[NewGreg]

I'm wanting to bang out some shirts, and other thin, flat objects (phone cases, bracelets, etc) for etsy. What is a good cheap press for that, and is sublimation really the way I want to go?

I kind of like these two, but I'm not sure if they are appropriate for what I want to do.

Gecko Solutions 15" x 15" GK-101 Heat Press Machine

MPress 15" x 15" High Pressure Heat Press Machine

I just want something basic to get me started. If it pans out, I can always upgrade later.

 

[ZO6 KLR]

I'd start with a good, used Hix or Geoknight and stay away from the Chinese crap.

 

[DKgrafix]

You've got to spend money to make money.
Buy right the first time, and buy only once.

Hotronix, Geo Knight, Hix

 

[NewGreg]

I'm starting to wonder if dye sub is the way I want to go with shirts.

If I had $1000 to invest into t-shirt printing equipment, is there a better option than dye sub?

I'm pretty happy with the results I'm getting with dye sub on mugs using just a mug wrap and toaster oven, but the upfront costs to do tshirts is a big jump. If the mugs do well, I may be able to scrape up $1000 in a few months.

If they don't do well, I should probably re-evaluate my business model.

 

[sapience]

You might want to read this post:

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/dye-sublimation/t348369.html

You will need a heat press for sublimation OR for regular t-shirt transfers....so the bottom line is....make the investment if you can swing it, and get a good press from the beginning. IF you need to go cheap due to finances....expect to replace it sooner than you would like, and be prepared for a multitude of problems....been there, done that...

 

[royster13]

If you are in the "shirt selling business" you need to offer: sublimation, screen printing, embroidery, transfers, etc......None are substitutes for the other as different customers will have different needs....Personally I sell more shirts done with plastisol transfer than any other way.....But every market and/or business will be different and settle into their pattern....

 

[rini]

If you want to start out cheap, instead of going to crappy Chinese off-brands, get a smaller Geo Knight, Hix or Hotronix. You don't need anything larger than 9x12 for phone cases, bracelets, etc. This is the one we started with that we bought used from a coworker (Craigslist is amazing for that, btw): Geo Knight Heat Press JetPress 12 9"x12" - Economy

 

[NewGreg]

Actually, I've built an oven press for the phone cases and bracelets. It's just two slabs of steel bolted together. It seems to work ok. I think a layer of silicone would make it work better.

I wasn't really thinking of starting a brick and mortar store, just etsy, and maybe ebay. I know photoshop, and how to work a camera. That's pretty much it. I wouldn't know where to begin in marketing or running a real world store.

 

[selanac]

If you use two pieces of steel, a Chinese model would be fine to get started with. Than upgrade as the money comes in.

You can also outsource your work.

 

[NewGreg]

I thought about outsourcing, but I kind of feel like my etsy street cred is compromised enough already. I'm buying prints from one company, and blanks from another, and slapping them together myself using art I got from wikimedia commons and other free sources. If I'm not even slapping them together myself, it makes me feel like a poseur.

 

[selanac]

What company do you buy them from? Have you decided on a Heat Press Yet?

What about a printer?

 

[NewGreg]

I get my prints form skdave. No plans to buy a printer any time soon. The press will probably come first.

I probably won't invest in a press unless my mugs and phone cases start selling. I'm just working on artwork right now.

I keep finding stuff that I think would look cool on a shirt, though. I have a friend at work who has a press of some kind that he bought on ebay for $250. He uses some kind of process that uses color prints on top of a rubbery backing. Not sure of the exact process, but it's definitely not sublimation. I may have him do some designs that look good with that process.

A lot of the designs I'm finding that I like for shirts would be ideal for single screen silkscreen.

 

[skdave]

I will help you with the pressing as well. just give me a call. Many years ago many folks helped me get started and I get a real kick out of helping people with desire to succeed. Let's talk

 

[djque]

I brought a used 16x24 press on Craigslist 2 years ago and it's been working perfect ever since. The guy had a shop that he used it in. He upgraded to a swing and sold me that one for $200. I told him I was New to heat press and silkscreen. His words was this it's better to spend $200 on something you might not like than spending $2000 on something you might not keep doing. I don't regret it cause now I have alot more stuff from that $200 press. I originally got into silkscreen printing and brought and made that stuff. Then when I was downtown la buying blank t's I saw them pressing on transfers and asked what is that and that's when I found out about transfers. Well I haven't touched my silkscreen kit in almost a year till I found out last week on here I could cut sticker vinyl with my us cutters laserpoint cutter and make a stencil and make plastisol transfers. So I went to ryonet and brought 100 transfer sheets and made transfer. I'm about to go there and buy 500 more and a vacuum platen. This site is very good for info. If I wouldn't of read that who knows when I would of used my silkscreen kit again. I mostly do vinyl heat transfers for shirts with my cutter. I have so much stuff that I don't be knowing which way to go but I can go to any machine a make it.

 

[mfatty500]

I wouldn't walk across the street for a sublimated shirt, they are ugly, but that's just me. Plus, good & cheap do not go together.

 

[Archaga]

My Gecko GK103 16x24 just arrived today. Looks solid but won't be able to test it until my order from Conde arrives. If you haven't made up your mind by then then I'll give you my opinion on it.

 

[plan b]

I wouldn't walk across the street for a sublimated shirt, they are ugly, but that's just me. Plus, good & cheap do not go together.

Correct on good & cheap and the only way I would do sub shirts is cut and sew

 

[djque]

Some don't have the money to purchase a expensive press and I would say yes buy cheap until you know for a fact that you want to stay in this field and go up. some will buy a expensive press then weeks or 1 year later its on ebay, craiglist etc for sale. I use to buy dj equipment like that (Still Do lol) but there looking for a quick buck and will spend the money only to be disappointed and sell it.

 

[royster13]

I have always preferred the "I am going to make it " attitude versus the "I am going fail" route.......

The problem with cheap equipment is not all of it does it's job.....The forums are full of folks that have had problem.......Sure there have been "winners" but there are also "losers".....A press is an integral part of the successful business.....So it is important to have one the does the job....

Having said that, there are some press sellers who seem to stand behind their products.....And they even have names and more importantly addresses where you can find them....IMO is not a good idea to go with an "anonymous" online store who does not give you an address or whose address is a 4" x 5" box at the UPS Store.....I always Google addresses before I buy online....

 

[plan b]

Having said that, there are some press sellers who seem to stand behind their products.....And they even have names and more importantly addresses where you can find them....IMO is not a good idea to go with an "anonymous" online store who does not give you an address or whose address is a 4" x 5" box at the UPS Store.....I always Google addresses before I buy online....

HMMMM,,
I know a lot of people that started without a address,, lets see...

Facebook started in a dorm room,,

Amazon started in a garage,,

Apple started in a garage,

Microsoft the same..

and some big time equipment distributors in the industry..

so just because someone has a po box or a box at a UPS store doesn't mean you shouldn't buy from them..

I know a couple of guy's quite a few years ago used to sell cutters on ebay, (Still do) when they got a order they went to their rented storage grabbed the cutters and took them to UPS.. Guess what they were profitable and lean..