looking for cheap options for very large prints

[Shanarchy]

I should know better than to waste my time asking, or consider doing something outside of our wheelhouse, but here goes...

Customer wants to order blankets (t-shirt material) with a 39"x39" print. 4 designs, 50 of each, possibly multi-color.

I don't think there is may options for her to go to, so if I can make this work I may be able to tell her one color only.

Question 1, is there a cheap option that would allow me to do this?

Question 2, is this something that really should be done with dye-sub?

[Inkworks]

Dye sub i.m.o.

[rusty]

I would look into digital printing. Specifically companies that work in theater backdrops. I don't know about t-shirt material but they can definitely do that size.

[RICK STEFANICK]

Find a well used 1 arm squeegee. offer 1 color only

[Sbrem]

You will need a lot of space. We just ran 1000 of the Gildan stadium blankets, a small image centered, 15" diameter. For a print that size, you'll need a custom table, some good old screen clamps, and 1 - 44" or so squeegee...

Steve

[mooseman]

try signs365 they print on fabric up to 65 inches wide I believe
https://www.signs365.com/customer2/banner-type
mooseman

[mimosatexas]

For single colors or designs with very, very loose registration a one armed bandit is probably the cheapest option equipment wise, but it is labor intensive and there is a learning curve. 39x39 will present some other random issues for screen printing as well. The rolls of film about triple in cost going from 36" to 44" as an example, and tiling fine detail across that length can be a bitch. I would go dye sub and get combed poly so it feels like a cotton shirt.

[mimosatexas]

The issue you will probably run into with places like signs365 is the type of material. My experience when trying to source this kind of project a while back was most places wanted to provide it themselves and didn't really have a grasp of what would actually work well and wear well fir a shirt (or didn't care).

[jsheridan]

the 1-arm way fllat bed style.
get 50 pcs of chip board cardboard, glue down the blankets. the chip board becomes the reg device, use a 3 point system to load each print.. flash dry or cure in oven then bring back, still stuck to board, and print next color if needed.

[rusty]

yeah, I would still go with outsourcing them digitally.

Unless have a one arm bandit and the space already...

[Frog]

Remember also that a screen printed image of 39" requires a dryer wider than the 30" one listed in your Member Equipment Resource post. You should update with your new equipment with me via PM. In fact. I bet that many members should.
Make a note in the PM  that it is an update rather than an initial listing.

[Shanarchy]

Remember also that a screen printed image of 39" requires a dryer wider than the 30" one listed in your Member Equipment Resource post. You should update with your new equipment with me via PM. In fact. I bet that many members should.
Make a note in the PM  that it is an update rather than an initial listing.

I do have a one arm bandit tucked away in my shop. I've never used it, and would probably only be daring enough to do it with one color on light fabric.

I was also thinking of the potential 30" dryer issue already. But I figured if I could first figure out a way to print them, then I would try to figure a way to dry them. This is more than likely going to be one of them "although this is what you want, here is what we can offer" type things.

I'll PM you an update equipment list Frog

[GoWestRob]

not sure if it helps but spoonflower.com offers custom printed fabric

[merchmonster]

Dye sublimation. Print will be softer, and you can outsource it saving you the time and headache of figuring it out

[Sbrem]

the 1-arm way fllat bed style.
get 50 pcs of chip board cardboard, glue down the blankets. the chip board becomes the reg device, use a 3 point system to load each print.. flash dry or cure in oven then bring back, still stuck to board, and print next color if needed.

I made a similar system in the late seventies to make backgammon table cloths, it would certainly work...

Steve