nice consistently warm workshop is going to mean drying problems. Eco solvent inks need warmth to dry properly in anything like a reasonable time although the machine will, according to the manual operate in temps above 5 degrees centigrade. My Versacamm runs it's pre & post print heaters at around 38-40 degrees and the prints still need a little time to dry.

To be honest, as I said in another thread, and can confirm now you've said it's been standing for a 'few' years that I would walk away. It's not cheap to fix these machines and this one sounds like it's a probable (as opposed to 'possible') money pit. Print heads are £330 each and, again from Google searching the 'professionals' forums setting them up is not that straightforward. In addition you'll need management software to run it properly.

Being blunt...but trying not to be rude............It looks like this would be a complete waste of money.

[NikGrey]

Thanks Roger, that's exactly the kind of answer I was looking for.
I will leave it.

[RogerC]

Nik...take a look on Ebay...there's a Versacamm on there which has been under a Roland service contract. Presently at just over £1000.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roland-VersaC ... 3cdafd8f71

there's another which looks a good deal for 'offers' listed at £3995........

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Offers-Offers ... 4618c33fb6

[windyash]

i was looking at those last night , and theres also a couple of BN-20s on ebay at the moment .

I guess Im probably in a similiar situation as Nik , started my business less than a year ago doing vinyl signs for vans / shops etc , then got into vinyl on clothing then sublimation clothing / mugs etc , and now I keep getting asked for things that I really need a versacamm or similiar for printed exterior banners , car stickers , pictures on vans etc

I never really thought I would do anything else other than van / car signs when I started , but how wrong I was !!!!

[Hyraxx]

The BN-20 is very slow, you might as well get a good used Versacamm or a Mimaki, also the BN is only really good for small decals and if you go for the white ink OMG you'll be tearing your hair out at how much slower it is than in normal cmyk mode.

The FJ52 with a Hotbox if cheap enough can be a good printer and recover your outlay quickly if you have the work, but its a very old printer now but speed wise its ok just wont win any races, but good size media.

[NikGrey]

It's a vicious circle, I cant take the work I would need a machine like this for until I have the machine - yet I cant own a machine like this without the work to keep it working.

I still have not opened to the public, still technical problems with the very thing I thought would be simple - website. I wont open it until it is as perfect as it can be, function wise anyway.

[RogerC]

Just to add another bit of advice. If anyone goes for a Versacamm/Roland printer/plotter I can strongly recommend going for one with a Roland warranty/service contract. I thought my Versacamm, being totally refurbished by a reputable company (I still use them because they are so good) and with Roland, (being bullet proof) I didn't 'need' to splash out on a service contract. How wrong I was. After about three years I had printing problems and needed a new print head. Now this is no reflection on Roland..I accept that it is simply something that happens and I was unlucky. There are business out there that have run these machines for thousands of hours with no 'head' problems.........I was just unlucky.

The upshot was I had to pay for a new head and fitting. It is not a simple DIY job if you want it done right. A call to Roland determined that they would do the job for me, service the machine and, as it has only ever had Roland inks through it, they would offer a service contract. The cost...............£750+ for the head and associated items, fitting, set up and servicing/calibrating etc. Had I not decided to take out a warranty/service contract it would have cost more for call out/hourly rate/mileage etc charges. Basically I was looking at over £1000 had I not decided to go with the service contract. If I remember correctly the warranty is around £750 per year which includes annual service, on site visit within 4 days if the machine requires attention, replacement parts (print heads included).....basically for full cover.

So in a nutshell............if anyone is looking at a Versacamm make sure it has only ever had Roland ink through it, that it has no 'head' problems and seriously consider a service contract. Mine cover is Bronze level and is, in my opinion well worth the outlay.

[windyash]

Cheers for the advice Roger , im not really sure what to do at the moment ....... so any jobs I get are coming your way anyway