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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: ericheartsu on August 12, 2014, 03:20:42 PM
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So out of the blue a 4/6 Kruzer was offered to us for a super cheap price. It's 4 months old and the owner has to sell it asap.
We were on the fence about buying an M&R manual, as we currently have an 8/8 Antec Legend press, and a TON of plattens for it, and found out recently that they make attachments for newman frames (aka side clamps), and M&R pallets.
If we took the Kruzer, we'd probably sell our Antec, which is a 2007, and in really great condition.
But i'm on the fence about it. What's a smart move? We are slowly moving over to all team blue with all of our new purchases, but I'm hesitant as it is an entry level press, compared to the antec that we have.
What do you guys think would be best? If we upgrade the antec it'll cost roughly $2k-$3k in attachments.
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is there a reason why you'd get rid of your other press?
I can see a lot of times it would be nice to have 2 presses set up at the same time.
Also, with your current press being a 8 color, wouldn't dropping down to a 6 color/4 station kinda be a downgrade?
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I talk to a lot of people and haven't spoken with Eric in a while but I think I have his floor plan here. Don't think he has room and he has one or two autos for the multi color stuff.
Could be wrong
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Room is one reason, the other being we don't really use our manual press that often. When we do it's for small one color jobs, or small locations like neck labels, or for non traditional items like transfers or neck tags.
With a new 12/14 auto on the way i see us using it even less honestly.
My other thought is, having an M&R manual will make the system flow a little bit better, and that's why we were going to convert our antec over to accept M&R plattens
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on that note...
if you're going more and more 'blue', and are planning on getting a triloc system, I think the kruzer would be a great choice.
if you have aluminum platens on your antec, you might be be able to get new brackets....
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So.................Kruzer my vote
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on that note...
if you're going more and more 'blue', and are planning on getting a triloc system, I think the kruzer would be a great choice.
if you have aluminum platens on your antec, you might be be able to get new brackets....
Trilock is here, just waiting for the new press to be able to use it right! Also our I-image doesn't print our manual frames that we use (they'd require a smaller pusher frame), so we have to switch over to 23x31 frames.
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We just picked up a Kruzer and it's nearly identical, in my opinion, to the quality of our Sidewinder. The Kruzer is exceptional for what M&R calls "entry level". I think that's quite humble of them.
You may want to consider if you'll be effected by going from an 8 color to a 6.
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going from a 8 to a 6 is one of our biggest considerations, but we only ever do 8 color jobs on the manual maybe 4-5 times a year, when the auto is down, or if it's sample. The new auto shouldn't be down as much as our current, and the trilock on the auto will allow us to run a sample if it's a big enough job!
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The nice thing with team blue product is the same boards fit auto as well as manual. To me unless you print that many color on the manual then I wouldn't worry about it. If you print some 6 color or 8 color on the manual yes then reconsider.
Shane
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so we have to switch over to 23x31 frames.
The benefits of having all 23x31 frames, along with screens burned that can go on any press at any time are huge.
IMHO, that was one of best unexpected benefits of getting our Kruzer. Now if I need to run a job on the manual that I was originally planning on putting on the auto, nothing has to be changed. We even have the platens set up on the manual the same as the auto, so we don't have to even think any different when loading shirts.
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I'm in the same spot. I have an 8-8 Anatol Thunder. I'm considering selling it and getting an M&R Kruzer 6-4. I already have pallet compatibility with the auto, but only have a 2500 sq ft shop so the space saving would be nice. Although I do love the Anatol micros.
What's the footprint on the Kruzer?
Kingscreen, you're really not seeing a difference between your Kruzer and Sidewinder?
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I would say go with the Kruzer, but you may want to check the pallet size. According to M/R specs (http://www.mrprint.com/uploaded/pdf/Kruzer_EN_LTR.pdf) for the Kruzer pallets are 15X16.
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also, if I am not mistaken, Kruzer does not work with Triloc. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
pierre
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also, if I am not mistaken, Kruzer does not work with Triloc. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.
pierre
It works, it does not work with the Starlight 2331 maybe you were thinking?
From mrprint.com:
M&R’s System Integration design allows Kruzer to integrate seamlessly with the easy-to-use Tri-Loc Rapid Registration System, the industry’s most efficient way to set up and register screens on both manual and automatic screen printing presses.
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Kingscreen, you're really not seeing a difference between your Kruzer and Sidewinder?
There is a difference but it's not drastic. Here are photos of the heads for comparison.
Our Kruzer has upgraded 16x22 platens (not standard). That's something to consider also.
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I would say go with the Kruzer, but you may want to check the pallet size. According to M/R specs ([url]http://www.mrprint.com/uploaded/pdf/Kruzer_EN_LTR.pdf[/url]) for the Kruzer pallets are 15X16.
I believe it was an extra $100 at order time to have the 15x16 platens swapped with 16x22.
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Just as the best way to get a re-order is to reclaim the screens, if you want a few more small 8 color jobs, get rid of the 8 color press.
Of course, an 8 color press doesn't only work for 8 color jobs, but rather merely allows 8 screens to be mounted, handy some times when involved in more than one project.
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I love my kruzer and purchased the larger pallets instead of the 15x16 which I would never have used. Was about $100 extra. I use only 23x31 frames, and they work great. The clamps have the proper cutouts for trilock, though I still do not have one.
Scott, what number is your kruzer? I see 3 or 4 small differences between yours and mine. Wondering why they are different and whether the differences matter....
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Of course, an 8 color press doesn't only work for 8 color jobs, but rather merely allows 8 screens to be mounted, handy some times when involved in more than one project.
If I was going to be a manual only shop, I would definitely have an 8 color press for this reason alone. As long as space allowed. Going from a 6 to an 8 was amazing for job set up for me.
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Scott, what number is your kruzer? I see 3 or 4 small differences between yours and mine. Wondering why they are different and whether the differences matter....
My Kruzer is #0086.
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If its a killer deal buy it and stick it in the corner until your ready to use it or turn around and sell it.
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If its a killer deal buy it and stick it in the corner until your ready to use it or turn around and sell it.
alright this comment sealed the deal. gonna buy it this week, once we have it i'll tell you how much we got it for
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picked this up tonight. Was going to get it for $900, but someone else called and offered $1,000, which is what we ended up buying it for. Still not bad at all. It's going to work great with our triloc. Only downside is they got the smaller platens, and the bolt that holds the screen holder carousel in place is a little stripped from improper set up.
Otherwise a 4 month old press for $1,000, not a bad deal at all. especially since it would have cost right about that to upgrade our antec to side clamps.
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I think I just realized I emailed the same guy about this press when it popped up on craigslist...
I'm not the one that offered $1000, but that's what he had it listed for in the ad. I never actually heard back from him. :D
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$1000 for a Kruzer? Whoa, that's robbery! Nicely done, sir, nicely done.
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I think I just realized I emailed the same guy about this press when it popped up on craigslist...
I'm not the one that offered $1000, but that's what he had it listed for in the ad. I never actually heard back from him. :D
he said the guy who offered him $1000 tried giving him a weird sob story, so he said even though we offered less, he would sell it to us if we matched the price. I said noooooo problem.
I was surprised at how heavy it was to be honest
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Wow! $1000? what a deal! How was that even a question weather or not to buy it?
I'm jealous!
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Im jealous too and i already own one.
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I'll give you $1200 for it. Now you have a $200 profit.
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$1300 :D
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hahaha well see here is the thing, $3k and it's yours 8)
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$1301?
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for those of you with Kruzers, I'm putting ours back together, and the previous owner def. missed some steps in setting this up!
I'm getting some play in my arm carousel, and my head carousel. Is something not seating right? Should the center shaft and bearings be completely sealed? Right now i can see some silver in between the two aforementioned pieces.
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This is my suspected issue
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mine has that same 'gap' -- however if you were to take apart the 2 carousels ... there's actually a spacer ring in there between the 2. That might be what you're seeing... the carousels shouldn't move and they should be parallel with each other.
there is also supposed to be a 'split collar' under the carousel that holds the table arms
did you receive the M&R manual with the press? You may want to take the top center bolt off, and take the carousels and bearings apart and start over following the instructions to make sure all the parts are in the correct places.
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i just took it apart and re did it. I had a bearing cap an incorrect spot, which caused some movement. Still a little wobbly but i need to re-level it again anyway!