Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
Based up in MN, I checked out silkscreeingsupplies.com aint that bad, I like the way they are selling their products, in packages...it makes it easier. Now are the prices there fair, for those of you that know?
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by balkx2
Silk Screening Supplies .com, screen printing equipment, silk screen printing kits Go to that site. They have a bunch of packages that you can choose from but i would suggest a 6 color with at least a 4 pallons... Or baseboard for the shirts. Or you can always look for used equipment i do have a flash dryer that is 18x18 for 400 bucks that includes shipping. Hit me up if you would like it.
How about the 4 colors one? with 2 stations? Is that a bad choice for starting out small?
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
I would defanitly use that site.
My experence with ebay isnt good. I baught a 4 color 4 station press about 4 years ago and you will find (especialy with ebay) they are selling it because one little piece is broken. And that one little piece messes everything up. LoL. And they "forget" to emtnion these things. lol.
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
Yeah, personally I don't think ebay or craigslist are the places to go for equipment.
If you don't mind buying equipment without seeing it in person, go online. Personally I'd like to look at it and play with it before I bought it, plus I hate waiting for things to ship. I'd rather go somewhere and get it.
But if you were going to get a machine I would say nothing less than 4 color/ 4 station. It will make your life easier and you'll be able to print faster with the 4 stations.
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
If you think that you will not be doing anything more then 4 colors. Then that's the way to go for starting out. Remember on a dark garment you need an underbase white so your press becomes a 3 color with an under white, and if there is white in the print there goes your second color. Thank of what your going to be printing if its no more then 4 colors not a bad deal but if you go higher then you may need more. I always say start with 6 but 4 is still good.
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
I purchased mine from Silk Screening Supplies .com, screen printing equipment, silk screen printing kits
Great bunch of guys. I purchased 4color/4station which is good for most things but now I am wishing that I got the 6/4 instead. I have been doing more 5 and 6 color jobs. I bought a cheap 6/2 just to fill the gap.
I just didn't think before that I would be doing more that four colors.
Also look at taking a class as well.
Best of luck in your search.
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
The only things I would buy there are the Riley Hopkins floor models or the Workhorse, and they aren't cheap, but at least you'll get some use out of them.
I also think package deals aren't the best, unless you're really saving a bunch of cash. Look around on these forums and you'll see that everyone has different opinions as to what works best in terms of mesh and frames, inks, etc. When you buy a package, you're getting what one person thinks is usable, but it might not be what will work best for you, and you wind up with ink on the shelf that you've got no use for, or frames with a mesh count that you can't use.
I also think anyone serious about getting into this business is nuts to buy equipment off the internet from ANYBODY if they haven't been to an ISS show or equivalent to look at equipment firsthand. At the very least, go to some screenprinting shops and see what they have and ask questions. I'll guarantee that your desire to buy new cheap crap off an internet site sight unseen will diminish significantly.
And as far as these people dismissing buying used off of the internet, if you know what you're looking for, that's where you'll find the best deals. The best places to look are Craigslist and the Classifieds on these forums, and over at Screenprinters.net. My first press was an old Hopkins International that I paid $700 for and sold it within a year for almost $800 (it was a 6/4 without micros, but was better than any of the tabletop presses you're looking at). My second press was bought new, and while I got it for $1000 or more off what they sell for new now, it really didn't work as well as I expected (I had seen it at a show, but never really tested the micros on it, and they weren't very good). My current press was 4 months old, and not a speck of dirt on it. A $4500 press and I paid $3000. Works perfectly, and I've upgraded it to an 8/4.
If you think you're going to get professional quality from a NEW $600 or $800 (or for that matter, anything under $3000 - $4000), you're dreaming. There are some good deals out there on used, but you've gotta be patient and know what you're looking for. I've read too many posts on these and other message boards from people who thought they could beat the system by buying new cheap crap on Ebay or from many of these other no-name manufacturers, and wind up with junk that they put up on Ebay to foist off onto the next sucker. The cheap presses on Silkscreeningsupplies aren't in the same league as the Riley Hopkins or Workhorse floor presses they sell. I think a lot of people think they're cheaper because they're tabletop models, but the same quality. My only beef with the Riley Hopkins presses is the joystick registration, but some have it and like it, so it's a judgement call. He does make professional presses. You won't hear too many complaints about Workhorse presses either.
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
Quote:
Originally Posted by tpitman
The only things I would buy there are the Riley Hopkins floor models or the Workhorse, and they aren't cheap, but at least you'll get some use out of them.
I also think package deals aren't the best, unless you're really saving a bunch of cash. Look around on these forums and you'll see that everyone has different opinions as to what works best in terms of mesh and frames, inks, etc. When you buy a package, you're getting what one person thinks is usable, but it might not be what will work best for you, and you wind up with ink on the shelf that you've got no use for, or frames with a mesh count that you can't use.
I also think anyone serious about getting into this business is nuts to buy equipment off the internet from ANYBODY if they haven't been to an ISS show or equivalent to look at equipment firsthand. At the very least, go to some screenprinting shops and see what they have and ask questions. I'll guarantee that your desire to buy new cheap crap off an internet site sight unseen will diminish significantly.
And as far as these people dismissing buying used off of the internet, if you know what you're looking for, that's where you'll find the best deals. The best places to look are Craigslist and the Classifieds on these forums, and over at Screenprinters.net. My first press was an old Hopkins International that I paid $700 for and sold it within a year for almost $800 (it was a 6/4 without micros, but was better than any of the tabletop presses you're looking at). My second press was bought new, and while I got it for $1000 or more off what they sell for new now, it really didn't work as well as I expected (I had seen it at a show, but never really tested the micros on it, and they weren't very good). My current press was 4 months old, and not a speck of dirt on it. A $4500 press and I paid $3000. Works perfectly, and I've upgraded it to an 8/4.
If you think you're going to get professional quality from a NEW $600 or $800 (or for that matter, anything under $3000 - $4000), you're dreaming. There are some good deals out there on used, but you've gotta be patient and know what you're looking for. I've read too many posts on these and other message boards from people who thought they could beat the system by buying new cheap crap on Ebay or from many of these other no-name manufacturers, and wind up with junk that they put up on Ebay to foist off onto the next sucker. The cheap presses on Silkscreeningsupplies aren't in the same league as the Riley Hopkins or Workhorse floor presses they sell. I think a lot of people think they're cheaper because they're tabletop models, but the same quality. My only beef with the Riley Hopkins presses is the joystick registration, but some have it and like it, so it's a judgement call. He does make professional presses. You won't hear too many complaints about Workhorse presses either.
THIS. The starter/econo/semi-pro presses that SSS.com sells are garbage.
Last edited by sunnydayz; July 14th, 2008 at 11:14 PM.
Reason: Removed comment
Re: Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment
I say its garbage because they are cheap, stamped steel presses that have little to no registration capability. I would recommend someone using hinges while they learned the process, and then decide whether they want to stick with it. Better yet, build their own press from the free plans available here.
Better to learn all the variables involved before you get fooled into thinking you are buying a toy that is going to work right out of the box.
Last edited by sunnydayz; July 14th, 2008 at 11:15 PM.
Reason: removed comment
Where can I find cheap screen printing machine & equipment 
