[AbcAbcwebd]

I already make and sell products online (and sometimes in stores), and have been thinking of adding some shirts to my line for a while. I've played around a little with screen printing, but I think heat transfers would be a better fit for me at present both because I like being able to design in full color and I'd prefer to start out doing small runs of a larger number of designs.

Obviously it's important that the shirts I produce are high quality and feel fully professional. I've read some complaints here about lower end heat transfer shirts not really meeting the expectations of customers, so I want to make sure I do it right, with the right tools.

Based on my research so far Stahls seems to be kind of the gold standard in heat presses. (Geo Knight being well respected, as well.) Unfortunately I can't afford the $1K+ price tag for a new Stahls just yet. I found a used one in my area for $350, but it's 10 years old. The seller says it works fine, but I have no sense of how long heat presses typically last.
Is a 10 year old Stahls worth $350? Am I better off with a newer heat press from a less reputable brand? Or should I just hold out and get a new/newer Stahls in a few months when I've got a little more capital on my hands?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[proworlded]

Owen. No reason why there isn't life remaining in a 10 year old heat press if all the components are functioning properly. . If you could purchase it for around $250-$300 it is probably worth the investment.

 

[DrivingZiggy]

A while back I found an old Stahls on my local Craig's List. The seller was kind enough to include a list of parts that it needed, so I called Stahls to see what it would cost to get the parts. By the time the list was finished, it would be cheaper to buy brand new.

So I guess what I'm saying is for you to be absolutely certain that it works! A functioning Stahls at that price would be better than a new el cheapo.

 

[AbcAbcwebd]

Thanks for the advice! I'm glad to hear I can likely still get some life out of it. I'll be sure to do my due diligence and check carefully for problems. I'm excited!