Discuss the different types of equipment needed for screen printing. Topics include manual screen printing presses, automatic presses, dryers, folding machines, starter kits and high end machines.
hey, im looking to buy i press but one that i can print CMYK-picture-like prints, so i need a 6 colors one, right? i do not mind spending hours printing just a few tee's so having more that one station is useless for me. i will also print oversized like 22" wide screens.. and i need micro registration i think so the pictures i print look like pictures, right?
is there any press that can do that? a 2 station one will do the work too but i dont want to spend money for that.
check out Vastex. It's the best.....
You can get several different configurations. You might consider getting a 2 station unit because you might need to flash sometimes.
6 Color 1 Station Vastex Printer - Model V2HD-16-T is more that $3000, it has microregistration and is expandable to 2 stations.... ive found one (a new one) 6 colors 2 stations tabletop without microreg for less than $1000
so my question is the microreg feature actually worth $2000??
''Consistent registration makes it easy to use for multiple color prints''
''This press does not have micro registration, however it does have a very nice registration system which once the job is set up, will not lose registry. ''
The $2000 difference between this press and the Vastex involves more that just micros. The Vastex is far and away a more precision-built and substantial piece of equipment. For your $795, you should look for something like an old Hopkins without micros, or any of the older Hopkins International knock-offs. They were at least professional presses. My first press was an old Hopkins 6/4 that I paid $700 for. I could still buy the parts for it. The press was probably 15 years old or older. Look for threads on these forums regarding the press you're looking at. I've read complaints about the magnets letting go and the screens dropping down on people's hands while they were loading shirts.
The reason you want microreg is so that you can set up jobs more quickly and more accurately than you could without microregistration. This is especially important if you're planning on printing photo-like images which require really tight registration.
A new $3,000 press is miles away from an $800 press. The more you spend, the easier printing will be. But only you can decide where to draw the line between ease of use and value.
Look in the papers, on line. Do you have a little paper in your area that advertises cars and all kinds of used stuff for sale? I've bought the equipment from screen shops that have went out of business or who upgraded. I have bought package deals from them that had everything, (6/4 machine, oven, flash unit, light table) for $1000. It's all real old equipment but it worked well enough to make money so I could buy something nice.
My first car was a piece of junk but I made it work, now I have a nice one. Crawl before you can walk.
''Consistent registration makes it easy to use for multiple color prints''
''This press does not have micro registration, however it does have a very nice registration system which once the job is set up, will not lose registry. ''
i might buy it right away.. will that be stupid?
You will not be doing 4 color process prints with that 6 color press. You will not be able to register all 4 to be able to pull off the job. A 4 color or 6 color print yes, but not a process job.
6 colors, 1 station, micro 
