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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: galatieatthis on February 21, 2013, 04:59:14 PM
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First off, I'm "somewhat" newer to printing.
But I'm not brand new, Been printing for just under two years.
& I've spent several months in a shop as well, Printing & doing shop hand/bitch duties(you know.. The fun stuff)
I'm currently running a 4/4 Antec Tracer. (this is my 2nd press)
I've got kind of a love hate relationship with this press.
I paid a bit more than I should have for it. (or so I think)
I also drove 5 hrs(each way) out to get it.
Press was said to be "refurbished".
Everything is fully functional, But some of the micro's stick, Don't budge, & are just useless.
I also purchased it with The worst pallets in the world. (which I replaced immediately)
Aside from that, My biggest issue, is I can't stand the way the pallets mount up.
They have a mount on TOP of the arm. With a single bolt.
Leaving the option to torque the pallet, turn it, & just it comes un-centered.
It's inconsistent, So I end up using single pallets most of the time(which sucks so much)
Bottom line, I'm sick of the press, & I want to upgrade.
& I would LOVE a new Press, But I know it's not always realistic or smart.
I print 2-3 days a week, Only a few hundred shirts per week. (300-400 High end)
Nothing huge/exceptionally large quantities.
I'm looking for feedback.
I would prefer a 6/4, But I am limited to about a 7.5ft footprint.
Which I know is a bit tight, But I think it could fit.
(I don't use auto frames, Nor rollers, Nor do I plan on it)
I'm not necessarily looking for a press that will NEVER need to be upgraded.
Hell if I can work with something for the next 3-5 years that's fine.
If needed I can & will settle for another 4/4 as long as the quality is there.
What press should I get, New, Used
I was aiming for the V-1000 (but have heard SUCH mixed reviews on it)
It's within my budget, & although It's entry level, I feel like it'd work well for what I'm doing.
Aside from that.
I've been looking for workhorse, But have been coming up short.
I've got about $2000-$2500 to spend, Which I know is a little low.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
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The V-1000 needs tools for the set up adjustments. It might be a step backwards (on set ups) for you. Tools free is the way to go.
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Patience pays off. If you've got up to $2500 for a 6-color press, I've seen Vastex HD-2000s and Antec Legends come down that low used. My kid's roommate had a good 6-color press on Craigslist a few months back for $1200 and let it go for around $900, I think (same brand Dan has, I can't remember the name of it offhand)*. Not often, but once in awhile and someone gets lucky if they've got cash in hand. Might as well be you. Watch Craigslist and forum classifieds.
*Rototex press. My kid runs one at his work. Likes it better than their M&R Chameleon.
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Antecs are solid presses, at least the legends are. We've had a lot of good luck with ours. just throwing that out there so you don't write off Antec.
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Right now i'm at about $1500, Waiting for Tax returns to come in, As well as whatever i get for my current press.
So I'm rounding it to about $2500 High end.
I've watched video's on Set-up & adjustment for the V-1000 & it hasn't turned me off enough to not consider it.
I'm not a huge fan of micro's. & I use them as little as needed. Several of my current ones don't work well
& my previous press, simply didn't have them. It's a single wrench, Doesn't seem like it'd be all that bad.
I'm just sick of waiting around for the right press, sadly.
I'm so fed up with this press, & I hate using it.
I really enjoy printing, & it honestly it just makes it a hassle sometimes.
I don't want to knock antec what so ever.
I believe they have quality Machines.
But from the positivity i've heard of the Legend, & the near non-existent feedback on the tracer.
I just assume that the tracer wasn't of the same level.
The press i'm running has replaced head (not matching the other 3)
A few micro's don't budge, AT ALL.
The springs are all worn down(easy, easy fix).
But more than anything, the Pallets is what throws me off.
I don't see why you wouldn't mount the pallets around the arm.
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The V-1000 needs tools for the set up adjustments. It might be a step backwards (on set ups) for you. Tools free is the way to go.
Also, I've noticed The Micro adjustments that require the box wrench.
Seem to be standard hex head bolts, that you just tighten & loosen to adjust the micro's.
Seems as if you can get a knob, that fits around it bolt head, & make it fit, Glue it, etc.
To knock out 2 bolts that need tools.
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But more than anything, the Pallets is what throws me off.
I don't see why you wouldn't mount the pallets around the arm.
Do you change the pallets? Like from adult to youth or sleeve
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Do you change the pallets? Like from adult to youth or sleeve
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Thankfully I do not,
If I did, I'd probably loose my mind.
I have larger pallets 18x20 & It's typically all I use.
If needed I'd have to cut sleeve/youth pallets.
But my clientele doesn't typically call for such
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There seems to be a spacer between the pallet and the pallet arm. Does the movement happen at the spacer and pallet arm connection?
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There seems to be a spacer between the pallet and the pallet arm. Does the movement happen at the spacer and pallet arm connection?
Yes.
Pallets are attached to a bracket.(with 4 bolts)
Bracket sits on top of the arm.
Arm has a slot going through it (most of it)
A single lag bolt goes through the bottom of the arm & into the bracket.
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You can def grab a solid, used 4/4 or 6/4 press for that budget get to know all the classifieds out there and troll craigslist in your area (search tempest is nice for this) on daily or weekly basis.
Off the cuff, I'd say a used Hopkins or Workhorse (damn near identical presses) would be a great fit. A Rototex won't scratch the itch for tool-free adjustments but is an incredibly solid machine that will allow you to print tight registration and is almost zero risk to purchase used as the previous owner would have had to been a violent, methed-out gorilla to significantly damage it.
I wouldn't put any of the new presses in that price range in my shop, better to deal with used and get a solid machine, even if it needs a little TLC. I completely refurbed and flipped, shoot...3 or 4 manuals on my way up to our current setup and made money when I sold all of them.
That mount sounds weird, can you post a pic?
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Where are you located? There is a sweet deal on an 8/8 workhorse all heads down press in my area. Really clean and cheap.
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Yes.
Pallets are attached to a bracket.(with 4 bolts)
Bracket sits on top of the arm.
Arm has a slot going through it (most of it)
A single lag bolt goes through the bottom of the arm & into the bracket.
You need a fixed pin on the bracket that fits in the slot. The pin with the lag bolt would keep the bracket from pivoting. It might be an inexpensive modification.
That being said, I agree with some of the other advise being posted. A quality press (new or used) is the best option. A good press can last you your whole career.
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I'm Located in Chicago, IL.
& honestly willing to travel a significant distance to purchase a press.
Upwards of 8-10hrs(single trip)
Although some of the stuff can be fixed with this press.
I'm just set on purchasing a "new to me" press.
I want to make the upgrade & would love a 6/4 rather than the 4/4 i'm running.
The 8/8 may be a little large for the area I print out of.
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Although some of the stuff can be fixed with this press.
I'm just set on purchasing a "new to me" press.
Copy that.
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Wow. Eff that noise, that's a terrible design. I would use something like action's M&R adapters, or devise your own system, and mount straight to the arm. You need to make sure you can bring the plane of your screens down to that level but it would solve a lot of problems if you can.
If you are in Chicago, finding a good used press should be easy. This dude, can't remember his name has a nice machine in your budget right now.
(http://www.screenprintexchange.com/images/m&r_blue_max_II_.gif)
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I've been in contact with him, He's runs the "Screen Printers Exchange"
I just feel like that press is of similar to what I have, I love the idea of side claps.
It'd be nice to have them, But I also want Micro's.
& i feel like I can do a little better, even if It means saving a little more.
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I have a vastex v2000hd with numbering attachment that I've been trying to sell. It's a 4/4 with 4 adult pallets, one youth pallet and one sleeve pallet. Unfortunately it's just a tad out of your budget but the reason I can't just give it away is because I know how little it's been used over the last 4 years and it's simply in pristine condition. I know that it's been used less than a dozen times for regular jobs, only one multicolored job has been on it, and we've done about 10 numbering jobs/year on it since we bought it new. So it's been used a little over 50 times and we take care of our stuff around our shop. I've refurbed the palled rubber on it since the original rubber was not applied correctly nor was it of an acceptable quality for me so I put some better tops on the pallets. I actually printed one shirt on it yesterday, I had to put the number 33 on the back of a jersey for a friend. It has 3 HD arms on it and one SUPER HD to hold the numbering attachment. All of the lift cylinders are strong and it holds 23x31 M3 roller frames with ease, but 18x20 frames with square bars work perfectly for this press.
I'd let it go for $3K with the numbering attachment. The ability to do numbers could open up a broader customer base and make you money as long as you charge for it. I prefer not to print numbers since we're so busy but when we weren't slammed we had time to print them, now we use screen printed transfers for our numbering needs, which has it's pro's and cons as well. I don't want to sell it without it because I'd be stuck with a numbering attachment for the next few years until I found someone who wanted one. The numbering attachment cost us about 1500 new plus the screen was a few hundred bucks on top of that. I've still got all of the original receipts, manuals, every piece of paper that came with the press. I would consider throwing the flash unit in on the deal but I'd have to have one to replace it since we do use the sidewinder every once in a while for small print/flash/print jobs.
I've had the press for sale for a year now, but I have done a very half-assed job of trying to sell it since we aren't in a real need to get rid of it and I haven't let it go to the low-ball offers you have to deal with when selling screen printing equipment. With everything we bought from Vastex, I think we had over 7K invested in this equipment and it barely got used since we print most everything on the auto.
I know Chicago is a long drive from Austin, and I've got a family that I like to spend time with on the weekends when I'm not working, but I would consider driving 5-6 hours north and load it on to your transportation if that would help get the deal done. I think it would ship on two pallets and it wouldn't be too hard to palletize this for proper delivery but we're talking another $500 do get that done and to Chicago. Email me at alan@srimonogramming.com if this is something you would consider. It's got many years left and millions of impressions before this press needs to be retired, and you can upgrade it to a 6 color whenever you're ready.
To offer some advice on buying a good manual so as to not totally hijack the thread, there are 4 manual presses that I would consider buying used, the vastex v2hd, M&R sidewinder, Antex Legend or an American Rototex. Now I'm sure there are a few more brands that would work great but those 4 I mentioned are no-brainers and there is nobody that would argue that those are not in the top 5 of manuals available today.
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I've been in contact with him, He's runs the "Screen Printers Exchange"
I just feel like that press is of similar to what I have, I love the idea of side claps.
It'd be nice to have them, But I also want Micro's.
& i feel like I can do a little better, even if It means saving a little more.
yes micros are a good invesment in a manual press but not all micros are created equal
i would dig a little more on the subject before buying
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Thank you all for the feedback, It's greatly appreciated.
I'm researching much more, All the while saving & expanding my budget.
Alan(I believe that's your name)
That offer is great, & Honestly within my reach, I sent you an email earlier this morning.
I would love to work something out & make it happen.
So get back to me via email when you can.
Aside from that.
Thanks everyone.
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Alan is really giving you a deal with that Vastex!
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I know, & I'm hoping I can make it happen.
It would be pretty awesome for me.
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I've been happy with my V1000. ....but I was moving from a Ryonet Blue Press with magnets.
Micros work good. No real complaints.
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I've been happy with my V1000. ....but I was moving from a Ryonet Blue Press with magnets.
Micros work good. No real complaints.
A bit to late with this input/review on the press.
but it doesn't so much matter.
I searched & searched for reviews & I searched for used presses & options.
Eventually I took the risk & said, why not.
I ordered the V-1000 Six color 4 station. & an oversized 18x18 flash as well.
it got here in boxes on wed.
Put her together, Leveled out the pallets & was good to go.
Printed my first job with it today (a TINY run) & i was really happy with it.
It's nice & clean, super pretty. & I'm excited about it.