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brent · February 2nd, 2007

Hi,
As I dream of my business expanding in the next year, I've begun to think about what equipment I might need. Right now I'm using a barebones system, just a 4 color manual table, no frills at all, and an iron. I hope to be able to afford and be busy enough to validate getting a flash cure unit in the next couple of months. Anyway, I was at a screen supply place in northeast philly earlier this week and saw this machine; "All American 4 Color 2 Station PonyXprs PX-426 Printing System." At least that's what they call it on their website (Screen Printing Equipments, Rhinestone equipment and supply, Pad Printers, Heat Transfer Press and Supply, . for a picture and price) On the machine itself it just said 'pony 2006' and 'brown manufacturing company.' Who here uses a machine like this, a combination nice 4 color, 1 or more station maual press with built in conveyor belt oven? Are they a good bargain, two units in one, or should the units really be kept seperate? If anyone has a set up like that, could you talk about what model/brand it is so that I could google some information about it. I just want to learn what I can now as I daydream about the future, so any ideas/info on these sorts of set ups would be very much appreciated.

Greg Hamrick · February 4th, 2007

Looks cute and petite for small orders might be sweet.

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brent · February 4th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Hamrick


	Looks cute and petite for small orders might be sweet. .

Did you mean to rhyme?

I figure a machine like that would be a good unit to start with when I expand. I would expect that I could have pretty good rate of production with it, and if I and another printer were doing one color prints so that we didn't have to rotate screens and could work independently of each other on different stations we could produce many shirts.
I'm just excited about the possibility of any methods of curing shirts other than my stupid iron! And micro alignment sounds like a dream. On my current basic table aligning screens for two color prints is a big pain in the butt.

Greg Hamrick · February 4th, 2007

It would definately be a big advantage over the "Pain in the Butt" way. Go for it and good luck.

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brent · February 4th, 2007

Do you think i'd be better off getting seperate units, perhaps a 4color/4station manual press and a larger curing oven? Or would a combo be a good first step towards a real setup? I could always add more equipment later...

Greg Hamrick · February 4th, 2007

Do you have the customers? If so, I would go with a six color press and a separate dryer. That way your not limited to just printing four colors. One day you might get into printing four-color-process printing, and on a dark shirt you'll need to under-base with white. You'll also need a flash dryer with multi-colored prints.

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feilong · February 6th, 2007

thats the Brown Manufacturing unit. It is two seperate units, you can just combine them as one. The brown press sucks !! (I know first hand). My advice is lok at the Riley Hopkins press, it's joystick calibration puts micro calibration to shame. And for a good conveyer, look at the black body little buddy 2, and even the black body flash unit.

brent · February 6th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by feilong


	thats the Brown Manufacturing unit. It is two seperate units, you can just combine them as one. The brown press sucks !! (I know first hand). My advice is lok at the Riley Hopkins press, it's joystick calibration puts micro calibration to shame. And for a good conveyer, look at the black body little buddy 2, and even the black body flash unit.

I was thinking about getting the brown mp-644 master printer sometime in the future... I'll consider a Riley press with joysticks. Thanks for the tip.

And I'm planning on getting a black body flash cure unit as soon as next week. No more ironing!

artlifedotus · February 13th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by brent


	Hi, As I dream of my business expanding in the next year, I've begun to think about what equipment I might need. ..saw this machine; "All American 4 Color 2 Station PonyXprs PX-426 Printing System." .. I just want to learn what I can now as I daydream about the future, so any ideas/info on these sorts of set ups would be very much appreciated.

I would not recommend getting a press with a dryer underneath.
you'll get hot and it'll dry up your ink on the screen.
are you using plastisol or water-base ink?
Your best bet for now is get a press-a 4 or six color with as many stations as you can afford but at least 2, and get a flash unit. hold off on the conveyor dryer til you have too much work and can't get it all done with a flash unit as you print.
if you can't afford both, get the press and get a decent heat gun to cure the shirt, don't iron. the iron probably does not do a good job curing the ink unless you are using water base inks. heat gun will be faster and allow you to use specialty inks that have higher/longer cure temp like puff and metallics.
also never do any freebies (unless charitable donation with your logo & contact info on it) to try and drum up business- all it does is create an expectation for discounts.
i've been in apparel decorating and screen printing for going on 30 years so if there's a mistake, i've probably already made it

hehe
good luck.

artlifedotus · February 13th, 2007

Some more pointers- if at all possible, do not get a press that clamps at just the back of the screen. side clamps that move along a back bar are best (like a Rototex).

Ujudgnme2 · February 18th, 2007

I just commend on this unit under another post. I saw this unit at the ISS in Long Beach 2007. I was a bit impressed by the design but worried about the quality.

Although I do not see myself needing more than a 4 color press, I still dont think the Brown maybe a good choice for me.

brent · February 18th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ujudgnme2


	I just commend on this unit under another post. I saw this unit at the ISS in Long Beach 2007. I was a bit impressed by the design but worried about the quality. Although I do not see myself needing more than a 4 color press, I still dont think the Brown maybe a good choice for me.

Yeah, it'll be a while before I buy a 4 or 6 color press, but I'm questioning the brown units now, and may go for a Riley press instead. They're cheaper and seem to be better... I'm going to ISS in atlantic city next month so hopefully they'll have each brand there so I can see them in real life before I decide which to order down the road...

feilong · February 20th, 2007

yesah get a physical feel of both presses. You'll feel how good the Riley press is when it pivots compared to the Brown. Make sure you play with one right after the other so you can actually feel the differences.