M&R Kruzer vs. Hopkins BWM 6/4?
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232 Posts
I have a Kruzer and absolutely love it. I have not used a Hopkins, but here are the 2 main reasons I bought the Kruzer:
1. Planning for the Future: The Kruzer is compatible with all M&R pallets and accessories like the tri-loc pre-registration system. This means if you plan on upgrading to an automatic press in the future, you won't have to buy all your accessories and special pallets and registration stuff again, and the transition will be smoother as you will already be familiar with those systems.
2. Brand: M&R is the hands down leader when it comes to technical support and they aren't going anywhere. If you need a part a few years from now, or have a problem with the press, they can help you and help you fast. This is huge!
There are plenty of other great features, like stock side clamps, great fully toolless micros, the slim pallets which are also quick-release (this means you can fit a smaller shirt on a wider pallet and maximize print area, unlike presses like the Vastex which have raised pallets). The Kruzer only comes in one configuration, and that is fully stocked. You won't pay extra for anything, since it is all there. I'm not sure what the cost of the BWM is, but the Kruzer is very well priced considering it is a fully featured production ready press.
1. Planning for the Future: The Kruzer is compatible with all M&R pallets and accessories like the tri-loc pre-registration system. This means if you plan on upgrading to an automatic press in the future, you won't have to buy all your accessories and special pallets and registration stuff again, and the transition will be smoother as you will already be familiar with those systems.
2. Brand: M&R is the hands down leader when it comes to technical support and they aren't going anywhere. If you need a part a few years from now, or have a problem with the press, they can help you and help you fast. This is huge!
There are plenty of other great features, like stock side clamps, great fully toolless micros, the slim pallets which are also quick-release (this means you can fit a smaller shirt on a wider pallet and maximize print area, unlike presses like the Vastex which have raised pallets). The Kruzer only comes in one configuration, and that is fully stocked. You won't pay extra for anything, since it is all there. I'm not sure what the cost of the BWM is, but the Kruzer is very well priced considering it is a fully featured production ready press.
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232 Posts
you cannot adjust the tilt, but I have not needed to as the heads are parallel with the arms and the screens are held in the side clamps, so they are always parallel. Even if you have warped screens, the side clamps straighten them out. The M&R pallets are also very easy to level, so you can level all four heads to a screen in a few minutes and everything will be nice and parallel on the whole press. I have been doing 6 color sim process with no choke underbases and butt registration jobs over the last few months without owning the triloc, just registering and tweaking by eye, and everything works flawlessly. Registration from arm to arm was a nightmare on my silver-press, but a non-issue on the Kruzer.
As for the levers for off contact...When I first got the press I did not like them. That said, they came preassembled and they had been overly tightened. After loosening the actual levers, they work like butter and hold up very well. I actually like the system quite a bit.
As for the levers for off contact...When I first got the press I did not like them. That said, they came preassembled and they had been overly tightened. After loosening the actual levers, they work like butter and hold up very well. I actually like the system quite a bit.
I got a Kruzer a few weeks ago. I picked it up to pick up some overflow jobs when our main press is too busy.
It is a sturdy press and super easy to put together. I did upgrade the pallets to a larger size to match our sportsman.
The thing I did not like was how the tri-loc works with it. You really have to move the pallets out to the ends of the arm to the point where you need to move the quick releases out. This puts them about 4 inches apart and hard to use sometimes.
other than that minor annoyance, it is a cool cheap press.
It is a sturdy press and super easy to put together. I did upgrade the pallets to a larger size to match our sportsman.
The thing I did not like was how the tri-loc works with it. You really have to move the pallets out to the ends of the arm to the point where you need to move the quick releases out. This puts them about 4 inches apart and hard to use sometimes.
other than that minor annoyance, it is a cool cheap press.
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8,278 Posts
Its not the same setup. The kruzer is a great press but the sidewinder is a step up. My sidewinder is 8 years old. It has been but though extreme conditions. Id hate to think about how many prints have been done on that thing. The first 4-5 years it was in 2 different shops. The first they ran 2-8hrs shifts a day 5 days a week. The second shop was a 8 hr shift a day. The first shop that had it had a screen department so the press was rarely not printing. Tri-lok a job and off they went. someone else cleaned and prepped screens. they had several autos also.
The second owner was a smaller operation. Lets just say the fist shop averaged 800 prints per day. that would be 208000 prints per year, I would venture that its close to a million prints(not impressions)
I had to replace the slide plates on the micros, and a few of the hardened sleeves on the most used heads had to be replaced as they were a little thin.
I will be interested to see what the Kruzer is like after that many prints. I would guess better then some of the other entry level press that are new
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960 Posts
I realize it's not the same and it's a step up... I was just referring to the price difference from the kruzer to the 6/4 sidewinder with manual side clamps... "same setup" as in same color and station counts, and manual side clamps... i just do it as a hobby and as much as I would love the sidewinder I can't justify the cost difference right now... now I will definitely look for a used sidewinder when I'm ready but if none are to be found I'll get the kruzer..
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