TSB
screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Gilligan on September 03, 2011, 01:36:13 PM
-
So if I understand it correctly the benefits are, more time to cool down (could be combated with fans?) and obviously less "throw" so less effort on your part.
Is there any other benefit?
Woke up this morning to a classified ad being posted about 10 mins from the hotel that I'm staying in for a Antec 6/4. I was thinking about traveling 2.5 hours to pick up a 6/6 but this is cheaper and I'm already here with a truck!
Going look at it tomorrow and will most likely get it Tuesday (when we leave).
You guys are probably more excited than I am... no more answering questions on crazy contraptions that I make. :)
-
If the 6/6 is also an all-heads-down model, more than one person could be printing at the same time. Big advantage for some who have mastered the tag-team style of printing.
-
If all things are equal, given the small up-charge I would always elect for the 6-6.
However, this is all things equal (ie same press brand/model/condition). That said, I would take a good quality 6-4 over a lousy quality 6-6 any day. Which Antec press is it? Legend or Tracer? What is the other press you are looking at?
I think the main advantage is more cool down time. Which can be very nice. Plus the more stations, I think the more of an 'assembly line' production you get going. I don't think the all heads down tag team style is a efficient as a printer and an unloader/folder team would be.
Another option some (I believe Frog does) is leave a sleeve and youth pallet regularly set up.
Good luck!
edit: typo (thanks screenxpress)
-
I actually only have three of my six stations installed to gain a little more space in a narrow area, so, no, I need all three on white or other p-f-p type jobs.
I often have to change to youth or sleeve boards.
-
speaking strictly of all things being equal the ONLY advantage of a 4 over a 6 is you have more room between screens to load shirts. After that the advantage goes away.
A 6 can always be a 4 instantly but a 4 will never be a 6 without a big $$ upgrade.
Simple things like a 3 color back and two color front job can't be set up on a 4 at the same time
Cool down is not an issue place a fan to quick cool some point after flash. Again all other quality / construction/ condition things being equal the 6 wins in my warped mind.
mooseman
-
Moose, you're straying here. Both presses have six heads, it's the number of stations that are different and are being questioned.
-
LOL, he had me leaning too. Had to re-read that last part 3 times. I think Mike's mind wandered there for a moment.
Kind of like Shanarchy when he said
"I would take a good quality 6-4 over a lousy quality 6-4 any day"
That statement is of course obvious, but from the article's subject, I think he meant (and I read it as)
"I would take a good quality 6-4 over a lousy quality 6-6 any day" - But I could be wrong :)
-
LOL, he had me leaning too. Had to re-read that last part 3 times. I think Mike's mind wandered there for a moment.
Kind of like Shanarchy when he said
"I would take a good quality 6-4 over a lousy quality 6-4 any day"
That statement is of course obvious, but from the article's subject, I think he meant (and I read it as)
"I would take a good quality 6-4 over a lousy quality 6-6 any day" - But I could be wrong :)
oops! fixed. Thanks! hahaha
-
I had an Antec Legend 6/6, and I had 2 cool-down stations with fans after the quartz flash. The only thing about the Legend 6/6 was I often found myself wishing I'd bought a 10/10 or a 12/12.
-
Moose, you're straying here. Both presses have six heads, it's the number of stations that are different and are being questioned.
Shiznit Frog...my bad but please understand my confusion...I own a Vastex they name it backwards so a 6/6 Lengend is actually known as a 6/6 if you are a Vastex guy :o :P :-X
I need to either get on the planet or quit posting
mooseman
-
Both Antec Legends... but a big difference in price. One is in better shape and the other has been under water for a week...
ours went under 5' of water from Hurricane Katrina for 1 week, and all I did for the press was power wash & regrease, replace the pallets, and still use it today.
Found that posted on another forum under his name (I do my research). :)
Everything I've read about the Legends are that they are tanks so I assume this will be ok if I look at it and don't see any rust.
$1500 6/4 with the badass auto flash (with air) here in town and I have truck ready to go vs
$4500 6/6 with small flash, nuarc first exposure, national dryer (getting that 12' dryer down here)... plus it's 2.5 hours that I'll have to borrow a trailer or rent a truck for.
So it's not a small difference in this case.
-
I need help...
I went look at the press, it all looks good.
BUT, causally I asked how katrina treated them and he basically lied and said he only got 1.5 feet of water and the equipment wasn't really touched.
Never mentioned the above situation at all. Never mentioned the auto that got ruined that I read about in several other post.
What do you guys think?
Call if you don't want to put it out there 337.258.0672
I'm leaving here tuesday and have to decide by that morning.
-
So if I understand it correctly the benefits are, more time to cool down (could be combated with fans?) and obviously less "throw" so less effort on your part.
Is there any other benefit?
Woke up this morning to a classified ad being posted about 10 mins from the hotel that I'm staying in for a Antec 6/4. I was thinking about traveling 2.5 hours to pick up a 6/6 but this is cheaper and I'm already here with a truck!
Going look at it tomorrow and will most likely get it Tuesday (when we leave).
You guys are probably more excited than I am... no more answering questions on crazy contraptions that I make. :)
Both Antec Legends... but a big difference in price. One is in better shape and the other has been under water for a week...
ours went under 5' of water from Hurricane Katrina for 1 week, and all I did for the press was power wash & regrease, replace the pallets, and still use it today.
Found that posted on another forum under his name (I do my research). :)
Everything I've read about the Legends are that they are tanks so I assume this will be ok if I look at it and don't see any rust.
$1500 6/4 with the badass auto flash (with air) here in town and I have truck ready to go vs
$4500 6/6 with small flash, nuarc first exposure, national dryer (getting that 12' dryer down here)... plus it's 2.5 hours that I'll have to borrow a trailer or rent a truck for.
So it's not a small difference in this case.
In all honesty, I might lean toward the latter. The extra $3000 will get you a conveyor dryer, which you definitely need. Trust me, I used a flash to start with also. You also get a decent exposure unit. I used that same one for a while. It worked great! I still keep mine as a back up to the MSP3140. Two extra stations, which is a very nice feature. AND no worries about what may or may not need to be replaced, cleaned, ructed bolts, etc.
My opinion, spend the money now and get yourself a nice small shop set up. Otherwise you will be looking for the other items soon.
-
6/4 Antec Legend for 1500.00 plus a flash that's pretty much free at that price??? No brainer if it's in good shape.
I have a 6c/4s Jennings press and I could see where 6 stations would be cool to have but even with 4 stations I never get a print that's too hot for the next color. I also like the bigger gaps between the boards to offset my flash dryer (an advantage over the 6/6/). Either one will print at the same speed. If someone can prove to me that a 6/6 is faster I'll call RJennings and have him rush me two more arms asap!
Dont think water will ruin a manual press if it was recient, maybe take it apart and oil the bearings? The flash might be toast though...
BTW, there's only 2 presses I would buy, Antec and RJennings.
-
6/4 Antec Legend for 1500.00 plus a flash that's pretty much free at that price??? No brainer if it's in good shape.
I have a 6c/4s Jennings press and I could see where 6 stations would be cool to have but even with 4 stations I never get a print that's too hot for the next color. I also like the bigger gaps between the boards to offset my flash dryer (an advantage over the 6/6/). Either one will print at the same speed. If someone can prove to me that a 6/6 is faster I'll call RJennings and have him rush me two more arms asap!
Dont think water will ruin a manual press if it was recient, maybe take it apart and oil the bearings? The flash might be toast though...
BTW, there's only 2 presses I would buy, Antec and RJennings.
I gotta agree. If I had 6 or 8 platens on my 8-color, my ass would fry under the flash while I was registering the next overprint screen. My stuff is shoehorned into a garage again, and it's big enough, but not for rolling stuff out of the way while I set up.
-
In all honesty, I might lean toward the latter. The extra $3000 will get you a conveyor dryer, which you definitely need. Trust me, I used a flash to start with also. You also get a decent exposure unit. I used that same one for a while. It worked great! I still keep mine as a back up to the MSP3140. Two extra stations, which is a very nice feature. AND no worries about what may or may not need to be replaced, cleaned, ructed bolts, etc.
My opinion, spend the money now and get yourself a nice small shop set up. Otherwise you will be looking for the other items soon.
I should have clarified... I'm also picking up a Chaparral 12' 24" dryer for $1200 (one of the three panels are bad.) I have a 1k Metal Halide light (granted on a HPS ballast so who knows how long it will last)... that and a vacuum bag and I got an exposure unit (single point at that).
-
The unit was underwater back in 2005... the auto base was replaced after that... he cleaned and regreased the unit. The flash panel was later replaced about 2 years ago.
So far I've seen the flash swing but the panel is 220 and he didn't have 220 in the warehouse... but his office at the other end of the complex does. Hmm.. gonna have to make him hook that up.
-
Antec legend is a great press, as you know. I have 6/4 that I got for $2000 with auto flash. Mine is 18 years-old and it still kicks a$$. No issues. Just call Dave at Antec and he'll hook you up with everything you need.
6/6 is a all-heads-down press that you can have 6 people working at the same time. I doubt you will ever need that, if you do, you'll probably have money for auto press and bigger dryer. Also, on 6/4 you can have 2 people working at the same time because you can have 2 diagonal heads down at the same time. (it is not all-heads-down but it is two-heads-down)
Good luck.