Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by downrodeo
are 1 or 2 color presses worth the $? I have a really limited budget, and it looks like those are the only options available for me... what do you guys think?
Only you can decide if they are worth it. They will really limit what you can do, but if your only 2 choices are that or nothing, then I guess they are better than nothing.
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
MB not to discourage you and thats not my intent. But running a screeprint business even on a small scale it HARD WORK. A lot of the folks selling the stuff lead people to believe it's a cake walk and theres just money everywhere for screen printers. You will find ultimately that you will need help thats an expense. Unless you contract out your design work you will have to do that which takes time. You will have to deal with the customers. And on and on .... I have no doubt you can do it but consider the amount of work and expense involved carefully. I have worked in screen print shops and sign shops enough to know that its just plain hard dirty work. Maybe thats why I just design now lol ...Best of luck to you and if you want shoot me an email and I will try to help ya put together an exposure unit that works great for a liittle bit of money. I think I have the suppliers for all the stuff in my favs I will check.
Again best of luck to you in your new venture!
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Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
Yeah!! I fully hear you Brian. I know this is not going to be easy. Also, I will have a harder time than most because I have to work in a another country. I have to most of my business in Japanese. In Japan there are less people willing to help you. That why I have to rely on forums like this.
The thing I know now is: 1) I want to do it. 2) I want to learn. 3) I have a big market here. And not many screener. And 4) I like to try new things.
I will take any help I can get. I do thank all who have helped.
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by downrodeo
are 1 or 2 color presses worth the $? I have a really limited budget, and it looks like those are the only options available for me... what do you guys think?
They're worth it if you can get one cheap and are desperate to start. It will limit your options considerably, but one and two colour prints are enough for a lot of stuff anyway... colour is overrated
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
I'm glad you said that, because I am really running out of options. Based on feedback, I think I may go for this machine, which is without micro registration. It is one of the only machines that are within my budget and from what I hear they are ok... unless of course you guys have other solutions?
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
MB, I am in very much the same boat as you. Myself and a friend are looking to start up a small operation in the next few months and in all honesty, for my own $...I would not go less than a 4 col setup. Unless you are absolutely sure you will never use more than 1-2 cols.
Even then, it can be kinda handy & a bit of a time saver, to have extra heads to work with in case you want to leave a job setup or need set up another job very quickly and don't want to have to take down any screen that you might still be using.
I've been in the printing business since the mid-80's and in the T-Shirt biz for the last 3+yrs....and to this day, I am constantly amazed how often people will come back and re order or add onto orders immediately after you've finished their order. Much of that deals with company politics & how you're dealing with your customers...but bottom line is that most small/startup level companies are not in the position of turning away add ons when they come walking through the door.
Depending on you own overall approach & how hard your going to push your business, I would opt for more (within your budget of course) versus less, when it comes to the quality & features of your press. Your press and how it functions (or doesn't) is what's going to make money for you. added expenses like 4-6 or more heads, good solid construction and little things like micro-registration might seem inconsequential now.....but the cons of not opting for them will add up if your production slows and your enthusiasm wanes because of shoddy equipment holding you back. If this is more of an added income/hobby, that's one scenario where maybe you'd hold back....but if it's going to be your main source, don't short change yourself.
As far as those complete kits....I was really taken by them at first, but the more that I eyeball them, the less of a bargain they seem to be. I haven't bought any of them yet....so I won't outright dog any of it. But some of the presses seem a little on the wimpy side.....those sheet metal ones just don't look too reliable to me. Take into account, that being a start up business...it make take awhile before your press finds it's "home". You may out grow your space & need to move right away....or you may just need to go through numerous floor plans before you find one that works efficiently for you. Either way, good solid tubular construction with hold up much better over the long haul, than any of those with the flimsy sheet metal bases will.
The rest of the stuff...I've been browsing Ebay for several weeks now and I'm almost positive that you could piece together a kit for your self that is comparable in price and better in quality. Things like brand new heat presses are selling for about 1/3 the cost of buying them from any of the retailers that I've been searching through. I'm basically using those kits as a check list of everything that I'm looking for and then hunting for them individually & comparing prices...for now at least. LOL
BTW, I don't mean to come off as some know-it-all, because I certainly am not. But in the last 20yrs, I have worked in several companies where corners where constantly cut in the equipment end of things.....and there is no doubt that quality/productivity/profit takes the hit when you do that. I would honestly recommend putting your hands on anything that you plan to buy, whenever possible....or at least be sure that it can be returned if it is not of the quality that you had anticipated.
Anyway sorry for the wordy-ness here. LOL This is the same process that we are currently going through...so I guess I got to rambling quite a bit here. As I am looking for myself, I will be sure to pass along any info/deals I come across, that might be useful to you.
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
Thanks Don. I feel you. Im going to get the Hopkins press (New) and then I have a friend that is going to hook me up with a used flash and canv. dryer. I will make my own exposure with a 750 wat helg. I might buy the ink/screen pack from sss.com. I have the extra expence of shipping everything to Japan. (which sucks!!) To buy equipment here cost the same or more than buying in the US and shipping it. Catch 22
Just need to work on my film output and washout. Should be set after that.
MB
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Learn what rules to follow and which ones to break. オリジナルTシャツ
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
After all the shopping around and emailing and telephone calls and a trip. I have found the press. At first I was going to go with the Hopkins press but I foung a screen printing body in Japan and he has a set up that sounds good. Now I dont have to ship it to here (Japan).
The press:
The flash is a black body 2000 watt flash and a black body 24in x 6ft. 2000 watt conveyor dryer.
A set of screens, inks, chems, blow-out gun, laser heat gun, all the stuff needed to get started.
I will build my own exposure using HID one light source. I found some cool plans.
So here I go.
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Learn what rules to follow and which ones to break. オリジナルTシャツ
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
Does he have more and is he willing to ship to Malaysia? I managed to find one in Thailand, M&R is present there, a 4X4 with Micro Reg, but the price may just be way to costly for me... I am looking more for a starter kit, but in these parts it's pretty hard to get any 4X1 presses.
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think?
I dont think so. But he said that he would import from the US if needed. I dont know if he can ship to there.
I will be in touch with him later. I will let you know.
__________________
Learn what rules to follow and which ones to break. オリジナルTシャツ
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think? 
As I am looking for myself, I will be sure to pass along any info/deals I come across, that might be useful to you.
Re: About to buy screen printing equipment. What do you think? 
