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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Nation03 on June 10, 2016, 11:54:59 AM

Title: Too good to be true?
Post by: Nation03 on June 10, 2016, 11:54:59 AM
I recently stumbled upon a used Workhorse Freedom that's hardly been used. It is located about an hour from me. Comes with pretty much everything I need to get started printing on an auto. Just wanted some feedback to see if this looks or sounds fishy. I'm a skeptic at heart so I'm not so sure about it.

My business is very small and I'll be running it full time come September. And although I may not 'need' an auto right now, I feel as if this offer is too good to pass up.

Thoughts?

http://www.digitsmith.com/price-reduced-2012-freedom-javelin-6-color-8-station-printer-48101.html (http://www.digitsmith.com/price-reduced-2012-freedom-javelin-6-color-8-station-printer-48101.html)
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on June 10, 2016, 11:59:30 AM
You will hate the V squeegees but other than that it's a solid buy. I just don't buy the 57 prints with the condition of those boards.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Nation03 on June 10, 2016, 12:05:59 PM
Yeah it's a bummer about the v squeegee, but I could live with it for a first auto. I can also upgrade them to the choppers if/when necessary. 57 prints sounds sketchy, but the press does look clean. I spoke with the seller today. He said his mother got sick around the time he got into the business and his priorities changed so he didn't pursue the printing business. Just hasn't had the time to advertise the machine for sale over the last few years. My only set back is that I wont be able to see it run since its not assembled and in storage.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: im_mcguire on June 10, 2016, 12:21:17 PM
Its a good price for sure.  If possible, see if there is a tech that could inspect it with you...
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: XG Print on June 10, 2016, 12:22:32 PM
Looks like a good deal but yes you will not like the V-Squeege and I too call BS on 57 prints looking at those boards unless they are not the original platens.  11 gallons of ink half full does no = 57 shirts either.  Little sketchy but it does look really clean.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: jvanick on June 10, 2016, 12:41:08 PM
remember that you can always add a few 'chopper' upgrades for $900/head... 

still an air press with air index, but not too shabby...
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: aauusa on June 10, 2016, 12:42:25 PM
well again I am in the minority.  I like v-squeegees.  so before you say you do not like them try them with an open mind.  we use ours and love them.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: jvanick on June 10, 2016, 12:47:16 PM
I ran them for 2 years on our Javelin. -- and ended up upgrading our 2 most used heads to Choppers.

I HATED them.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Nation03 on June 10, 2016, 01:07:47 PM
I don't anticipate loving them but I figured I would upgrade heads 1, 5 and 6 to choppers. I've been manually printing for 10 years,  so anything to get me away from pulling a squeegee will do at this point

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Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Screened Gear on June 10, 2016, 05:32:51 PM
Call workhorse on that press. They will know everything about it. They are good presses and will get the job done. It just may take a little more time to figure out how to use the v squeegee.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Frog on June 10, 2016, 06:52:55 PM
I don't anticipate loving them but I figured I would upgrade heads 1, 5 and 6 to choppers. I've been manually printing for 10 years,  so anything to get me away from pulling a squeegee will do at this point

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Start pushing the squeegee and save yourself more than $19,000!  :P
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: jvieira on June 11, 2016, 05:55:54 AM
We bought ours used - same condition, disassembled, and arranged a deal with the seller that didn't involved payment until the M&R technician told us the press was in good working condition.

If you don't live that far from him, try and get the same deal. You take care of shipping/delivery, have a tech assemble and test it. If it's in working order, make payment.
Our M&R tells us how many prints it has. Isn't there a monitor with that info on it?
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Nation03 on June 11, 2016, 11:03:04 AM
Haha I tried the push life for a while frog,  I just didn't get the results I wanted. My technique was probably the issue but no matter what I ended up with a shadow print and my registration always seemed off when pushing.

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Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Frog on June 11, 2016, 11:19:46 AM
Haha I tried the push life for a while frog,  I just didn't get the results I wanted. My technique was probably the issue but no matter what I ended up with a shadow print and my registration always seemed off when pushing.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Not to get too far off from the real thread subject, but that sounds like you were getting way more pressure without trying (a good thing when you learn to control it) and perhaps screens with too low tension, more susceptible to movement from the excess pressure.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Nation03 on June 11, 2016, 11:40:50 AM
Very possible. My S thread statics aren't the tightest in the world. I will say that they make even pulling a squeegee way easier. The auto is more for increased production and the ability to take on the larger last minute jobs. I'm a few miles out from NYC and everyone is always rush rush rush.

Anyway,  performance screen supply is the NJ workhorse dealer and they are close to the press. I'm going to see if they can come check out the press with me and if it all checks out, I may pull the trigger on this one.

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Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Inkworks on June 14, 2016, 11:58:13 PM
Get it checked out and if it's good, just buy it, getting an auto as soon as I could was the single best thing I did for my shop. That thing looks squeaky clean.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: alan802 on June 15, 2016, 09:40:31 AM
You're already using S thread so make sure those V squeegees are sharp, or better yet, buy new blades.  Those 2 things will help with the V squeegee problems, or lack of ability is a better way to describe it. 
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: jvanick on June 15, 2016, 09:50:19 AM
we had really good results with 70/90/70's in those... I tried a 70/90/70 + 60/90/60 combination but couldn't get it to work well enough due to the fact that you really can't get the blades to stand nearly straight up very easilly.

Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Nation03 on June 15, 2016, 10:04:48 AM
Thanks for the advice everyone. I spoke to the dealer that sold him the press and they said it is lightly used. The only issue is that its been moved several times and has been sitting for 4 years. Not sure if that can cause any problems or damage to the press or compressor. He told me he has a strange vibe from the seller so I backed off a little. Getting some quotes on a new Titan from a local dealer. Volt is a little to pricey for me right now, but I wouldn't mind having a press that runs without an air compressor.
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Sbrem on June 15, 2016, 10:33:45 AM
Thanks for the advice everyone. I spoke to the dealer that sold him the press and they said it is lightly used. The only issue is that its been moved several times and has been sitting for 4 years. Not sure if that can cause any problems or damage to the press or compressor. He told me he has a strange vibe from the seller so I backed off a little. Getting some quotes on a new Titan from a local dealer. Volt is a little to pricey for me right now, but I wouldn't mind having a press that runs without an air compressor.

It may very well be necessary to bring in a tech to check it over... and worth it probably too. Your increase in production will take care of your upfront costs...

Steve
Title: Re: Too good to be true?
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on June 15, 2016, 11:56:32 AM
If you are considering the Titan I would suggest taking a look at the Workhorse Freedom Express as well.