[kc6789]

So, if this all works out, I'd be printing 400-500 shirts, 1-2 colors, front and back.

I'm getting a flash dryer for curing.

I have a 4 color 1 station press.

Am I crazy?

...gotta start somewhere...right!?


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[BroJames]

What would be the crazy part?

 

[Shecki]

Great way to start out. You should be excited!

 

[HHRSEGT]

Only thing CRAZY! should be how much profit you make on the job!

 

[foot print]

The only thing crazier than the profit, is the amount of time it's going to take... But hey I remember being there before.. I started with a crappy 1 station 6 color and a flash dryer, I have since upgraded to a 4-4 same flash but add a conveyor dryer... Good luck and I wish you much success.

 

[adivito]

Nice order, but yes you are crazy unless you have a ton of time. You really should have a multi-carousel press as your platen is going to be hotter than you can imagine, and a conveyor dryer will save you hours of headache.

 

[bomber315]

nah bud do what i do on my 4 color 1 station...

first off talk to a carpenter or someone and get yourself a "sink cutout" its the part of the countertop they cut out to put the sink in...hell get a couple of them (they will get screaming hot and blister after awhile)

set the flash right close to your press so you can print flash print... on the other side of the flash dryer set up your sink cutout at the same height as your platen... if your stuff is like mine there should be just the right amount of room where you can print flash print on the press and then move to the sink cutout for cure while you load the next shirt.... i have a helper but we do about 1 every minute and an half i would say...

ps if you have never pulled a squeegee before you might think about get 15 or so extras for practice... or use old ratty shirts of your own

 

[CoolBeanz]

Its not crazy at all. You have to start somewhere...and to lock down a nice account like that, it should pay for the equipment. Good Luck!

 

[mrvixx]

nah bud do what i do on my 4 color 1 station...

first off talk to a carpenter or someone and get yourself a "sink cutout" its the part of the countertop they cut out to put the sink in...hell get a couple of them (they will get screaming hot and blister after awhile)

set the flash right close to your press so you can print flash print... on the other side of the flash dryer set up your sink cutout at the same height as your platen... if your stuff is like mine there should be just the right amount of room where you can print flash print on the press and then move to the sink cutout for cure while you load the next shirt.... i have a helper but we do about 1 every minute and an half i would say...

ps if you have never pulled a squeegee before you might think about get 15 or so extras for practice... or use old ratty shirts of your own

remember you flash and cure at different heights so your curing pallet should be lower than your flashing pallet.

 

[bomber315]

really? hahaha im new too im not going to lie hahaha... i was told to cure at 3 inchs.. what should i flash at? guess maybe ill have to adjust my curing setup a bit

 

[kc6789]

Ok thank god. I thought u guys were gonna laugh and say it's not possible.

And yes, I do have PLENTY of time to do it cuz I'm unemployed!

So, just curious, if I were to print, NOT flash, take the shirt off the platen, then CURE, would anything bad happen to the shirt? I'm not saying I'd do this, I just want to know what would happen.


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[adivito]

Thats how its normally done. If you aren't printing multi-color or if you are able to print wet on wet there is no reason to flash.

 

[kc6789]

So taking the shirt OFF the platen BEFORE curing or flashing is ok? So I can move it out of the way to be cured at another table so I can keep printing...?


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[kc6789]

Wait, nevermind. I'm stupid. I got it.


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[Swagger11]

Just be careful moving to another spot to cure as if the ink is wet and it touches any other part of the shirt its gonna get all over everything it touches.

 

[mrvixx]

really? hahaha im new too im not going to lie hahaha... i was told to cure at 3 inchs.. what should i flash at? guess maybe ill have to adjust my curing setup a bit

flash at 1-2 inches, cure at 3-4 inches

 

[bomber315]

hmm thanks for that tip.. i dont mean to hyjack but i figure kc can benefit from this info too... whats the reasoning for flashing so close? is it just to save a second or two per print?

 

[pukingdeserthobo]

haha my first order was 1000 shirt and they wanted rush plus i only had a flash to cure the shirts

 

[Unik Ink]

Personally, I would contract that order out. That is going to take a very long time to print and cure 400 shirts. Your platen will probably be burned up by the end of the print run since it won't have any time to cool down between prints and since it will be curing the ink which takes longer than flash curing.

 

[CNClark]

Personally, I would contract that order out. That is going to take a very long time to print and cure 400 shirts. Your platen will probably be burned up by the end of the print run since it won't have any time to cool down between prints and since it will be curing the ink which takes longer than flash curing.

Exactly what I would do..Contract it out, take the profits and buy a cheap conveyor dryer. Then next time you get this order print it yourself. IT's going to take hours and hours on your setup. Send it to someone with an auto and they can knock that out in an hour. And if the contractor is good, you will be sure they shirt are cured correctly and you wont have to replace them when the ink starts coming off from you undercuring to save time.