Switch to Auto - Old Tuf Olympian(?)

[Stinkhorn Press]

Needing to make the move from Manual to Automatic. Maxed out our production capabilities running one RotoTexII full tilt this fall. Ohio Location.

Need 8/10 at a minimum. I understand that I'll probably need to have 10K in assorted costs above and beyond the purchase price (compressor, chiller, electric, unloading, screens, etc).

Original direction: get something decent and cheap in the door (90's challenger/gauntlet, javelin) AND running well for roughly 10K-15K costs if not better. Spend the tech money to help me get it going.

Best option at a (VERY) quick glance, there's a Tuf Olympian 10/12 a couple of hours away. Been unused for years. Comes with one flash, multiple platens, compressor and chiller. Under 7K. Hiring a workhorse Tech to come help me install it would be X$ additional, and shipping it/unloading it a bit more.

Totally do-able. (and if possible, yes, I plan on having a Tech go over it before purchasing).

Questions: should I wait for a Blue machine if I'm looking for something that old to get the support I know I'll need? I'm handy, but not super handy (I'll wrench, but electrical and plumbing I Pay).
Tuf Olympian - how difficult to be a starter press? Known issues? Experiences with these?


Second option: Get financial assistance and buy new/gently used in the 40K ALL IN range.

If you were buying your first auto and had the benefit of hindsight - which would you do: Cheapo or As Close to New as could be afforded (situations vary, so WHY would be great)?

[Binkspot]

They are strong presses and most of the parts are available off the shelf and relatively easy to work on.  but......
You have to contend with the V squeegee, in a cold shop they tend glide over cold white ink.
The rod less stroke cylinders can be a pain, last time I bought one or a service kit they were a bit pricy and can be temperamental to rebuild.
Support may be less then ideal. For the most part Workhorse has exclent support but tend to shy away from the old Tuff products. There are only a few out there that even know the press existed.
If the PLC goes bad you may have issues getting one or finding someone who has or knows the programming.

IMO it is not a good auto press to start with mainly due to its little quirks.

[tonypep]

Agreed on all that

[Ross_S]

where in Ohio are you located

[Stinkhorn Press]

where in Ohio are you located

hour north of Columbus, near the center

[blue moon]

Go new. You'll need to learn to print on the auto and when there is a problem you'll want to know it's you rather than questioning the press.

Check with 244 on availability of any trade ins or demos. He mentioned stuff being rotated. You might be able to get a demo sportsman for the price of diamondback. Also, roq now has some new rental program. Not sure exactly how it works, but reach out and find out. My understanding was that the goal is to make the presses more affordable.

Pierre

[GKitson]

First auto you are better off with a new warranty unit so you have a reasonably expectation the machine is capable of printing correctly so you just have to worry about learning to print.   Don't buy somebody else's problems.

I'm only a 2 hour drive directly west of you if you want to stop in and talk shop, the doors always open to TSB folk.

Good luck,

[LuckyFlyinROUSH]

After having a Freedom 6/8, very similar to Olympian...when I first started...wait it out if you can. Sub out jobs to shops with an auto if you have to until you can rent/afford something with newer technology.

[Stinkhorn Press]

After the advise here and talking with a few people, I'm pretty sure I don't want the Olympian, or any I series M&R, or pretty much anything from the 90's.

Ponying up and getting something that will require financing is probable. Still talking 30K tops for the press/40K all in range.
I'm not completely adverse to buying brand new, but I'm cheap enough that the "drive the car off the lot" depreciation part rubs me wrong. I'm not too excited about anything new NEW that comes under my arbitrary price cap.

Need 8/10 minimum. Would LIKE electric heads, but that's not a dealbreaker.

For my price, I'm looking at used II series Gauntlets/Sportsmans/(DBack).
Or any good deals (R&D machines, trade-ins gently used) on say a Sabre, an RPM, a TAS, a SRoqueYou... what am I missing that might possibly come up that I shouldn't be ignoring if it otherwise fits my assumed needs/price?

I'm only a 2 hour drive directly west of you if you want to stop in and talk shop, the doors always open to TSB folk.

 
Thanks - I may take you up on that. I took Pierre up on a similar offer years ago. It's amazing all I don't know that I don't know.

Check with 244 on availability of any trade ins or demos. He mentioned stuff being rotated. You might be able to get a demo sportsman for the price of diamondback. Also, roq now has some new rental program. Not sure exactly how it works, but reach out and find out.

Talked with 244, they don't have a whole lot of inventory that would meet my 8/10 and budget needs just now. One 8/10 air Gauntlet. But they are moving and everything is tied up for a month plus in that.
I'll ask Roq how the rental program works.

[Prosperi-Tees]

How about something like this? I think this fits the bill for you nicely and from what I hear are tough as bricks!

http://www.digitsmith.com/tas-compact-used-8-color-10-station-45981.html

[Stinkhorn Press]

How about something like this? I think this fits the bill for you nicely and from what I hear are tough as bricks!

http://www.digitsmith.com/tas-compact-used-8-color-10-station-45981.html

It is sold. I know very little about TAS machines - anyone run/running one?

[tonypep]

Had 13 of them in LA. That's where they are most popular. Yes very good machines. They go up down and around

[alan802]

I'd probably gouge my eyes out using an olympian now but perhaps starting off with it would be doable.  For sure I'd go with thin thread mesh all around with the V-squeegee system to help negate the issues most have with that type of system.  Not to dog the Ol' Olympian but there are so many used autos out there that would not cause as many headaches and moving from manual to auto you need as few headaches as possible.  If you're serious about this and want to grow your shop as much and as quick as possible, bypass having to buy an auto twice in the next few years and get one that you can truly GROW INTO.  It's my opinion the O' will solve your short term problem but you have to do all of the ancillary stuff to get the shop ready for the auto so I would strongly suggest doing it AS RIGHT AS POSSIBLE this time.  I can promise you that a year from now that you will not regret buying a more capable auto now (assuming your business has grown by a decent amount) versus "possibly" outgrowing your 1st auto.

Wow, I don't think I'm exaggerating here (ok, maybe a tad) but that TAS would literally run circles around the Olympian in every worthy category and with that few impressions it's hardly broken in yet.  Looks like TAS America has gone through it?  That's a fantastic option for anyone regardless of where there coming from, manual or auto upgrade.   

[jvanick]

I started my auto printing foray with a old Javelin with V-Squeegees

do yourself a HUGE favor and get something with choppers... even if it's all air.

-J