Thinking about getting a new manual for the shop. Suggestions?

[IntegrityShirts]

Here's with the m&r adapter

[Shanarchy]

There is a dumbbell on the press for some reason.

Now, I'll get no closure.

The press owner used to own a 10 color 2 tier chameloeon which he used as a production press. Once he got the Antec his arms started to get very skinny. So he does a few reps in between ever cycle of shirts.

[Shanarchy]

Here's with the m&r adapter

Thanks! I see where it would make it difficult to load for long sleeves.

[Shanarchy]

How quick is it to add and remove the M&R pallet adapters?

[IntegrityShirts]

How quick is it to add and remove the M&R pallet adapters?

Super easy. Antec uses a 2 bolt clamp down bar. The M&R adapter slides into that track and you bolt it down. Then you pretty much never remove the adapters because you're using your M&R platens. I meant to post a pic of the side clamp adapter from my phone too.

[IntegrityShirts]

Here's the side bracket adapter

[Gilligan]

Not to be a stick in the mud but how do those "side clamps" really work vs rear clamps?  Just seems like rear clamps that clamp on the side vs the very back.  My problems with rear clamps is that I always wanted more name drop ability and more stability back to front.

[Shanarchy]

Not to be a stick in the mud but how do those "side clamps" really work vs rear clamps?  Just seems like rear clamps that clamp on the side vs the very back.  My problems with rear clamps is that I always wanted more name drop ability and more stability back to front.

I'm thinking these side clamps are for holding roller frames without a square bar. I elected not to get them as I am going to be using EZ frames. They camp into the rear clamp and come out. I would imagine the Vastex ones would work in this press as well and they offer long arms for name drops.

But then again, that's what the vinyl cutter is for!

[Gilligan]

Excellent point.

[IntegrityShirts]

I'm not really digging the side clamp adapters or using rollers on a manual press. They're just too darn heavy to spin around repeatedly. Antec made these presses light and they work great with static light frames.

[jsheridan]

why not an older 6 color gauntlet and just run it like a manual. Put the flash at the offload station and go round and round till she's done so you can do true 6 color work. If you get lucky you might find one with a revolver program and set it and go do something else while it prints for you.. have yet to see a manual do that eh?

http://www.digitsmith.com/1999-gaunlet-gt6-43857.html

Needs some love, but with double stroke and front/back switches.. can even print waterbase.

Put some S-mesh in there with light squeegee pressure, that machine could hold it's own with todays screen technology and inks.

[Shanarchy]

why not an older 6 color gauntlet and just run it like a manual. Put the flash at the offload station and go round and round till she's done so you can do true 6 color work. If you get lucky you might find one with a revolver program and set it and go do something else while it prints for you.. have yet to see a manual do that eh?

http://www.digitsmith.com/1999-gaunlet-gt6-43857.html

Needs some love, but with double stroke and front/back switches.. can even print waterbase.

Put some S-mesh in there with light squeegee pressure, that machine could hold it's own with todays screen technology and inks.

Interesting thought. Nice price on that press.

I was looking to replace the manual press in our shop though. But I still want to have a manual here. I wanted something that would take up a little less space (this will be almost 3' in diameter smaller). As we switch over to auto I will still be using this to run oddball stuff.

Also on a small (say 25 piece) 2 color run, I'm pretty sure this would offer a quicker set up than the Gauntlet. Of course I could be completely wrong as I am only speculating and have no actual experience with either press.

[Gilligan]

Not with a solid preregistration system.

[Shanarchy]

Not with a solid preregistration system.

I don't know. I hear the older Gauntlets do not work very well with tri-loc. I think the screens move a little when you lock them in. Again this is just off of what I've heard. I'm sure Tony will reply about how he registers 6 color process jobs on the Gauntlet in 5 minute though!

$6500 is still a great price on that press though. The same price as a new manual. Definitely an interesting point by John of using it as a "manual". Same price, it will still print faster, and your hands won't hate you for it.

[jsheridan]

Not with a solid preregistration system.

I don't know. I hear the older Gauntlets do not work very well with tri-loc. I think the screens move a little when you lock them in. Again this is just off of what I've heard. I'm sure Tony will reply about how he registers 6 color process jobs on the Gauntlet in 5 minute though!

$6500 is still a great price on that press though. The same price as a new manual. Definitely an interesting point by John of using it as a "manual". Same price, it will still print faster, and your hands won't hate you for it.

Like Gilligan said, with a solid reg system it's just as good as the new stuff.

the problems with moving frames is due to the air lock foot with roller frames and the high squeegee pressure needed to print with conventional mesh would actually drag the screen out of the holder. When I ran one of these I had to pull the rear holder as far forward as I could and be sure the front feet were more on the inside of the frame. Once setup it held reg just fine. I want to say tri loc will work fine as the frame holders are narrow compared to the ones of today, the front holder may require a small notch cut out to accommodate the top tri loc stop, ask rich about that.

that was my point of using it as a manual, it does all the grunt work of printing while you just feed it shirts. 1 guy can still print 2k pcs a day on that so that would also allow you to take on some higher quantity jobs while still being a manual printer.