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 found a shop about 4 hours away selling their 98' 6 Color 8 Station M&R Gauntlet S. I've been searching the web forever and can't find a single thing about it except for some classifieds selling the same press.
Does anyone own this press that can let me know some details about it?
Air supplied or Electric?
Max print area?
What is the "S" series?
The ad says it replaced MAC Valves, what is that?
Overall performance of the press?
They are asking $12k for it, is that market value? I'm thinking I can go to offering $10k cash for it.
Since this will be our first auto, is it procedure to have a M&R tech come out and disassemble and re-install in our shop?
Yes on the M&R tech. 10k good price. How many impressions? Guanltet 6/8 air index, air heads, I believe. All M&R autos are solid, if it prints now, it ain't gonna stop. Does it have a flash?
10k good deal, but you will want/need more heads. I have 7 and I am barely getting by. When you add a flash you loose 1-2 stations.
MAC valves are the air manifold valves, since they're replaced, you should have one less thing to worry about.
Yes on the M&R tech. 10k good price. How many impressions? Guanltet 6/8 air index, air heads, I believe. All M&R autos are solid, if it prints now, it ain't gonna stop. Does it have a flash?
10k good deal, but you will want/need more heads. I have 7 and I am barely getting by. When you add a flash you loose 1-2 stations.
MAC valves are the air manifold valves, since they're replaced, you should have one less thing to worry about.
Thanks for the reply, it has about 250k prints. It comes with an Omni flash. I'm still debating whether to buy a new press and finance or the used one in cash. Both have trade offs.
That is a fairly low amount of impressions for an 11 year old press. Depending on the prior maintenance of the press I would not hesitate to buy it. The gauntlet is a great press and if your new to automatics then you will love it. Going automatic is an awesome thing, congrats if you take that step.
An indexer is the device that rotates or turns the press. The indexer can either be driven by air or by an electric motor.
I would also find out whether or not the press has the "Revolver" program. This is a distinct feature of M&R presses which lets you program in a "flash" sequence. In other words if you want to print-flash-print an underbase, this M&R software allows you to accomplish a pfp without having to turn heads on and off.
I own a 1995 Gauntlet S. I have had it for 7 years. I bought it from the original owner who i knew. It was well taken care of. No problems at all, parts are available. The revolver flash program is nice to have. I believe my press was Mr. Carliss' first press he ever sold for M&R. There is no way keep track of the number of impressions on the press. I have only put 225,000 on my machine in 7 years. If this is your first automatic and if you can not afford a new one, i would only buy a reconditioned on. I would look into other new entry level automatics by Tuf (Freedom / Javelin) and M&R Diamondback. You will also need a compressor and a chiller. Also a bigger dryer with at least a 36" wide belt.
Good Luck
Peter
I didn't know the press didn't have a counter on it. I contacted the seller and he said he recently moved and the press is disassembled right now and crated. I was hoping the press was still up and running so I could physically go check it out, but since it's not, I don't feel comfortable spending 10k on something I don't know will even run properly.
I'm thinking of taking that 10k and putting some money as down payment and financing the rest for a 7 color / 8 station M&R diamondback. I'm only wanting to pay $500ish a month for the press.
As this will be our first auto, can anyone tell me how much your avg electricity bill is? I once read that someone's bill was over $1000 a month (for a 6/8 press.) I want to make sure I can actually afford running the press too after I purchase it!
Electricity is not that high for the press and dryer and flash and compressor. Go 7/8 diamondback "b" version. Lease it. Pay 500/mo.
The only thing is.... It's gonna cost you a lot to own and equip the new set-up and vast increase in production. Could cost you an added 6-10grand to get going good AFTER you've uncrated the press. Go hard or go to sleep!
Electricity is not that high for the press and dryer and flash and compressor. Go 7/8 diamondback "b" version. Lease it. Pay 500/mo.
The only thing is.... It's gonna cost you a lot to own and equip the new set-up and vast increase in production. Could cost you an added 6-10grand to get going good AFTER you've uncrated the press. Go hard or go to sleep!
Ridgely,
What dryer are you using with yours? I have a 36" wide with 3 heating elements on a 8' length belt. It has speed and heat adustments and the thing is pretty fast. Most will be plastisol prints so not too worried about the dryer, ...yet.
Was your installation and training free from M&R? Our vendor says it will install, train and send a tech out for the price. Of course I would need to pay for an electrician.
During this transition from manual to automatic, I'm thinking I should close shop for a month when it delivers so it can be installed and etc.
You've done it already with the same press, so I desperately need your help!
(I see it this way, I am losing money by not getting an auto because I can't turn jobs fast enough on manuals and customers are leaving because I can't respond fast enough. I estimate losing $5k in sales in the last 2 weeks because of not getting back to repeat customers).
I've got a small 24" dryer- barely keeps up, but cures good- 6 feet of heat and 3 panels.
Tech and install are paid in the deal.
You will have to train yourself- they can't show you enough in 6 hours.
Do not shut down- keep it spinnin.
Sometimes losing money is making money. Sometimes not having to spend it is better than making more.
Then you're gonna need people- probably more than you have now in your operation.
If all goes as planned, you should only lose one full day of production. If you can take care of the electrical aspects and have everything ready for the install those guys will have air and electricity pumping through it's veins by lunch time. After a nice lunch they'll be ready to start fine tuning and calibrating everything and by 5pm you'll be playing with your new money maker. There will be some misprints the first few weeks so get ready but once you get acclamated you'll wonder how you ever got by without it.
Hello Henry, Concerning my post about the impresssion counter on the older Gauntlet S. Yes, it does have a led counter but it has no memory. So once you reset it you are at zero. I would call an electrician and accountant and tell them what you are thinking of doing. Do not forget about plattens, i have 4 different sets for my press. Have your compressor/ chiller and all your electrical requirements finished before the press arrives. I have a small insulated shed next to my garage for the compressor / chiller. Here are some elctrical requirements for some equipment:
compressor, 7.5 hp, 80 gal, 230v, 1 phase, 30 amps
chiller, 230v, 1 phase, 10 amps
omni flash, 240v, 15.5 amps
Gauntlet press, 110v, 5 amps, 1 phase
1998 Gauntlet S Series 6/8 Auto 
Electricity is not that high for the press and dryer and flash and compressor. Go 7/8 diamondback "b" version. Lease it. Pay 500/mo.
