All in one press/dryer?

[Prosperi-Tees]

Curious if anyone has a compact press/dryer all in one combo.

[Prosperi-Tees]

How about a 110v conveyor? BBC, Ranar etc?

[Nation03]

I had the little buddy BBC dryer in my basement years ago. It worked, but the small belt was a PITA. Not sure if it was a 110v, but it didn't use much power. The Vastex D-1000 definitely runs on a standard outlet I believe.

[CBCB]

The smaller belt on the BBC dryer does suck a bit, but it definitely does the trick for us. It's still our main production dryer for our manual operation. Runs on 110V, but needs a 20a circuit. We're upgrading soon but keeping the BBC around for events and live printing since it's so small.

[Frog]

I think that Gerry is specifically asking about the combo units, like from Lawson, Ranar, and Hix

[Nation03]

That's what I figured, I was just responding to his followup question about smaller dryers. I don't have any experience with the combo units, but I imagine things can get pretty toasty working with the dryer right below you.

[Frog]

That's what I figured, I was just responding to his followup question about smaller dryers. I don't have any experience with the combo units, but I imagine things can get pretty toasty working with the dryer right below you.

For sure, but with any of these tiny versions, anyone going in must understand the compromises, and is also probably more than likely not cranking out thousands of shirts at a time.
These combo units, as well as dryers like the Ranar Scamp that I started with, have to be viewed as hobby or entry level, or light duty at best.
They have both their place and definite limitations.

One of those combo units could be pretty sweet in a small booth at a car show or similar venue.

[Prosperi-Tees]

All of you are correct. Beginning in March I will be downsizing and moving into half of my 2 car garage so space is for sure going to be scarce and since my laundry is indoors the garage has no plumbing or 220v so I am going to have to get creative as I cannot make any changes to the garage.

[Bearded Lady]

I ran an m&r economax for about 10 years and then a Fusion for about 5. All manual printing.  plastisol, waterbased, some discharge.

Throughout this year I moved from a 3500 sq ft building to a 500 sq ft building with a 240 sq ft loft.  The loft is where I put my t-shirt printing set up.  After borrowing a Vastex D-100 from a friend I decided it was the easiest way to keep printing while watching the used market.  As people have stated, it can do the job, but there are definitely limitations.

You can't go fast. period.

Waterbased ink is difficult but do-able if you're patient.  I tend to flash cure water based even if it's just one color or wet on wet to help with initial evaporation.  and run em through twice.  I've found I have to keep the heating element pretty low on the dryer so you need to watch for scorching with light colored tee's or poly-blend shirts.  I don't think I'd mess with hoody's.  You might have some trouble if you're in a cold climate and if your garage is not climate controlled.  I have climate control but if I open a window near the dryer on a cool morning it affects the cure.  I'm guessing humidity could be problematic as well.

My biggest complaint is that this unit does not have a vent.  There is a lot of off-gassing/smoke due to running the heating element so close to the garments and when I come in the morning after running a few hundred shirts, there is a layer of lint on EVERYTHING.

On the D-100 The element and belt are very small at 18".  Aside from limitations on image size. You have to be tidy with how you fold the shirt onto the belt and make sure you're careful to place it to run centered under the element.  The "tear-away" type tags will get ruined by the heat if you don't tuck them under the collar.

I agree that the combo units seem like you would get super toasty while printing.

I'm definitely looking forward to upgrading to something a bit bigger.  I might keep the little guy for offsite workshops but not sure yet.

Good luck with squeezing into a small space.  It's been problematic for me sometimes but I've been enjoying the challenges.

[Prince Art]

How about a 110v conveyor? BBC, Ranar etc?

Is it possible you could wire a legit, industrial strength extension cord to your laundry 220, with the right gauge of SJ cable? Even though it meant plugging & unplugging the dryer every time we used it, that's what enabled me to start printing.

We ran an original Little Buddy for several years. It was 220v, but only 20a. When I first had it, I wired a long cable that would allow me to plug into the 30a clothes dryer outlet in another room, due to not being able to install a dedicated outlet at that place. (Not sure how good of an idea the amperage mismatch was from an electrical safety standpoint, but I never had a problem.)

At the moment, we run a Lawson Encore, which requires 220v & 30a, and which plugs into a standard 4-pin clothes dryer outlet. If I needed to, I see no reason why a properly-wired extension wouldn't work with that, too. (Though I would check with an electrician to be sure.) Maybe something like that could work in your situation?

[RICK STEFANICK]

Brown makes the poney..I had one mounted in a pull behind trailer and did events, printed live at bars holding funraisers. people loved it. they are not super setr-ups but get the job done. I would never run one every day as you will hate yourself ,your life and screenprinting

http://brownmfg.net/c/13/all-in-one-printers

[Prosperi-Tees]

I do not think an extension will work. The 220 is on the opposite end of the home. Maybe I can use my current manual and just get a Little Buddy dryer or the like and put wheels on everything to make it work.

[Prince Art]

Too bad nobody makes a small gas dryer that runs on the LP tanks used for bbq grills! You could print anywhere.

[tonypep]

At a show ys ago there was a 4 color many with a teeny tiny baby Jesus electric dryer running underneath it. I think JC was involved on that one

[Prosperi-Tees]

JC?
What is everyone's opinion of the best 110 volt dryer on the market?