...I did my research and I am going to get a black body 18" x 18" (1941W, 16.2A) flash dryer from silkscreensupplies...I don't do large run production, mainly I do small run (1-3 dozen) of my clothing line. Well, a heat gun got old quick, so it's time to buck up and get a flash...
I have 2 questions:
1) I am getting the flash, but find it rediculous to pay an extra $200 for a stand, so I think I am going to make one. I don't see it being difficult! Has anyone done this and have any advise or "issues" I might be overlooking?
2) What about a temp. control? Can one of them be made (variable resistor maybe)? I was just going to buy a temp. gun and check it, rather then paying another $200...That seems more logical/practical to me. B/c I wouldn't trust the temp. setting anyway and would rather test it, plus I have a cool gadget for grilling steaks...
Personally I have the 16x16 of this model and a temp gun works better because you're actually reading the temp of the ink you're curing, not the output of the flash dryer. Once you figure out how long the shirt takes to reach cure temp on that run...you just go. I wouldn't mess around with having to build a stand, and making sure that it can support the top heavy drying head. You don't exactly want a 300 degree toaster tipping over at the slightest touch. The one that SSS offers for $195 doesn't even roll. That's just stupid IMO.
I'm not a huge fan of Silk Screening Supplies as they are just way too pricey, when they don't have to be. I make it a point to shop around, and eBay for me has been a great success. It's time to save money on equipment, and use it to buy re-sellable goods...like ink and clothing. I dunno...just my 2˘ worth.
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I might go with the Afford a flash 16x16...It comes with roller stand but no on light...I just figured I could get a better unit for around the same price and save by making or buying a less expensive stand...I really don't see any rocket science behind the stands!
From what I've read around the web, Black Body is the way to go...I'm not really looking to go cheap on the unit, but I am looking to cut costs where I see fit (i.e. the $200 stand). I'm still on the fence about buying/building one...
SSS can be pricey on certain items (like the temp gun), but I've had nothing but great customer service with them!!!
This is the one I had originally: 16x16" 1,800 Watt Screen Printing Flash Dryer
And I would not recommend it. It's very difficult to level the head, and the switch fried on me within the first year.
Yeah, I am pretty much sold on a BBC...Now its btwn the one you have 18x18, 1641W and the 16x16, 1575W...I assume the 18" would be better even though I only have a 16x16 platen at the moment (better heat coverage).
But after brainstorming a bit. I might rather than make a stand with wheels, make a rotating stand that mounts to my table (to the right of my 1c press) and then setup another platen on the other side (at the same height as my print platen) so I can rotate it to the other side and finish cure a shirt while another one is being set up for printing.
Easy enough right? The only problem I see that might come about is the flash unit interfearing with my screen lowering??? Any opinions since I am not familiar with flash units dimensions...
I'd go with the bigger one if you can afford it. If you are going to use the flash to cure your shirts, you need to be able to move it around easily. You do NOT want to cure the shirts on your platen. When you cure, you need to take the shirt off the platen and place it on a curing table. So your flash needs to be easily movable between your curing table and your platen (for flashing). So wheels are very important if you are to use it for curing. If you have an dryer/oven, then you don't really need to be moving your flash around, and a regular stand will do.
You do NOT want to cure the shirts on your platen. When you cure, you need to take the shirt off the platen and place it on a curing table.
Thats what I meant by table mounting it on a swivel next to my press...Then build a curing table on the other side (at the same height as the print platen).
Thats what I meant by table mounting it on a swivel next to my press...Then build a curing table on the other side (at the same height as the print platen).
Do you know of anyone with this type of setup?
Ok, yeah, that's good. However, the one I had doesn't really seem to rotate out of the way enough for the screen to clear it when it come down into position. Or at least it's in the way of being able to move freely. That's why I said it's very helpful for it to be mobile.
Easy enough right? The only problem I see that might come about is the flash unit interfering with my screen lowering??? Any opinions since I am not familiar with flash units dimensions...
I was worried about that...Now I am thinking maybe I can rig the table mount on a slide??? Or just bite the bullet and buy a stand
Flash Dryer help... 
tipping over at the slightest touch. The one that SSS offers for $195 doesn't even roll. That's just stupid IMO.
