Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Hi!
I just joined the forum and I'm really excited to get to know all of you. I'm
just getting going in the business and I look forward to everyones excellent advice. I found a great number of information sites and honestly it has me rather a bit confused .
I just bought a Geo Knight Swing heat press, it is an older one but works perfect!
The guy I bought it from only made 50 mouse pads on it. So it is virtually brand new. I want to get started making T-shirts for my other business and need to keep start up costs to a minimum. I'm needing lots of information from the best. I have ordered books from Wildside, Artbrands, ProWorld, etc, for stock heat transfers but I'm also looking for advice on printing my own from my own designs.
I'm looking for some great advice on what kind of printer I need to buy and what are the most cost effective, decent quality inks I should start out with. Like I mentioned I need to keep costs to a minimum until I get up and going and able to invest more. Yet at the same time I don't want to waste money either.
Any information you can give a REAL newbie is greatly appreciated.
You have to becareful getting into this business or any business.
Now if you do your own designs for clients and they order them then I recommend plastisol transfers for the shirts. Using an ink jet printer then I recommend a c120 epson printer it replaces the c88+ (Pigment inks) gail what is the theme of your stock transfer and sizes.
__________________ There is a center to everything.. I found mine at.. www.heatpressessentials.com Tools to get the job done! www.tbiz101.com (New)Heat Transfer Education
Last edited by Rodney; November 27th, 2007 at 04:11 PM.
Reason: removed comments about lack of a plan
Hi Lou,
Thanks for the reply. That is definately my plan, that is why I ordered the catalogs. However, I would like to be able to customize the shirts for them
by putting names etc. on them. I will order a few and make some samples for
people to order by. I'm in the Dog Business and run an Obedience school.
Customized shirts with their dogs name on them or, their favorite hobbies with their dogs such as Agility or even ones with just "Paw" accents are quite hot.
Eventually I would like to be able to take their dogs picture and print the shirts so they are completely customized for them. BUt like I said I'm starting small and working my way up, trying to NOT make some really costly mistakes as I know alot of people have made, unfortunately.
Currently I have an Epson R220 which I don't think is going to work, I'm busy
right now researching the printers on the forum. But I do want to use pigmented inks? Is there one brand better than others? Also what transfer paper would you reccommend?
Maureen, welcome. First advice I have to trow out there. DO NOT ORDER from proworld!!!!! It is costly, and doesn't really make your life any easier, it is much more cost efficient to just order from each seperate company.
Your business sounds like a good idea, mainly for the customization part, which is a huge industry in and of itself.
Have you written a business plan yet, because if not, I would say that is your next step.
I will just say that when I bought my printer I went with the Epson 1280 so that I could print large format for those 3xl and larger shirts. to me it just doesn't look right on the really big shirts with only the 8 1/2 x 11 prints. My transfers come out fantastic. my only drawback has always been the opaque transfers because of the heavy hand but I've ordered paper from NewMilfordphoto to try.
I'm in the Dog Business and run an Obedience school.
Customized shirts with their dogs name on them or, their favorite hobbies with their dogs such as Agility or even ones with just "Paw" accents are quite hot.
Eventually I would like to be able to take their dogs picture and print the shirts so they are completely customized for them. BUt like I said I'm starting small and working my way up, trying to NOT make some really costly mistakes as I know alot of people have made, unfortunately.
I understand your concern about making mistakes and this forum is a great place to learn from others mistakes as well as contribute when you make mistakes. I believe you have a good idea with the dog market. Pet owners are "crazy" about their animals. I have thought about the same market and can easily see pet photo's on tee's, mousepads, puzzles, coasters etc. You could sell directly to our customers as well as go to local vet offices and promote your products through them. I'm sure they would allow a few business cards and or "sell sheets" in the waiting room.
Do go with an Epson printer using DURABrite or Ultra Durabrite inks. HP has a pigmented ink called Vivera but not much has been posted on that ink yet.
Check out Coastal Business who is one of our sponsors as they offer a wide range of products to imprint. Lou has also tested their new SOFstretch paper and gives it a thumbs up.
I believe you have a good idea with the dog market. Pet owners are "crazy" about their animals. I have thought about the same market and can easily see pet photo's on tee's, mousepads, puzzles, coasters etc. You could sell directly to our customers as well as go to local vet offices and promote your products through them. I'm sure they would allow a few business cards and or "sell sheets" in the waiting room.
Do go with an Epson printer using DURABrite or Ultra Durabrite inks. HP has a pigmented ink called Vivera but not much has been posted on that ink yet.
Check out Coastal Business who is one of our sponsors as they offer a wide range of products to imprint. Lou has also tested their new SOFstretch paper and gives it a thumbs up.
Good luck...
Thanks Chip!
YES! I do believe it's going to be a great market. I mentioned it to a few of my clients that I would be doing custom T's and they are asking everytime they come in if I'm up and running yet. It's awesome I just have to get things put together here real quick. I wish I had started this much sooner so I had more time before X-mas. By this spring hopefully I will be able to run a booth at the dog shows as well. I just have to come up with a very unique niche that will be new and exciting from what is selling right now. I have some really good ideas in mind though. Just need to learn what this stuff is really all about before I can go hog wild
I have a new HP Printer that uses Vivera ink so I'm definately going to give it a try and see what it produces. I think the key is going to be to find the right transfer paper. I'm also going to go ahead and buy another Epson as well.
Is there a big difference between the Durabrite and Ultra Durabrite ink? I'm going to research this but if you know that would be a big help.
I'm going to order some transfer paper in the morning and I will post the results using the vivera ink as well. All I currently have is some cheap Office Max transfer paper, so I'd like to go with a better quality paper to test it out.
Geez....this forum is such an awesome asset!!
Maureen
Last edited by Rodney; November 27th, 2007 at 04:15 PM.
Reason: fixed quote marks
I would recommend the Epson C88 ....... Epson 1280 ......Epson 1400. The Espon 1280 is being replaced by the 1400. Are you going to be doing sublimation or just heat transfers?
I would buy the Epson 1400. I know it is more expensive, but the 1400 allows you to pirnt on 11 x 17 and 13 x 19 paper.
I also prefer the Geo, Knight swing away. I print alot of large cutting boards and ceramic tiles.
HOpe this helps,
Sonya Blackwell
Conde Systems
Last edited by Rodney; November 27th, 2007 at 04:13 PM.
Reason: removed phone number
I have a new HP Printer that uses Vivera ink so I'm definately going to give it a try and see what it produces. I think the key is going to be to find the right transfer paper. I'm also going to go ahead and buy another Epson as well.
Is there a big difference between the Durabrite and Ultra Durabrite ink? I'm going to research this but if you know that would be a big help.
I'm going to order some transfer paper in the morning and I will post the results using the vivera ink as well. All I currently have is some cheap Office Max transfer paper, so I'd like to go with a better quality paper to test it out.
Geez....this forum is such an awesome asset!!
Maureen
I will look forward to the new HP Vivera ink tests so let us know. On the Epson inks I can't tell you the difference. I use an Epson CX5000 with DURAbrite and read somewhere that the Ultra was not compatible. I'll have to check on that as well.
I will look forward to the new HP Vivera ink tests so let us know. On the Epson inks I can't tell you the difference. I use an Epson CX5000 with DURAbrite and read somewhere that the Ultra was not compatible. I'll have to check on that as well.
Good luck...
The Ultra is an improved durabrite ink. The Vivera ink is HP answer to durabrite.
__________________ There is a center to everything.. I found mine at.. www.heatpressessentials.com Tools to get the job done! www.tbiz101.com (New)Heat Transfer Education
Don't forget there is also the option of Color Laser printer transfers.
I use a Konica Minolta 2400 magicolor laser printer. Very fast. Photo quality is
just as good as with the inkjet (I used to use Epson before) plus they use toner which is alot cheaper than ink.
REAL Newbie 
I found a great number of information sites and honestly it has me rather a bit confused 
. 
I have ordered books from Wildside, Artbrands, ProWorld, etc, for stock heat transfers but I'm also looking for advice on printing my own from my own designs. 
. 
Re: REAL Newbie 
Maureen and Gail
