In answer to your questions... yes, yes, yes and yes. I have the silver press 1 station / 4 color because I didn't have room for the 2/6 press. You can get their semi-pro package with that upgrade. I would also suggest upgrading to the UV exposure unit, and if you can afford it and have room for it, one of those conveyor dryers. Also make sure you get the micro-registration for the press. When you have more money to work with you can get a bigger or automatic press.
Ryonet's 6 color 2 station Silver Press - is this a good press to start with?
Hello ppl! I am very new to this site and new to screen printing. I have been hobby printing for a while now and now would love to take it to the next level, i would love to start my own business in silk screen, but i have a low budget of 8000 for everything for my start up. I found and got a quote on a press that works in my budget and works for my needs, its the Ryonet's 6 color 2 station Silver Press, Can anyone tell me if this is a easy press to use? Does it last till i need a bigger upgrade? Is it what i need to start my small business? Is it everything they claim it is? HELP
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Also, Ryonet is a wonderful company to work with and they have a trade up program that you should ask them about when you outgrow equipment that you buy from them.
Great company and they back up their products. Can't beat that.
Great company and they back up their products. Can't beat that.
Hi! We are also new and made some mistakes due to inexperience/lack of research. Also love Ryonet and wish we'd looked for their presses, but we only had about half the budget you do and were scouring Craigslist for equipment. Got a Printa 4-color 1-station in excellent condition - it came with screens, flash dryer, and light table for a little under $1200. That's the purchase we regret even though the price was right. Did find a good deal on a conveyor dryer for less than $1000. I don't think the make of the dryer is as important as getting the right press. Oh well, not the perfect setup but we're making it work for now. Good luck!Hello ppl! I am very new to this site and new to screen printing. I have been hobby printing for a while now and now would love to take it to the next level, i would love to start my own business in silk screen, but i have a low budget of 8000 for everything for my start up. I found and got a quote on a press that works in my budget and works for my needs, its the Ryonet's 6 color 2 station Silver Press, Can anyone tell me if this is a easy press to use? Does it last till i need a bigger upgrade? Is it what i need to start my small business? Is it everything they claim it is? HELP
If you have $8000 go for the Riley package. I owned a 6/2. Good press but if your serious and don't want to upgrade shortly the go for a more professional setup. If you plan on doing 100+ runs and doing a lot of flashing you will find that a 2 station press just will not do. Time is money and you can certainly do a lot more production with a 4 or 6 station press. Ryonet is great to deal with and if you call them and tell them your budget and plans they will most likely give you the same advice I am now.
If you are serious about printing, and want to make some money with it, stay away from cheap presses.Hello ppl! I am very new to this site and new to screen printing. I have been hobby printing for a while now and now would love to take it to the next level, i would love to start my own business in silk screen, but i have a low budget of 8000 for everything for my start up. I found and got a quote on a press that works in my budget and works for my needs, its the Ryonet's 6 color 2 station Silver Press, Can anyone tell me if this is a easy press to use? Does it last till i need a bigger upgrade? Is it what i need to start my small business? Is it everything they claim it is? HELP
If you already have 8K to start, buy a good package or get an used set up from Craigslist or from used equipment forums like this one or Digitsmith.
I got my set up of Craigslist and I got one of the best manual printers Antec Legend 6/4, and by the time I got all the equipment, I spent around 5K.
Do not jump in without doing the math first. Spend 5-6K for the used system and then spend the rest uf the money on ink, chemicals and I would strongly suggest going with Newman roller frames instead of wood or aluminum static frames.
I just bought 23 Newmans and I love printing with them
Good Luck
If I were you I would get a better press than the silver. 8k is a decent start up amount.
First off, how much room do you have to work with? Do you have an actual shop to work in or will you be printing from home? Those Riley presses weigh hundreds of pounds so can you get one in your spare bedroom or basement? If you are printing from home and room is going to be tight, get the silver press. If you have plenty of muscles and a very big location to print out of then go with the bigger presses. Remember, before you buy make sure you can accommodate the press' size and weight. Most of the professional presses have a very large footprint. Also keep in mind that it isn't only the press. It's the exposure unit, the flash or conveyor dryer, the storage area for screens, inks, squeegies etc. Each of these also require room and some require electricity. I have my entire printing area in a 9' x 9' room in my basement. It's tight, but it works for me. I couldn't get the big presses inside so I opted for the silver press and do not have a single complaint about it, except that I couldn't fit the 2/6 press so I had to get the 1/4 press.
Actually a 6/2 silver press takes up a 9 ft diameter. The same as a Riiley. My M&R 6/6 only takes up 8'6" with standard platens. So you would bee the same room for a 6/2 as a professional press. Secondly the tolerances on the higher quality press are much tighter. I just finished a 3 color full front single color half back in 3.5 hrs. On my 6/2 it took 15 hrs to do a full color front. Yes the bigger presses are heavy but that's why they disassemble in to a manageable weight. All points are valid I just wanted to add the info so that the best choices can be made
Registration at the pro level is what you need to shoot for in the beginning, Nothing worse than to find out your investment can't print commercial quality. I would opt for a used higher end press, M&R, Antec, Vastex. Registration, pallet and screen leveling capability are three crucial areas for consistent prints, fewer rejects, and an easier print experience when you get a job that requires tight register.
My thoughts on this are quite similar to Alan's--people will rarely regret spending a little more for something that consistently exceeds the required quality level, but will often regret spending less on something that doesn't.
Get the best press you can get with your budget, the second thing after the press (Or maybe it can be the first most important thing) is get the best exposure unit as you can.
If you get crappy films and inconsistant exposure, even the best and newest press will not help you to get good prints.
If you get crappy films and inconsistant exposure, even the best and newest press will not help you to get good prints.
Buff, foo, and dk are on the money.
Hit YouTube and look at the other presses mentioned in various videos. Ck the heads, frames, etc., and then decide. A trade show is good to get to before deciding.
8kdone right can get you a kickin manual setup.
Hit YouTube and look at the other presses mentioned in various videos. Ck the heads, frames, etc., and then decide. A trade show is good to get to before deciding.
8kdone right can get you a kickin manual setup.
the Ryonet 6C/2s is only 6ft end to end. How does that equal a 9 ft diameter? Really??... the quality of the Ryonet 6/2 caused you to take almost 5x the labor with half the artwork as a higher quality press?? Not buying that one that it was because of the press.Actually a 6/2 silver press takes up a 9 ft diameter. The same as a Riiley. My M&R 6/6 only takes up 8'6" with standard platens. So you would bee the same room for a 6/2 as a professional press. Secondly the tolerances on the higher quality press are much tighter. I just finished a 3 color full front single color half back in 3.5 hrs. On my 6/2 it took 15 hrs to do a full color front. Yes the bigger presses are heavy but that's why they disassemble in to a manageable weight. All points are valid I just wanted to add the info so that the best choices can be made
to OP...wth a budget of 8k, I wouldn't be looking at Ryonet anyways. Hands on at a trade show will get you closer to choosing the right press for you.
It is actually 7 ft. But using 23x31 screens with the platens extended will take up about 8-9 feet. I know cause I owned one and funny thing is my sidewinder fit exactly were the 6/2 was. I also had the micros which also extends it. If you read my first post you would see I also reccomended with a $8000 budget to get a better press. I now own a M&R sidewinder.
i own a 4/1 silver press, i love it. but i print mostly my own line of shirts, high volume is not something i do. I would never take on a job more then 50 shirts. most of my shirts are 3 to 4 colors and one of them is 5 colors. I actually have to take off the 4th color and reg. in the 5th color for every shirts and put on the 4th color and rereg again and so on. you said you were getting the 6/2 In the videos i watched the platen arm looks REALLY sloppy. I have not used a 2 platen silver press but watching the videos made me not want a 2 color set up, and with a budget of that amount i would highly recommend at least a 4 platen press. And then a conveyor dryer. because even if you can print 100 shirts a hour unless you have a conveyor you will only be able to cure 40 to 50 a hour with a flash. and thats only if your not using the flash to actually flash colors. And also the time it will take you way from printing shirts making your production time shoot through the dirt. Something no one has brought up is your Film Positive printer. A Good and Reliable printer will be your best friend and Ink cost ALOT, do not go cheap here as you WILL get what you pay for. trust me. The the exposure unit is also your best friends. as i went from a 500w halogen that took 12 to 13 mins to burn a screen down to 2 to 3 mins to burn a screen with a ryonet 8 bulb unit, and i get amazingly crisp lines on my screens now also. Upgrading my exposure unit also allowed me to do halftones without RIP software as i could print out halftones from photoshop and they would actually burn pretty good. I really like my 4/1 press and I would bet that you will like the 6/2 press BUT if you plan on printing for customers i would think about maybe a more pro press.
I own a 4/1 silver press Love it does a great job. I also now own a 6 4 hopkins Fantastic press for what I paid for it. If I had 8k to start with I would have bought A riley hopkins 6 4 or 6 6 to start with.
the silver press is good but if you want to get serious into production and have the ability to do simulated process or over four color spot get a 6 or 8 color press.
As for Ryonet I have never dealt with a better company in my life. Ryan and the guys down there are awesome and have always treated me well. I had some printer problems one time and they sold me one at cost to help me out then set me up with 2 free sets of ink cartridges for my troubles.
the silver press is good but if you want to get serious into production and have the ability to do simulated process or over four color spot get a 6 or 8 color press.
As for Ryonet I have never dealt with a better company in my life. Ryan and the guys down there are awesome and have always treated me well. I had some printer problems one time and they sold me one at cost to help me out then set me up with 2 free sets of ink cartridges for my troubles.
With that type of budget you should be looking at a stand-alone press (not a table top) with a minimum of 4 stations. Since you are looking to start a screen printing company and are not printing for your own clothing line lets say, you need to be thinking in terms of Productivity. I would probably say go with something else with that budget. You are looking for a workhorse, not a top of the line hobby press.
I've gotta second the used market
As long as you get yourself solid equipment.
Test before you buy.
I just got crackin in January, as a sideline, and in 2 months of watching craigslist (SPARE TIME, NO RUSH), had myself a 6/6 Antec Tracer (Did some custom work), a Vastex 24" x 6' Conveyor, a NICE radiant Flash Dryer, a commercial Fluorescent UV Exposure unit with Vacuum Lid, an Epson R2200, 24" Vinyl Cutter, Hat Press, Shirt Press, tons of inks and screens and chemicals, yadda yadda
I'm all in for about $3500 now. Plenty of room for additional upgrades or repairs if needed
Another thing to keep in mind is the depreciation. I don't mean your deductible amount, I mean the amount LESS the equipment is worth after you've printed 100 shirts.
I can sell my rig at a profit TODAY.... rather than taking a bath on it because it's 'used'
Just my thoughts.
I'm loving my rig, and can't imagine using anything less quality wise... this is so nice and smooth over here.... 6/6, flash, conveyor, oh my goodness..... talk about efficient.... (Granted, I still have a little work to do to finish the press, but no biggy) ! sided 1 color stuff is like stealing money !
As long as you get yourself solid equipment.
Test before you buy.
I just got crackin in January, as a sideline, and in 2 months of watching craigslist (SPARE TIME, NO RUSH), had myself a 6/6 Antec Tracer (Did some custom work), a Vastex 24" x 6' Conveyor, a NICE radiant Flash Dryer, a commercial Fluorescent UV Exposure unit with Vacuum Lid, an Epson R2200, 24" Vinyl Cutter, Hat Press, Shirt Press, tons of inks and screens and chemicals, yadda yadda
I'm all in for about $3500 now. Plenty of room for additional upgrades or repairs if needed
Another thing to keep in mind is the depreciation. I don't mean your deductible amount, I mean the amount LESS the equipment is worth after you've printed 100 shirts.
I can sell my rig at a profit TODAY.... rather than taking a bath on it because it's 'used'
Just my thoughts.
I'm loving my rig, and can't imagine using anything less quality wise... this is so nice and smooth over here.... 6/6, flash, conveyor, oh my goodness..... talk about efficient.... (Granted, I still have a little work to do to finish the press, but no biggy) ! sided 1 color stuff is like stealing money !
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