I have read many of the threads by others asking what type of press equipment you would recommend buying. It has been a great help in looking at what is available.
My question is that I have a budget of $8000 to start my new business of making t-shirts.
Since many of you have been through this already, I would like to get your ideas on how you would spend the $8000.
I would like to spend that much on a turn key start up package. Do you feel that I can set up a quality shop for that price...
Also should I save more for the computer software that is needed to design and print for the screens.
I have seen many different things on the net, but my mind is in overload on what to do now. Your honest opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Check out the packages on Silk Screening Supplies .com, screen printing equipment, silk screen printing kits, you can see what you'll get for various price ranges. I bought a kit for $1500 that has just about everything I need to print t-shirts, but as you can see on the site it's very easy to spend money haha - the higher priced ones come with bigger presses, conveyer driers, etc.
Also should I save more for the computer software that is needed to design and print for the screens.
I think software is often overlooked. The program that I used with my CNC router was $8000 all by itself. Professional software can be expensive. You could blow your budget on machinery just to find out you need $2000 in software before you can print anything. A good quality design program is just as important as a good quality press.
I am just getting started too. So my opinion is uneducated. I have been in the sign business my whole life. We owned a full service electric sign shop in Las Vegas. After closing down and moving to Oregon because of health we decided to start up a small sign shop from home. I still have all of my equipment. Well it has been 4 years and the sign business is very very slow. I decided to spend a couple hundred bucks on a heat press and now we can barely keep up with work. For large runs I have Ace make transfers for me for short runs I use my plotter to cut vinyl transfers. I have also been seeling loads of stock designs.
So I guess what I am saying after all of my rambling is. Have you thought about starting out with a heat press first? I do plan on setting up a screen press by the end of next year but I will be using it for Corplast signs more than for shirts. Either way you go good luck to you and keep us posted on how you are doing.
Sean
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Disabled Sign Painter Just getting started with T-Shirts.
I am at the tail end of my set up at this point. I would buy a good start up kit but set aside enough money for the software and printer. I would recomend that when you do pick a press it is atleast 6 color an 4 station. I went cheaqp and did the 4 color 2 station and really wish at this point I had just stepped up to the plate and baught the 6 or 8 color press. 4 color is very limitting and with no micros for registration i can pretty much forget process color for now. I guess what I am trying to say is don't short sell yourself on smaller cuz it will bite you in the very near future. Im livin it right now. I have only been doing this for around 4 months and have already turned work away because they wanted 4 or 5 colors on a dark shirt and I am only capable of 3 plus a base. 2 of those jobs would have almost paid for a 6 color Riley Hopkins press. Needless to say I will be purchasing another press early next year and will not make the same mistake twice.
I would recommend looking around for used equipment before you dive into a package... you will be surprised on both how fast the $8,000 will go, and how many new expenses you will find yourself needing to cover after the $8000 is gone...
I currently own one of the ryonet table top 4color 2 station presses. The quality is ok but its abilities are limitted and set up can be a pain sometimes. I have seen the mixed reviews on the hopkins presses also. I was ablt to try the hopkins press at the SGIA show this year and was actually quite impressed with it. At this point if I were going to buy a new press it would be a toss up between A Hopkins and a Brown MFG. press. I really like the joystick registration of the Hopkins though. As for the quality of the Hopkins, it looked pretty stout but I did not spend a ton of time checking it out as there were so Many vendors to see and not enough time for me to get to them all.
Used equipment is another angle to think of. Just dont buy sight unseen as some of the stuff I have checked out is worn out and/or over priced.
I would recommend looking around for used equipment before you dive into a package... you will be surprised on both how fast the $8,000 will go, and how many new expenses you will find yourself needing to cover after the $8000 is gone...
Exactly what I was thinking. If you look for good solid used equipment, you can get some incredible deals. Then you have some working capital for supplies, tshirts, software and other items that you will need along the way. Believe me, you'll find the expenses more than you bargained for.
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BelQuette Inc, 877.202.0886 & Screener's Choice, 330-345-5877
Mod1 Direct to Garment Printer, Made in the USA www.belquette.com
We bought a used
Hopkins 8 color 4 station press, conv. dryer, spot dryer, exposure unit plus a lot more stuff off Ebay. Just watch for the deals and you can find some good deals on used equip there. We just bought a automatic press off ebay for a unbelieveable price. We picked it up this week, and it is totally awesome.
I'd say used is a great idea, that's how I started. I now have new press & dryer. Let the business build itself and then it will get easier to afford more equipment.
The main thing that I personally would say is that if you're going to get into this seriously, buy equipment that you won't grow out of in a year. I know a lot of people say a 4/1 or 4/2 works, but they also admit that it slows them down.
Get a dryer and a flash, not just a flash.
If you're just starting out, I wouldn't suggest getting a super-nice printer for positives. A desktop printer will do everything you need it to until you start getting into process printing. Corel draw will do just about anything you need, I got mine one ebay for $100. Spend a good amount on screens and squeegies, you always need more than you have, so have some backup.
Homebuild anything you think you can to save a little $$ (as long as it works decent enough compared to commercially built) I built a drying cabinet from cheap home depot cabinets, a small space heater and some 2x2's. I just finished building a metal-halide exposure unit. It'll burn screens in under a minute and I've got less than $200 in it.
Honestly, I think you could set up a pretty nice startup shop for the $8k, I bet if you scour for used and DIY what you can, you could do it for half that.
good luck, i hope you love this business as much as i do!!
$ 8000 to spend on new equipment for start up 
