In desperate need of advise from the Pros

[jjkage84]

Hello all,

Just getting started into my foray as a professional screen printer.  Here is a list of all the equipment I currently have;

Lawson 4x4
Lawson 6x6 with micro (Still need to assemble once I get into a bigger space)
4 Aluminum platens
Multiple assorted platens, including jacket platens, legs/sleeves, hats, koozie, etc.
BBC Flash Cure (pretty old and ratty)
6 Newman Roller Screens (with 110 Mesh and some additional 110 mesh)
4 156 Wooden Screens (New)
Epson Stylus 1280 Printer
2 15" 70 durometer squeegees (New)
2 8" 70 durometer squeegees (New)
16" scoop coater (New)
12" scoop coater (New)
Pressure washer (New)

I think that's about it.  *Note anything labeled (New) is less than 6 months old.

So, my question is now that you have a decent run down of my current equipment that I have, you can see that I REALLY need a conveyor dryer if I plan on actually taking this to the next level. 

I'm currently in the position to purchase an entry level conveyor dryer.  One under 3k.  I know that will just get me started, but I'm actually looking at the Vastex Little Red X1 240v so I can add additional chambers as I grow.  I know it's not the one I want but it sure as heck beats what I'm doing now, and is in budget.

Or, and this is where I need your guy's/gal's expertise and experience....

For the price of the brand new conveyor dryer, I know a guy that I could get all of this equipment from;

2 four coclor one station presses, one w/ micro and multiple attachments (I would sell these for whatever I could since I have 2 bigger presses already)
Tons of ink, mostly plastisol and discharge
2 Flash cure units (Look to be in a lot better shape than my current)
1 National Equipment heat press
25 aluminum screens of various mesh in decent shape
Tons of spatulas, scoop coaters, tape
Tons of squeegees of multiple sizes (Enticing considering I spent 100 bucks on the two 15" and two 8")
Spot clean guns
Chemicals

*And this is the kicker*

Conveyor dryer, seller states "The conveyor dryer nees some work, maybe a new thermostat? Belt moves and it heats up, but you don't get consistent temp."

When I talked to him on the phone, he said the temp would swing and he couldn't get it to stay consistent.

I could buy all of the above from this guy for just under the price of the new conveyor dryer.

Not sure on the brand, so I'll try to add a picture. 

So the question becomes, do I buy a brand new conveyor dryer?  One with a 15 year heater warranty, 3 year bumper to bumper warranty, but that be it until I can pay it off and buy more equipment as I need it?  Or, buy everything from the guy for just a bit cheaper than the new conveyor dryer, try to fix whatever the problem is on the old conveyor dryer, and if I can, basically not need to buy anything else for a while?  If I went the "used" route and bought all the guy's equipment, I would try to sell the presses and probably my old flash unit.  Not sure what I could get out of the presses and flash cure unit... maybe 800 dollars?

That's the question.

Thank you all,
jjkage

[blue moon]

or, you could spend $1500 on a nice used electric dryer that works. Find a 3 panel unit and you'll be set for a while. I would not be spending $3k on something you don't need and does not work!

pierre

[mimosatexas]

Agree completely.  Also, flipping equipment can be easy or hard, fast or slow.  You're already limited on space, do you really want to store stuff you don't want or need for months while you find a buyer?  there are TONS of good deals on conveyor dryers.  I got mine for $400 and it is 10' with 3 panels and has a 36" belt.  It's old, and has had a few things crap out since I bought it like the forced air, but for 400 bucks it cures shirts all day every day like a champ.

[jjkage84]

Where is the best place to look for used conveyor dryers?  I'm on Criagslist using "Screen printing" and so far, I've found a few, but most are huge and I don't mind traveling to get it but so far, I'm not having that great of luck.

[Frog]

Well, for local, Craigslist rules, but of course, it's hit and miss, and depends on region.
I'm in the San Francisco Bay area and found much of my equipment there.

One of the best sources I used to recommend is suppliers, when they actually have "boots on the ground". They often know who is doing well and stepping up to new equipment as well as who is not, and may be needing to unload their stuff.

[mimosatexas]

craigslist supports boolean search, as does searchtempest.  Google it if you want to understand how to do it, but essentially, instead of running a search for:

"screen printing"

you can run a search for:

"screen printing"|"screen print"|screenprint|screenprinting|"silk screening"|"silk screen"|silkscreen|silkscreening

and catch all the variations people might use to describe this industry. 

[blue moon]

also check disgitsmith.com for classifieds.
Post a WANTED add here, betcha there's somebody close to you looking to get rid of one.

pierre

[AAMike]

The dryer could probably be fixed if you have an electrician buddy. Temp controls are cheap, panels are not. The dryer I had a while back was still running strong was built in 1987. replaced the temp control and it worked great. It's a gamble. But so is starting your business.

[mimosatexas]

No need to gamble on that if he has $3k to spend (or $2200 after selling the stuff he doesn't need, according to his estimate).

[jjkage84]

I found a http://brownmfg.net/p/100/airpony-dryer 3607 for really cheap.  Gonna drive to Cleveland next week and pick it up.  Can't hardly beat the price I'm paying for it.

Thanks for all the advice guys/gals!

[Frog]

Though I started out and actually made a living with a similarly sized dryer, it was strictly plastisol.
Don't think that this will be so good with conventional non-catalyzed waterbased or discharge inks.(I think that you mentioned that you sometimes use WB) That said, these little compact dryers can be really nice on the right application.

[blue moon]

Republican national convention is here next week, there are no hotels within 2 hours of downtown. Just make sure you count on that as you drive up.
Also, we are about 20 min north of downtown, if you stop by the shop, I'll buy lunch.

pierre

[Orion]

Can we get an admin to edit the previous post? 

[Frog]

Can we get an admin to edit the previous post? 

All done. I was going to delete your post, but decided by leaving it up, folks will try to figure out what the heck was changed, LOL!

[jjkage84]

Hey thanks blue moon! Oh boy, lol. Maybe we'll try to find a camp ground somewhere close by for that night.