[StudioBigDog]

I'm looking for a washout booth and and conveyor.

Ive been in the business less than a year, and knew basically nothing about screen printing but had always wanted to make cool graphic Tees. I started up on a whim and bought a package that included
2 station 6 color press
Exposure unit
flash cure unit
chemicals, inks
after registering the business and getting and converting part of my loft into a darkroom i had spent pretty much all i had. I put a few adds on local online classifieds, suffice to say 8 months later we(my best friend and co-founder) are working almost all the time and can afford to put ads in the paper which have brought us a lot of new customers.

Our biggest problem is curing. We used to cure on our pallets and learnt the hard way NOT TO FULLY CURE ON YOUR PALLET!!! We made a make-shift curing station with our flash unit that we moved along a table with our shirts line up on them but its hardly precise even with a temp gun.

I'm looking at two different units one is used
it is a Vastex Little Red 30, it has a new belt and has been re-serviced.
The new one would be the black body little buddy 240w
It is cheaper and new! not really sure but people seem to be happy with it.

Please anyone with experience with either or both machines would be amazing, let me know about maintenance or anything you think i should know, like I said before Ive been printing for less than a year.

Second is a washout booth, I know many of you will say make your own, but we use some enormous screens for out homemade table top press. And our current set up with pond lining and large containers is failing! we are working a lot and don't want to invest the time into making one, so I'd like to know what are the differences between a stainless steel one and a plastic one? how important do you find a back light? (personally i like it a lot)

Thanks in advance

 

[red514]

Second is a washout booth, I know many of you will say make your own, but we use some enormous screens for out homemade table top press. And our current set up with pond lining and large containers is failing! we are working a lot and don't want to invest the time into making one, so I'd like to know what are the differences between a stainless steel one and a plastic one? how important do you find a back light? (personally i like it a lot)

Thanks in advance

i've only used the stainless steel ones, not sure if there's any advantage or disadvantage to plastic ones, possible they don't last as long... the stainless steel lasted the whole life of our business (10years) and i'm sure it's still being used today)

i personally would want a back light, makes washing out easier and helps with seeing fine detail (still best to check fine detail under proper light source and even a light loop if you have one and the time, best to get it right first time then find out on the press) keep your eyes and ears open for deals, Montreal has many print shops and there's often equipment for sale. talk with your suppliers too, they may have second hand equipment for sale

 

[wrecklordpro]

i built my washout booth and it works as good as any of the steel ones ive used as long as you design it to properly drain, plywood, 2x4s and a sheet of white lexan so you can place a light behind it. i don not have pictures available at the moment but i will put some up as soon as i get to them.

 

[East End Ink]

You really do need a back light to your wash out booth. You can't see your image clearly when washing out exposed screens without it. The stainless are much more expensive, and there are some good alternatives on the market that are pretty resistant to the chemicals. They still aren't cheap though.

 

[DKgrafix]

Washout booth

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing-equipment/t137639-2.html

Hope it helps

 

[TYGERON]

I'm looking at two different units one is used
it is a Vastex Little Red 30, it has a new belt and has been re-serviced.
The new one would be the black body little buddy 240w
It is cheaper and new! not really sure but people seem to be happy with it.

Check the belt width and effective curing area. I think the BB is 18" belt width. The Vastex is 30".

Both are cool. Personally I'd suggest you go with the wider unit if you can afford it. I just saw one refurbished very reasonably priced.

 

[sdshirtman]

I'm curious to know what your budget is for these things.