BlackBody Auto Flash On 97 Gauntlet

[Prosperi-Tees]

Anyone running one of these? http://d5975442.u404.spirehosting.com/product/auto-flash-dryer/
 BBC said this:  "It is only made for the sportsman and diamondback. It has been put on other various presses and worked, however it can require some modifications on your end to make it work."

 What could possibly be so different between the Gauntlet and Sportsman/Diamondback concerning this flash?

[rmonks]

I have got one on my Gauntlet head #2 has been there about 4yrs. So far so good.

[broadway]

It should work on the Gauntlet without any modifications. I had an old Gauntlet last year and i can not see a reason why it should not work. The BBC will clamp on the sq/fld and it is easy to level to the platen. My panel is about 1 inch from the platten when it is risen. Works just like the Omni Flash with the print/flood stroke. I use the BBC on my DBACK with no problems at all. Great price and it ships UPS. It has a simple heat control similar to an old oven dial. Heats up in minutes. It is not over engeniered and it does not have heavy duty construction. It is a ir panel with a temp controller. My unit is slightly different than the photos on their website. The only odd thing is the on/off light stays on all the time no matter which way the switch is. I always unplug it when not in use.

[Prosperi-Tees]

Thanks guys for the input. I contacted M&R and they said:" I am not familiar with that flash. I do not know if it will work".

[mk162]

you can build one for a ton less...

I can describe it to you, but I don't have pictures anymore.

http://www.workhorseshop.com/products/mercury-flash

give me a buzz and I will walk you through it...it's cheap and easy

[tonypep]

Usually not powerful enough to run auto at full capacity.

[mk162]

that's true, but get the platens heated up and it's not bad at all...i almost always double stroke my whites.  if speed is an issue I used to run 2 IR units and sometimes I run an IR with our quartz to get through work faster.

[ebscreen]

Were you not able to get your Omni flash fixed Gerry? Or just need a second?

[Prosperi-Tees]

Yeah havent  figured it out yet, plus would rather have a shuttle flash when printing alone. I have an older non digital temp control box that im gonna try and swap out and see if that works.

[ebscreen]

You can get a temp controller/probe/ssr for less than $30 or so.

I thought the Omni's used the printing function to slide in and out?
I always did loathe having to half index to avoid burning pallets.

[Prosperi-Tees]

Mine is on a fixed stand. Bought from someone out your way

[ScreenFoo]

Yep, have for about as long as rmonks.  Nice unit, works fine the Gauntlet.
I'd agree with everything mentioned so far, not super heavy duty, but not junk either. 

They are a little generous with the panel size though--18x18 is out to the edges, more like 17 square of heat.

Control is a PWM, not a thermostat--so you can't actually set the temperature, more like you set a percentage of the power.

Usually not powerful enough to run auto at full capacity.

I know some of the nicer ones have more juice going, but when we get heated up and cranking, we run 2-2.5 second flash times with this thing around 80%.
And they don't give me good ink. 

[SteveS]

What's makes this any different than the Reno HW from M&R? That's a shuttle flash too.

[Prosperi-Tees]

What's makes this any different than the Reno HW from M&R? That's a shuttle flash too.

That was my thoughts exactly. $3k for a shuttle flash is pretty severe, may as well get a quartz flash for that kind of money so the BBC flash is very attractive price wise. Not only that I have a BBC flash that's been running for 5 years and still kicking.

[mk162]

the panels on BBC's are great, it was always the stands I wanted to trash.