If you've spent any time in a professional print shop, you've probably seen the Mutoh VJ 1624 humming away in a corner, churning out banners like it's no big deal. It has earned a reputation as a bit of a legendary workhorse in the wide-format world, and for good reason. While newer models are always hitting the market with more bells and whistles, this specific 64-inch printer remains a staple for people who just want their gear to work without a constant headache.
It isn't the flashiest piece of equipment anymore, but it hits that "sweet spot" of reliability, speed, and output quality that makes it hard to ignore. Whether you're a veteran looking for a second machine or someone diving into the used market to start their first business, there's a lot to love about the 1624.
The "Set It and Forget It" Reliability
One of the biggest compliments you can give a piece of industrial equipment is that it's boring. In the world of large-format printing, boring is good. It means you aren't spending your Monday morning elbow-deep in ink or arguing with technical support. The Mutoh VJ 1624 is famously stable.
The build quality is solid. It doesn't feel like a cheap plastic toy; it feels like a tool built to survive the dust and chaos of a busy shop. When you load a 50-yard roll of vinyl and hit "print" on a long run of graphics, you want to be able to walk away and grab a coffee without worrying that the machine is going to self-destruct or throw a mysterious error code halfway through. That peace of mind is why so many shops have held onto these machines long after their warranties expired.
Understanding the DX7 Print Head
At the heart of the VJ 1624 is the DX7 print head. If you talk to any tech, they'll tell you that the DX7 was a bit of a game-changer for Mutoh. It's a piezo-drop-on-demand head that can handle high speeds while still keeping the detail sharp.
What's cool about this head is its ability to produce variable-sized droplets. This means it can use larger drops for big areas of solid color to speed things up, and tiny drops for fine details and smooth gradients. It's why a banner printed on a Mutoh VJ 1624 looks just as good up close as it does from across the street. Even though newer heads have come out since, the DX7 remains a favorite because it's relatively hardy and produces a very clean image.
Why Intelligent Interweaving Matters
If you've ever seen those annoying horizontal lines across a printed image, you've seen "banding." It's the bane of every printer's existence. Mutoh tackled this issue with something they call i2, or Intelligent Interweaving technology.
Instead of printing in straight, hard-edged blocks of color, the Mutoh VJ 1624 lays down the ink in a wave-like pattern. These waves overlap slightly, which effectively masks any imperfections in the print. It's one of those features that sounds like marketing fluff until you actually see it in action. You can push the printer to faster speeds—where banding usually happens—and the i2 tech keeps the image looking smooth. It makes the machine much more forgiving, especially if your calibration isn't 100% perfect.
The Reality of Maintenance
Let's be real: no wide-format printer is truly "maintenance-free." If someone tells you that, they're trying to sell you something. However, the Mutoh VJ 1624 is pretty straightforward when it comes to keeping it happy.
Daily maintenance usually just involves a quick wipe-down of the wiper blade and around the capping station. The machine does a good job of running its own cleaning cycles to keep the nozzles from clogging. That said, you do have to respect it. If you let it sit for three weeks in a hot room without turning it on, you're going to have a bad time. But for a shop that's running it daily, the upkeep is minimal compared to some of the high-maintenance "diva" printers out there.
One thing users love is how accessible the parts are. Because so many of these machines were sold, finding replacement dampers, wipers, or even a new capping station is easy. You aren't stuck waiting for a proprietary part to ship from overseas for a month.
Versatility Across Different Media
What can you actually do with a 64-inch printer like this? Almost anything that fits on a roll. The Mutoh VJ 1624 is primarily an eco-solvent printer, which means the prints are durable enough for outdoor use without needing immediate lamination (though lamination is always a good idea for longevity).
- Vehicle Wraps: The detail is crisp enough for high-end car wraps where every pixel counts.
- Outdoor Banners: It can fly through banner material at speeds that keep your production schedule on track.
- Stickers and Decals: When paired with a decent cutter, this machine is a sticker-making factory.
- Trade Show Graphics: The smooth gradients made possible by the i2 tech make it great for indoor displays where people are standing inches away from the print.
The take-up system is also worth mentioning. It's sturdy enough to handle heavy rolls of 13oz banner material without tugging or causing tracking issues, which is crucial for those long overnight print runs.
Why the Used Market is Still Hot
If you look at used equipment listings, the Mutoh VJ 1624 pops up all the time, and they don't usually stay listed for long. Why? Because they are a known quantity. A shop owner knows that if they buy a used 1624, they can fix it, they can find ink for it, and they know exactly what kind of quality to expect.
It's also a great "entry-level" wide-format machine for someone moving up from a smaller setup. It's large enough to handle standard 60-inch media rolls, which is the industry standard for things like vehicle wrap vinyl. Having that extra width over a 48 or 54-inch printer opens up a lot of doors for bigger projects.
Some Quirks to Keep in Mind
No machine is perfect, and the VJ 1624 has its personality traits. For one, it's a bit of a loud breather. The vacuum fans that hold the media down are effective, but you'll definitely know when the machine is running.
Also, while it's fast, it's not the fastest machine on the planet by today's standards. If you are a massive high-volume shop doing thousands of square feet a day, you might find yourself wanting more speed. But for a mid-sized shop or a specialist shop that prioritizes quality over raw volume, it's plenty fast.
Another thing to watch is the ink. While there are plenty of third-party inks available for the Mutoh VJ 1624, sticking to high-quality Eco-Ultra inks (or very reputable third-party alternatives) is key to keeping that DX7 head alive. Saving a few bucks on "mystery ink" is the fastest way to end up buying a very expensive new print head.
Final Thoughts on the VJ 1624
At the end of the day, the Mutoh VJ 1624 is like that old pickup truck that starts every time it's cold outside. It might not have the touchscreen dashboard or the fancy sensors of the 2024 models, but it gets the job done and it doesn't complain.
It remains a favorite because it strikes a balance. It's professional enough for high-end work, simple enough for a solo operator to maintain, and durable enough to last for years. If you find one that's been well-maintained, or if you're currently running one, hold onto it. In a world where everything seems designed to be replaced every two years, the 1624 is a refreshing reminder that some things are just built right the first time.