Vastex C1000 Semi autocoater

[Doug S]

I'm just curious if anyone here uses one.  If so, any thoughts, opinions or downsides to it?  I'm pretty good at coating screens manually but the wrist is starting to wear a little and as uniform as I can coat, I know it can't be as perfect as a regulated speed.

[Logowear]

We looked into the Vastex, but decided to purchase the Lawson Auto-Coat/Simi Screen Coater. Price is under 3k.
We figured the regulated speed would give us a more consistent EOM, and it does.

https://www.lawsonsp.com/screen-printing-equipment/auxiliary-equipment/screen-equipment/auto-coat-semi

[Stinkhorn Press]

we have it. use it daily. cheap half measure to a truly controllable auto coater.
we bought it when we hired a screen tech with arthritis.
ours has chewed through about 20 fuses. and it had one relay (? i think) kick it, but vastex is accessible and responsive and at that time it was still under warranty and sent the part and it was fixed the next day.
8/10 would purchase again.

[repogolfer]

We bought a C1000 back in 2015 and we've been very happy with what it does.  Back then I paid just under $1600 for it.   We have 3 different people who occasionally coat screens and since we've went to the C1000 they're pretty consistent from one person to the next....the only issues we've had in the past was if someone bumped the speed dial and then it throws the EOM out of wack.

I'd buy it again.

Jon

[ericheartsu]

we had it, and sold it. it didn't work very well, and ours broke two or three times, before we just gave up on it.

[Doug S]

Eric, how many screens do you go through?  I average about 100 per week so I'm just needing something durable enough to handle that many.  I'm the only one and have been for 10 years that coats.  I was just about to click buy now until I read your feedback.  lol 


By the way, thanks for everyones input.

[ericheartsu]

Eric, how many screens do you go through?  I average about 100 per week so I'm just needing something durable enough to handle that many.  I'm the only one and have been for 10 years that coats.  I was just about to click buy now until I read your feedback.  lol 


By the way, thanks for everyones input.

when we had it, we were probably a little over that. and honestly, it kinda sucks to have to sit there and hold the coater, while the screen moves up.

[kingscreen]

We bought a Saati ProCoat and never looked back. Bigger investment but has been worth every penny since installed. I think 100 screens a week could justify it.

[ericheartsu]

We bought a Saati ProCoat and never looked back. Bigger investment but has been worth every penny since installed. I think 100 screens a week could justify it.

if we didn't score an older coater at an auction this was our next move. completely agree.

[BP]

I have been coating screens by hand for over 30 years. I think the semi autocoaters look like a waste of money. 

[ericheartsu]

I have been coating screens by hand for over 30 years. I think the semi autocoaters look like a waste of money.

Do you also think automatic presses are a waste of money? Any chance to automate your process is a plus.

[mk162]

I have been coating screens by hand for over 30 years. I think the semi autocoaters look like a waste of money.

Do you also think automatic presses are a waste of money? Any chance to automate your process is a plus.

they aren't in the same league.  You print a lot more shirts than you coat screens.  I am all for automation, but this one is further down on the list.  I'd rather have an auto reclaim system, that would save a lot more time(if it worked properly).

[Doug B]

  We had an auto coater and it was only useful when we were doing 30+
screens a day. Less than that, we coated by hand. It is a pain to fill and
then clean all the scoops and the machine itself at the end of the day.
Over 30, it was cool beans.

[BP]

Ericheartsu, I just think that a semi autocoater is not an autocoater. And I would not have a shop without a auto press. I worked for a big shop a few years back that had an autocoater and It was the best thing we did other then a auto reclaim system. that shop was reclaiming around 380 screen per day. We took 6 people reclaiming 2 shifts to 1 person doing 380 screens a day in 7 hours.

[ericheartsu]

i apologize, i did read it wrong. Semi auto coaters are not great!