[Teeshirtman]

I have no experience with the press you are looking at, but I can't imagine a home built, wooden press would work very well...but I could be totally wrong. I have a Hix Hobby Lite press, and for low volumes, and print sized no larger than 8x11, it works quite well. You could probably pick one up on eBay for les than $300.

As far as your printer goes, your HP will not give you good results. HP, and most other printers on the market use dye based inks. If you print your shirt with dye based inks, your shirts WILL bleed and fade considerably after a washing. The printer of choice for t-shirts is an Epson, they use pigment inks that will not bleed when washed. The C series Stylus printers from Epson is a good place to start on a low budget. I just picked up a spare C66 on eBay for around $45 shipped, and it does a fine job.

Good luck!

Hi, Every one !

Just an update about the HP Inks I just printed my first transfers with the new
HP # 57 pigment ink WOW! Colors were just as bright as the epson with no
yellowing left behind . So it costs a little more. No fade no bleed. I used a iron all trans. paper washed the shirt 4 times no change and soft!. as of now the ink is only on the net I bought mine at the hp store,DO NOT confuse it with the reg 57
It is 57 Viera ink .
So Hp does have pigment ink now.

Have fun
fred

 

[Teeshirtman]

I use a HP 5550 deskjet never a problum. The great thing is if breaks I can get another HP for under 120. The Thing is a workhorse.
I'm using "Iron all " transfers . The Viera 57 pigment ink is super!!