[tyronebiggums77]

Hey I am going to start my own Sports T-shirt business. I want these T-shirts to be light, but durable. I have decided the method I want to use to make these is through using a heat press machine. My questions are:

Where should I buy my heat press to get the best quality?

What type of printer should I buy?

What type of paper?

Where should I buy my blank t-shirts? (I want quality, and a good price)

What type of ink?

Also I wish to print onto black, and colored T-shirts. I have heard that some people run into problems while trying to do this.

 

[duke-317]

you will find a lot of used heat presses on ebay

 

[tyronebiggums77]

I understand, but I was wondering where I should buy mine, or what brand to get the best heat press for my money.

 

[MarStephenson761]

Hi Tyrone,

There are several good heat press manufacturers out there, but our favorite is the GeoKnight. I'd get this one: Digital Knight 16X20 Clamshell for $1195. If you're new to the industry, I'd avoid the 2nd hand ones, but that's just a preference. These are good quality machines, made in the USA and available through lots of vendors, including us.

You might want to look into papers by Digital Heatfx. It's important to choose good quality and there's is. Some of their new stuff is pretty special as well.

Good luck with the business!

 

[tyronebiggums77]

Thank you! That is definitely what I was looking for. Now what about paper, ink, printer, and blank tees? Where should I get those?

 

[duke-317]

i think small heat presses are all the same, i like the swing away type you will find just about every make on ebay for about 150.00 to 350.00. you should decide what one you want and start looking you will save a 1000.00 or more you should check out the iss shows that is a great show for beginners, you will find a start for every thing you need there. ( you can use the 1000.00 you save on the press to get to the show) you might look at a used auto heat press they will be around 700.00 to 850.00 but they are great

 

[tyronebiggums77]

Hmmm... so what should I do? should I go for the 150 or 1000 heat press? I am a little confused.

 

[duke-317]

auto presses are nice but if you dont have the volume or the space then go for something smaller or cheaper.... TSPMB - The Screen Printers Message Board! go here and type heat press in the private classifides you will find a bunch for a manual i like the geo knight dk 20 for an auto hix made a lot of good presses. an auto is nice it runs on air it releases automatic the pressure on most is more even, but at the end of the day i think they are all the same.

 

[Bryan Ultduct]

I started last fall and went with a new Hix's. I do like my auto release, no guessing for rookies on just how long you pressed the transfer! I may have spent more for name brand press but when you got problems with transfers it's harder to point fingers at the cheap knock-off press, not saying which those are. I got a set of transfers from ABC (don't use them) and had issues. I kept hearing how it was my cheap press, nothing on their side done wrong. Being new I thougth he was right, he wasn't! If your in fact or your mind going to over-spend, do it on a quality press with a company that's there to call for help when something goes wrong. There are lot's of places to get a press, I was happy with Eric (Wild Side North in PA) how he help me through that bad transfer issue... Thanks Eric.

 

[MarStephenson761]

We really like Bomark for blank tees.

Good people and pretty good prices.

 

[proworlded]

Where are you located?

 

[printingray]

Depend upon your living place? get the machine from ebay with good prices.

 

[tyronebiggums77]

I am located in Florida. As I have been looking through it seems obvious to me that geoknight is about as good as you can get. I have also seen one that is a brand called gecko. Does anyone have any experience with this heat press?

 

[mountainman1938]

Geo Knight or Stahls are both a good choice.

 

[silverstri]

I am also interested to know the following:

What type/brand of printer should I buy?

What type of paper?

What type of ink?

I've read that there are different types of transfer papers: light, dark, sublimation. Same goes with inks, I've read about pigment and sublimation.

Thanks!

 

[SWIDI76]

I recently bought a gecko gk101 off of ebay and for what im doing im satisfied so far

 

[SWIDI76]

i recently bought a gecko gk101 off of ebay and for what im doing im satisfied so far.