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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Prosperi-Tees on June 19, 2016, 05:07:58 PM
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Let's talk compact conveyor dryers. Looks like the market has a bunch of them available from every manufacturer. They all claim to be the best. What are you running and what do you like and not like about them.
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I like this thread. Main dryer is an old M&R Maxi-Cure, definitely not small at around 13ft long with a 36" belt. But my current back up is an older M&R economax. Nice little dryer. Definitely prefer the 36" belt compared to the 24", but it gets the job done.
I'm curious to hear if anyone is running anything from Ranar. They look decent and the price is right for me, but I never heard much about them.
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Let me try to list them:
Ranar Curestar 4000 & 6000
Ranar Jetstar DT422
Workhorse Odyssey CD227
Vastex Little Red X1 and X2
M&R Economax D
BBC Big Buddy
Brown Pony Dryer
Lawson Encore
Hix?
It seems the Vastex has it down for flexibility and expansion and Ranar has it down for value.
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I like this thread. Main dryer is an old M&R Maxi-Cure, definitely not small at around 13ft long with a 36" belt. But my current back up is an older M&R economax. Nice little dryer. Definitely prefer the 36" belt compared to the 24", but it gets the job done.
I'm curious to hear if anyone is running anything from Ranar. They look decent and the price is right for me, but I never heard much about them.
Hardly a legitimate industrial strength review, but I ran one of the original Ranar Scamps for years. At four foot, and with no speed controls (except switching drive gears)was minimalism in action!
Newer ones went with a speed controlled motor and added a foot to the belt.
One thing I learned was the value of a decent sized lead out. On a dryer this size (or any short guy), figure out a way to add a fan at exit to quickly shed some heat and stickiness and prevent issues of ink transfer when they stack hot.
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Brown options:
Pony series
PD2004- 20" belt 4' length 110v
PD2006- 20" belt 6' length 2 (110) or 1 (220)
PD3607- 36" belt 7' length 220v
Air Blazer
AB2474 - 24" belt 7.5' length 220
USX
USX2475 - 24" belt 7.5 length 220 fill digital control package
TRX2475 - 24" belt 7.5 length 220 full digital control package, touchscreen control, memory recall. Built in temp prove graphing software
DAG2475 - 24" belt 7.5' length 220 full
Convection air dryer.
Fire FLy
BDFY - 27" or 36" belt many sizes available, to many feature to lists, see websites
All can be found on either
Brownmfg.net
Or
Brownmfgdigital.com
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We have one small dryer, the Vastex EconoRed l, 20" of heat, it's used to cure numbers (we have an Inline...) works great... we bought it from a guy working in his cellar, and it did the job for him as well before he decided it was all too much...
Steve
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I've always wondered about the vastex models. It's basically a flash panel with a conveyor going under it, right? I would be worried it would cure the surface, but not penetrate the garment since there is no heat trap in the "chamber". Ever have washfast issues?
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I've always wondered about the vastex models. It's basically a flash panel with a conveyor going under it, right? I would be worried it would cure the surface, but not penetrate the garment since there is no heat trap in the "chamber". Ever have washfast issues?
My Ranar Scamp was certainly little more than a flash unit mounted over a belt, and the only issue I ever had with fully curing ink was when my image was too large to (comfortably) ensure full cure on the edges if the image was centered on the belt, so I ran those shirts through twice in different positions.
Now, I did tend to have more scorch issues, but then again, I think that even with large fancy dryers, we had more scorch issues 20-25 years ago.
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Vastex ECII-30
It keeps up with the auto fine when I am operating alone, and barely keeps up with a loader/unloader. (would create a bottleneck with a fast loader/unloader team). Smaller foot print for what I would consider a real deal dryer.
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http://www.advancedscreenprintsupply.com/product2565.html (http://www.advancedscreenprintsupply.com/product2565.html)
As far as I can see as far as specs, belt width , expandability etc, this seems like the best one. Any opinions otherwise?
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[url]http://www.advancedscreenprintsupply.com/product2565.html[/url] ([url]http://www.advancedscreenprintsupply.com/product2565.html[/url])
As far as I can see as far as specs, belt width , expandability etc, this seems like the best one. Any opinions otherwise?
I don't have any experience with it, but I'd pay the extra $1K and get the ECII, that way if you ever get a small auto you can still handle it.
In answer to your question on the other thread. I'd also keep the auto size frames. That way you can have them if you go back to auto, and if not they are way better for ganging two jobs on.
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Yeah I'm for sure keeping the 23x31 frames. Just need a cabinet to keep them in.
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I've always wondered about the vastex models. It's basically a flash panel with a conveyor going under it, right? I would be worried it would cure the surface, but not penetrate the garment since there is no heat trap in the "chamber". Ever have washfast issues?
My Ranar Scamp was certainly little more than a flash unit mounted over a belt, and the only issue I ever had with fully curing ink was when my image was too large to (comfortably) ensure full cure on the edges if the image was centered on the belt, so I ran those shirts through twice in different positions.
Hey Guys,
Essentially all of these dryers regardless of manufacturer are using "Infra Red heaters". The same heaters that appear in Flash Dryers and millions of other applications. If you put in a box around it or in a flash dryer it is the same heater. (There is a little energy transfer gained by enclosing the box)
The power or the heater is based wattage spread out over the area the heater covers:
IE. a Heater is (Enter Volts Here) * (Enter Amps Here) = Watts
IE. 120v * 15a = 1,800 watts
Heater Area : 20x24 = 480
Power pr/sq inch: 3.75
The higher the watts pr/sq inch the faster the energy transfer up to a point where you burn the shirt before the ink has time to fully cure. In most cases the ink absorbs "IR" slower than the shirt. Especially when the deposit is considerably thicker.
Scortching
Solution - Dial back the wattage so that the shirt doesn't scortch while the ink has time to gain energy and fully cure.
Assuming all waves lengths are equal (Which all manufactures are close for this purpose) the dryer will perform identical based on power pr/sq inch. Insulating sides and top will help (slightly) difference between putting a flash dryer over a belt or putting it in a insulated box over a belt.
I have several of used options if you are interested many different manufactures, same energy transfer principle.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
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Scortching
Solution - Dial back the wattage so that the shirt doesn't scortch while the ink has time to gain energy and fully cure.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
As I mentioned, I have noticed quite a decline in scorching since 20 years ago. I suspect that something in the fabric has changed.
That said, as to my scorching with the Scamp, one has a lot less options with adjusting heat and speed on a four foot dryer, and still produce any serious production numbers.
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I've always wondered about the vastex models. It's basically a flash panel with a conveyor going under it, right? I would be worried it would cure the surface, but not penetrate the garment since there is no heat trap in the "chamber". Ever have washfast issues?
Nothing has come back yet... your description is pretty close.
Steve
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Aren't they all just infrared flash panels??? Well beside the Workhorse Quartz dryers.
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Pretty much. I guess the only down side to the Vastex is that there are no gates on either side of the dryer to keep the heat inside the chamber. It can't be that big of an issue though because so many people use those dryers with great results and solid reviews. If I was to go home based again I'd probably go with a Vastex. Especially since they still manage a 30" wide belt on a compact dryer. Anything under 24" isn't worth it IMO. I hate folding shirts 3 different ways to get them to fit on the belt.
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I have Atlas 824. Nice little dryer, it has a forced air and an exhaust so i can run waterbase and discharge (Not that I do that)
The thing that I liked about it when I bought it, I was able to take it down into my basement.
What I did not like about it (And still do not) is 24" belt. Hate printing XXL and XXXL shirts and folding them on 24" belt.
I wish I have bought 36", but my space constraints prohibited it.
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I've always wondered about the vastex models. It's basically a flash panel with a conveyor going under it, right? I would be worried it would cure the surface, but not penetrate the garment since there is no heat trap in the "chamber". Ever have washfast issues?
Nothing has come back yet... your description is pretty close.
Steve
Same here. Never had any curing issues with the Vastex.
To my understanding dryers are either:
Infrared (standard option)
quartz (not a fan)
gas (best option)
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I have the EconoMax has been a real good dryer, bought it from another member here years ago, I'll looked at the Vastex dyers and I like the compact size which would fit perfect for us, but I just can't pull the trigger on it.
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I've always wondered about the vastex models. It's basically a flash panel with a conveyor going under it, right? I would be worried it would cure the surface, but not penetrate the garment since there is no heat trap in the "chamber". Ever have washfast issues?
Nothing has come back yet... your description is pretty close.
Steve
Same here. Never had any curing issues with the Vastex.
To my understanding dryers are either:
Infrared (standard option)
quartz (not a fan)
gas (best option)
"Infra Red" is a wave length
A Quartz dryer is an "Infra Red Dryer" with quartz however there is a little more choice into the "Infra Red" wave length. See long wave, medium wave and short wave. All three waves have different effects but are all considers "Infra Red" dryers
Gas or Electric with heat exchanger are the same thing. The concept is to heat air in a separate chamber, use the air to carry the energy to the shirt. The better the dryer the more even the air temp is over the length of the dryer.
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I've always wondered about the vastex models. It's basically a flash panel with a conveyor going under it, right? I would be worried it would cure the surface, but not penetrate the garment since there is no heat trap in the "chamber". Ever have washfast issues?
Nothing has come back yet... your description is pretty close.
Steve
Same here. Never had any curing issues with the Vastex.
To my understanding dryers are either:
Infrared (standard option)
quartz (not a fan)
gas (best option)
or both, we have 48" and 60" Advance jet air, infra in and out, gas convection in the center...
Steve
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Same here. Never had any curing issues with the Vastex.
To my understanding dryers are either:
Infrared (standard option)
quartz (not a fan)
gas (best option)
or both, we have 48" and 60" Advance jet air, infra in and out, gas convection in the center...
Steve
[/quote]
Interesting! I didn't know they made them that way.
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Same here. Never had any curing issues with the Vastex.
To my understanding dryers are either:
Infrared (standard option)
quartz (not a fan)
gas (best option)
or both, we have 48" and 60" Advance jet air, infra in and out, gas convection in the center...
Steve
Interesting! I didn't know they made them that way.
[/quote]
Early '90's dryers, 2 panels going in to get the ink up to a higher temp before going through the gas section, then one panel at the very end for the extra bootintheass...
Steve
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Those with a Vastex, are those frame rails sharp? They sure look it.
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I don't want to move this thread off topic but for anyone thinking of a dryer like this I have a Vastex Big Red 30 that needs a new home. Great dryer, upgraded to a larger gas and this has been sitting as a backup. PM me if you'd like more info and we can discuss, I'm in New York.
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We have a newer Vastex EconoRed I 54" with the 4300 watt heaters. One of my concerns when purchasing the unit was it didn't have the damper doors or enclosed curing area so how can it get a good cure. I guess it doesn't need them. Between adjustable heater height, belt speed and temperatue control it works. It'll burn the crap out of the shirts if you let it. After having the 54" wide belt I don't think I could go back to anything less. Kind of like having the quartz flash on a manual press. Could not imagine having to swing a flash unit again. With the wider belt I can run at a slower speed to give a longer cure time and longer cool off time. I visited a shop running one with a 15 second cure time and they were having excellent results. You definitely need a catcher at that speed. I was taught that a longer cure time with a slower ramp speed was better but I have also heard that all you need is to reach cure temp. Doesn't matter how fast or for how long. So I don't know. If you are going to do water and discharge I think I would get the 2 heaters.
The frame rails aren't sharp. It's really designed well. I also like the ability to expand the belt length and add another heat chamber if needed.
Since getting the dryer my only complaint when curing is that dang Atkins probe. Talked my wife into spending the money and have yet to get it to work right. I get toasted shirts before it hits 320.
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So I think I have narrowed my choices down to two:
Vastex Little Red II
30" belt
30" heat chamber
2 12x24 panels = 5200 watts
7' overall length
$3800
Ranar Curestar 4000
24" belt
48" heat chamber
1 24x24 panel = 4000 watts
8' overall length
$3200
I like the Ranar due to the price. I like the Vastex due to the 30" belt and it's a foot shorter.
They both have the same size panel essentially but I'm thinking more watts in the Vastex would give more thru put even with the shorter chamber. Thoughts?
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How much more would the ranar 6000 cost? I think the 36" belt would be worth it in the long run.
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It's about a grand more, I would like it better but nervous about space in the garage and the extra amperage.
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Ah, true. If major production numbers aren't a factor, maybe consider the vastex econored I
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Yeah I thought about that but I do print a bunch of white tees that go pretty fast on a manual press so i need a little bit of speed.
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The Vastex. It's rated for 30% more shirts per hour and has a wider belt. I don't know much about Ranar, but I do have personal experience with Vastex and their dryers.