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.
I am pretty new with the whole t-shirt business, and i am looking for tips to help me.
My company isn't very big and we make a few tshirts a week to sell, but we never had much money to start with so we are doing this very cheap. For example, we don't have any of the good equipment, we have a single screen for screen printing, a couple colors of ink and not much else.
I was wondering if any one has started of this way and if there are any good tips out there for me.
(and remeber I dont have that much money my budget is under $100)
I don't have a lot of info for you on the screen printing side of the world, but don't under estimate the quality of a t-shirt using heat transfer paper.
It complements your screen printing offering and both very economical for your customer and yourself.
The digital paper products, both for laser and inkjet have come a long way these last couple of years.
Thanks,
Roberto
Last edited by sunnydayz; January 3rd, 2009 at 03:53 PM.
Reason: removed website address per forum guidelines.
Also I would like to know if there is any really cheap equipment I could use in helping expand my business, or if there are any ways of making my own equipment like a flash dryer, or multi color press?
Also I would like to know if there is any really cheap equipment I could use in helping expand my business, or if there are any ways of making my own equipment like a flash dryer, or multi color press?
Clay,
There are plenty of free plans floating around the forums that will show you how to make a usable multicolor press on the cheap. Just put "press plans" into the forums search and you'll come up with a bunch of listings.
As for a flash dryer and other equipment, I'd search craigslist and other classifieds in your area for used equipment. Sometimes you can pick something up for a song.
but PositiveDave I already know how to print and i needed better equipment and i already built my own screen printing press that is a two station four color press.
Also back to the tips.
Are there any other good tips out there for some one in my position.
Before I considered doing plastisol paints, I just used water based paints that, even though they tend to dry faster, makes for cheap printing. The print can be cured using a good hand iron, so it saves a lot of money. Plus there is the added 'soft' feel that you get from waterbased.
One problem that I faced was trying to figure out how to get bigger images and the only way I could figure out was bigger transparencies on a printer that was able to run 13x18 prints. The transparencies were expensive (about $1 one and have to use 2 for a good solid black). The other issue was RIP software which ran me about $400. So not cheap. My only recommendation would be stick to spot color designs and either connect multiple designs from smaller screens to make one bigger design or just make smaller designs.
Another nice way of printing is discharge paste which you could even cure using an iron or a cheap heat gun (the kind to strip paint, but careful not to scorch the shirt).
The down-side of not being able to invest money in some of the equipment is spent in time to do it using less efficient methods.
The down-side of not being able to invest money in some of the equipment is spent in time to do it using less efficient methods.
that is very true but in the beginning you don't have money to invest, but once you start selling your product you can get some great profit and invest that into better equipment.
thanks for the tips hopefully i can get more good ones like these.
any tips on helping my very small business? 
