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Looking to get into screen printing. Any advise as to what I might be looking for to get started? I've been on craigslist and ebay and have not idea which brand would be worth checking out. TIA.
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what is your budget?
Joined
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107 Posts
I'm looking to start small to make sure we like it and can handle it. I was looking at around 3,000 to 4,000 to start. I don't have a problem buying used for less if it is a good quality screen printer.what is your budget?
Is $3-4,000 your total budget? Or is that what you were planning to spend on just the press?
You can get a decent used press for about $1,500-$2,000. I just recently bought another used press for my shop, and it looks like everyone on Craigslist thinks their press is worth $2,500-$3,000, regardless of age, size, condition, brand, etc.
Stick with name brands (M&R, Hopkins, Workhorse, etc.) that you can look up on the internet, or ask about here. Don't buy anything from a manufacturer that doesn't exist anymore (there's quite a few). It could be difficult to impossible to find parts for it.
Stay away from ebay... There's lots of dirt-cheap, Chinese screen presses on ebay... The problem is; they're dirt-cheap, Chinese screen presses. When something on it breaks - and something will (Chinese metallurgy is not up to western standards IMO), you'll have little to no recourse for replacement parts.
Get the best press you can, but don't go too nuts. If you're just starting as a hobbyist, you don't need a top-of-line, 6-color/6-station press. Maybe a 2 or 4-color table top arrangement will work best for you to start off with.
When you go to check out a press, make sure that everything works (all knobs turn, everything moves smoothly, micro-registration works, no missing parts, nothing "MacGyver'd" or jury-rigged).
You can get a decent used press for about $1,500-$2,000. I just recently bought another used press for my shop, and it looks like everyone on Craigslist thinks their press is worth $2,500-$3,000, regardless of age, size, condition, brand, etc.
Stick with name brands (M&R, Hopkins, Workhorse, etc.) that you can look up on the internet, or ask about here. Don't buy anything from a manufacturer that doesn't exist anymore (there's quite a few). It could be difficult to impossible to find parts for it.
Stay away from ebay... There's lots of dirt-cheap, Chinese screen presses on ebay... The problem is; they're dirt-cheap, Chinese screen presses. When something on it breaks - and something will (Chinese metallurgy is not up to western standards IMO), you'll have little to no recourse for replacement parts.
Get the best press you can, but don't go too nuts. If you're just starting as a hobbyist, you don't need a top-of-line, 6-color/6-station press. Maybe a 2 or 4-color table top arrangement will work best for you to start off with.
When you go to check out a press, make sure that everything works (all knobs turn, everything moves smoothly, micro-registration works, no missing parts, nothing "MacGyver'd" or jury-rigged).
3-4k is the minimum you would need for equipment. You need a press, drying equipment, film equipment and screens, squeegees etc. If you have absolutely no experience, you don't really know what you want in the way of a press, pallets etc.
So a better question might be, what do you want to print?
So a better question might be, what do you want to print?
Joined
·
107 Posts
Is $3-4,000 your total budget? Or is that what you were planning to spend on just the press?
You can get a decent used press for about $1,500-$2,000. I just recently bought another used press for my shop, and it looks like everyone on Craigslist thinks their press is worth $2,500-$3,000, regardless of age, size, condition, brand, etc.
Stick with name brands (M&R, Hopkins, Workhorse, etc.) that you can look up on the internet, or ask about here. Don't buy anything from a manufacturer that doesn't exist anymore (there's quite a few). It could be difficult to impossible to find parts for it.
Stay away from ebay... There's lots of dirt-cheap, Chinese screen presses on ebay... The problem is; they're dirt-cheap, Chinese screen presses. When something on it breaks - and something will (Chinese metallurgy is not up to western standards IMO), you'll have little to no recourse for replacement parts.
Get the best press you can, but don't go too nuts. If you're just starting as a hobbyist, you don't need a top-of-line, 6-color/6-station press. Maybe a 2 or 4-color table top arrangement will work best for you to start off with.
When you go to check out a press, make sure that everything works (all knobs turn, everything moves smoothly, micro-registration works, no missing parts, nothing "MacGyver'd" or jury-rigged).
Thanks a million for your feedback. It helps a ton!
Joined
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107 Posts
I have an embroidery shop along with vinyls and heat transfers. I have always subcontracted out my screen print but my gal is quitting but wants to keep her stuff. So basically we will be screen printing t-shirts. I do all my own artwork and separations for screen printing. Going this weekend to see an operation. It is a Printa 770. Thanks for getting back to me!3-4k is the minimum you would need for equipment. You need a press, drying equipment, film equipment and screens, squeegees etc. If you have absolutely no experience, you don't really know what you want in the way of a press, pallets etc.
So a better question might be, what do you want to print?
You should be in good shape with that kind of printer. If you are doing any sort of volume, get a decent belt dryer with multiple heating chambers.
I have an embroidery shop along with vinyls and heat transfers. I have always subcontracted out my screen print but my gal is quitting but wants to keep her stuff. So basically we will be screen printing t-shirts. I do all my own artwork and separations for screen printing. Going this weekend to see an operation. It is a Printa 770. Thanks for getting back to me!
Joined
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107 Posts
You should be in good shape with that kind of printer. If you are doing any sort of volume, get a decent belt dryer with multiple heating chambers.
Awesome. That is my plan. Will start out small and see how it goes!
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