Stack your shirts upside down...

[alan802]

I used to load with the print side up, then one day I saw a guy loading super fast with the print side down so I tried it for a few weeks and I'll never go back.  It's so much easier for me, and faster.  Getting a chance to inspect the other side of the shirt is a bonus.  My help likes to load the opposite way I do and it's a pain when we are both taking turns loading and operating the press.  I can load about 3 shirts more per minute than him, and he's been printing 10 years longer than me.  I can't even get him to try to load the way I do, I'm thinking of making it a rule to load that way.  I'm sure he'll love that.

[Denis Kolar]

I did not print as many shirt as you guys, but I noticed I was doing this from the beginning. For some reason, I had shirts print side down and newer realized I was doing that until I have read this thread.

I guess I'm doing one thing right

[erickster]

I have a hard time loading shirts when they're stacked upside down. I'm just not used to that. I can load shirts right side up pretty fast though!

[Frog]

Well then, young Erickster, you lose out on this bonus look-see, and I suggest that you inspect all of your shirts before running. 

[blue moon]

Well then, young Erickster, you lose out on this bonus look-see, and I suggest that you inspect all of your shirts before running. 

aaaaahh, benefits of being a contract printer. I can print over the holes and still charge them!

pierre

[Clark]

I load right side up.  I don't see how it can go any faster, but a video may open my eyes. 

As for inspecting the shirts, in my shop that is for the guy at the end of the dryer..not the operator.  But we are 80% contract, so holes and oil spots don't really matter to me..they're getting printed either way.

[Frog]

I load right side up.  I don't see how it can go any faster, but a video may open my eyes. 

As for inspecting the shirts, in my shop that is for the guy at the end of the dryer..not the operator.  But we are 80% contract, so holes and oil spots don't really matter to me..they're getting printed either way.

Well, in my operation most defects that sneak through this bonus first line of defense are caught as each shirt is individually folded manually, something else that many do not do.
Thing is, except for the contract printers dealing with someone else's shirts, why replace and re-print and a holey shirt when you don't need to? Especially when many distributors won't take them back when printed?

This is just one of those little tricks that helps some people, and like learning to push rather than pull when manually printing, can take a little time and effort to unlearn the old and use the new.

My newest tip will probably get just as mixed acceptance!

[erickster]

We printed this run of shirts last week (4000) and I was loading right side up at 78 dozen per hour. I don't know how I could do that with the shirts upside down. I guess I'd rather have the speed right now, and have to replace a couple "dirty" shirts found by our catcher at the end of the run. I guess it depends on the job. I feel like I don't have A LOT of issues with holes and stains though. But then again - maybe I'm not seeing them! 

[Frog]

I am willing to bet that with 4000, there were at least 20 (if not 40-50) that were defective, unless you have discovered a new brand!


Then again some jobs fall into the over under category and you can deliver a little light or heavy.

[erickster]

with my printing skills, there were probably 500 defective. 

[Frog]

I'm not questioning your skills, I just rarely get a case of shirts without at least 1 or 2 shirts with marks or holes. Often more.
You had 55 cases.

[Evo]

Just a note: the world record was done by loading with the shirts stacked print side down. The guy had a ton of help but I don't think he could have pulled it off loading print side up.


I adapted to this method within my first year of printing. I think once you get used to it, it is a much faster and physically more forging method.


I went to work at a new shop and the un-loader on the press freaked out at me when I stacked them that way.  "Shut up and get ready, you won't be able to even scratch your nose once I start the press." was my reply.

He shut up pretty quick aside from the occasional "Agh!!" when he couldn't yank a shirt fast enough.

[Clark]

Just a note: the world record was done by loading with the shirts stacked print side down. The guy had a ton of help but I don't think he could have pulled it off loading print side up.


I adapted to this method within my first year of printing. I think once you get used to it, it is a much faster and physically more forging method.


I went to work at a new shop and the un-loader on the press freaked out at me when I stacked them that way.  "Shut up and get ready, you won't be able to even scratch your nose once I start the press." was my reply.

He shut up pretty quick aside from the occasional "Agh!!" when he couldn't yank a shirt fast enough.

I dunno.  I was there for that.  And if placement and straightness didn't matter and I had a fluffier, I'm pretty sure I could load at 2k per hour like the NBSF guy with the print side up.

[Frog]

I don't believe that speed is affected by either method once one gets used to it and into the rhythm. My point was merely the bonus inspection value which is lost when going for world record anyway.

[coopersdesign]

I can load waaaayyyyyy faster when they're stacked upside down. Plus the flip helps
dislodge some of the lintballs.

Ya, but then you unknowingly go to lunch looking like a walking lint trap.