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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: Appstro on February 03, 2015, 07:41:22 AM
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I installed the micro units on my silver press and now my arms sometimes fall during printing. I think the shocks are not strong enough for these heavier micro registration heads. Anyone else had this issue?
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Are they gas springs? If so, I know that over time the Nitrogen can and does leak out, leaving the springs weakened.
They may be available from Ryonet.
McMaster Carr, MSC and Grainger may be places to look if not.
A quick google search found this http://www.bansbach.com/index.php/en/products/gas-springs?gclid=COi52LbxxcMCFRY2aQodpDgAiQ (http://www.bansbach.com/index.php/en/products/gas-springs?gclid=COi52LbxxcMCFRY2aQodpDgAiQ)
Oh, and do save up for a better piece of equipment. (Not what you wanted to hear, I'm sure.)
Good luck!!
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Try using bungee cords, and attach them to opposing heads. I don't know anything about the silver press, but the shop I worked at in high school had busted springs and that's how we fixed them there.
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Similar problem with the regular springs that did the same thing on my old original Hopkins when I added aftermarket micro-registration units. I was able to merely increase friction on the pivot bolts.
It was common however, to see added bungee cords on similar machines to accomodate the added weight of larger frames.
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Thanks guys. What would you recommend as a next step press? I bought this set up and it works OK but I would like to upgrade. Maybe a nice 4 -6 color/2 station?
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Thanks guys. What would you recommend as a next step press? I bought this set up and it works OK but I would like to upgrade. Maybe a nice 4 -6 color/2 station?
I don't think that you can find many "nice" modern presses with only two stations. 6/6 and 6/4 are the norm.
Depending on budget, there are a boatload of good, industrial quality presses out there in either the industry classifieds or often in your local Craigslist.
Most common oldies I see from $500-$1500 are Workhorse, Hopkins, but also old Advance and newer Rototex, Vastex, Antec, and some M&R, though the Chameleon is more than you need, the Kruzer is too new to be found very cheaply, some sidewinders may be out there.
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If it's time for that upgrade, look on digitsmith, craigslist ebay etc. And then you can ask for advice here...about the unit you are looking at.
I like Searchtempest which is a kind of web crawler that compiles at all of Craigslist AND Ebay... all in one swell foop.
I have an old Hopkins (Pro-Line) 6-4 and I'm not sure you could ever wear it out where it couldn't be fixed--if you are handy". I replaced a lower mainshaft bushing with a 2" flange ball bearing designed for a Disk Cultivator. Farming stuff. It was designed with a goofy plastic doughnut clamped in a clamshell. (Bad idea.) About a $75-$100.00 repair if I remember correctly.
About any old used manual you'd run across would trigger a grin or a frown by somebody on this board. You just gotta ask. Time is on your side, because you are already up and running now. Just start looking and be patient.
Stan
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Thanks guys. What would you recommend as a next step press? I bought this set up and it works OK but I would like to upgrade. Maybe a nice 4 -6 color/2 station?
a new Kruzer may fit your needs much better than you think. You should check one out.
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Everything I've heard about the Kruzer is positive.
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we replaced an older beater Workhorse Odyssey with a Kruzer last summer and couldn't be happier with it... The step up from printing on a worn out manual press to a new press with side clamps is amazing, and is worth every penny in frustration saved.
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we replaced an older beater Workhorse Odyssey with a Kruzer last summer and couldn't be happier with it... The step up from printing on a worn out manual press to a new press with side clamps is amazing, and is worth every penny in frustration saved.
I know NOTHING about your shop. Are you folks all manual?
HA! I'm learning to print all over again! I'm sure glad we moved in our old auto in the winter. So much to learn. We seem to be slow this time of year, EVERY year. I hate that, but I guess we've gotten used to it to a certain degree.
The Kruzer is MATURE technology, by a company that knows how to engineer stuff. I've never built anything that I couldn't improve upon the next time around. A few iterations of that type of dedicated engineering on a grand scale is going to yield good results.
I've never used side clamps. Occasionally we shift a left chest over to center chest on onesies, or youth extra smalls. You know...Tree Service Guy And Wife INC. need a few toddler tee or two to show off at a Church Dinner. That wouldn't work on side clamps, but I also can see the advantages.
Stan
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we replaced an older beater Workhorse Odyssey with a Kruzer last summer and couldn't be happier with it... The step up from printing on a worn out manual press to a new press with side clamps is amazing, and is worth every penny in frustration saved.
I know NOTHING about your shop. Are you folks all manual?
HA! I'm learning to print all over again! I'm sure glad we moved in our old auto in the winter. So much to learn. We seem to be slow this time of year, EVERY year. I hate that, but I guess we've gotten used to it to a certain degree.
The Kruzer is MATURE technology, by a company that knows how to engineer stuff. I've never built anything that I couldn't improve upon the next time around. A few iterations of that type of dedicated engineering on a grand scale is going to yield good results.
I've never used side clamps. Occasionally we shift a left chest over to center chest on onesies, or youth extra smalls. You know...Tree Service Guy And Wife INC. need a few toddler tee or two to show off at a Church Dinner. That wouldn't work on side clamps, but I also can see the advantages.
Stan
We're 99% an auto shop... started on the odyssey and then got a beater used Javelin a few years back...
Completely upgraded the shop this past november to a Sportsman 10c, Mini-Sprint gas dryer, and I-Image CTS...
but we still do 'wierd' stuff on the auto... and small jobs that it's not worth swapping the platens over on the auto.
I hear ya on learning how to print all over... When we got the Javelin, it was a huge learning curve, and less so, but still a decent learning curve when we got the Sportsman tho... however, looking back, each of these steps has made us better printers...
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I am just one dude and I have a manual press. No need for auto at the moment. :)
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Out of curiosity, what is your budget?
Also, do you have a real (belt) dryer?
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I dunno maybe $2000
I do have a lil black buddy conveyor. Works great for what I do.
Mostly I do 1-2 color shirts and no more than 200 usually at a time.
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Sounds like to me Frog he is printing on a shoestring budget which is the norm for most of us starting out, but a steady work flow he'll upgrade quickly. I would use bungee cords also rather than replacing those gas shocks which can cost a pretty penny.
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I just wanted suggestions to be practical. No sense in recommending a Boxter to someone on a Miata budget.
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You can save thousands by purchasing a mildly used press. I would go with 6/6 or 6/4 . I have a R Jennings I really like it, I think I paid $3000 for a three year old press, before that I had a Richardson 4 color and before that a silver press. Buy what you can afford but get get the best one in your range. I liked Anatec, Jennings, Vastex, and M&R all hold great registration and are solidly built.
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I would continue to work on what you have while looking for a new press. I had a silver press and then upgraded to a Riley Hopkins I found for 1500. I didn't really like it, so continued to look while I used it. And found a vastex someone was just trying to get rid off and bought it for 1500 while I sold the Riley for 1500. Small budget can work if you can take the time to shop around
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I've always shot for 60% of new, for stuff in great shape but a few years old.
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Roger, does your Jennings press hold registration?
I've never even seen one, but I heard that complaint about them once. Perhaps it was unwarranted...
Just curious.
Thanks!
Stan
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I installed the micro units on my silver press and now my arms sometimes fall during printing. I think the shocks are not strong enough for these heavier micro registration heads. Anyone else had this issue?
If your arms are falling during printing your shocks may just be worn out, how old is your press? You can pick up new shocks direct from Ryonet for about $20 a piece.
If you'd rather upgrade to the next step up for a press, check out the Riley Hopkins JR line - it's a cross between the full size Riley's and the old silver press. Springs are way stronger than the silver press shocks ever were, comes with super dialed in micros out of the gate and you get almost all of the benefits of a full size Riley, in a more compact package, much lower price point, and lifetime warranty.
4x2 - $1,199
4x4 - $1,599
6x2 - $1,599
6x4 - $1,999
Riley JR blows every other press out of the water in terms of build quality and price. PM me if you're interested or even if you just need new shocks to tune up the ol' silver press.