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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Prosperi-Tees on November 25, 2011, 02:02:07 AM
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What would the realistic output of these dryers be? I will have to eventually upgrade my dryer but electrical capacity is the biggest obstacle in our current shop. I figure I can only do about 30 or so amps realistically. So these 3 dryers fit that bill. Any thoughts or opinions. Pros and cons? I need to be able to do 250-300 per hour. I know all these are within that range spec wise but what are the realistic numbers?
Vastex EC-1 54 inch belt / 30 Amps - $4600 http://www.vastex.com/products/InfraredDryers/ECI.php (http://www.vastex.com/products/InfraredDryers/ECI.php)
M&R Economax 24 inch belt / 28 Amps - $5000 http://www.silkscreeningsupplies.com/product/MRECMXII24 (http://www.silkscreeningsupplies.com/product/MRECMXII24)
Ranar Curestar 6000 36 inch belt / 35 Amps - $3100 http://ranar.com/Conveyor_dryer/Curestar_6000.html (http://ranar.com/Conveyor_dryer/Curestar_6000.html)
Any others I should look at?
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54 inch belt Vastex dryer for 4600
Having a 54" wide belt is like having 2 24" wide dryers going at once more bang for your buck! Enough room for an auto and manual to unload at the same time.
All the major brands make a good dryer.
I think in screen printing, bigger is better :P
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Defiantly the 54"Vastex. I run one with our auto and can squeeze 720 left chest or about 500 full prints per hr out of it. Great bang for the buck.
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Cant go wrong with the vastex or the M&R. We have an older EconoMax as a back up dryer and that thing books for a small dryer. If you go with the vastex, I'd get a few belt extensions to make loading easier.
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love my vastex!
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When we were looking we had it down to M&R and Vastex, ended up with Vastex becuase thier modular and warranty. If I were to do it agian I would order belt extensions for intake side from the start.
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Definitly vastex we bought one when we upgraded our equipment
we are able to cure 300 pcs. platisol ink easily
very reliable dryer
even jimmy hendrix digs it
Let me stand next to your dryyyyer
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I believe the 54" Vastex has side by side heat elements... so, you can shut off one side, if it's not needed. That would save some energy -or- help keep the shop temperature lower during the summer.
Plus, all-over prints would be a piece of cake.
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Yeah the Vastex is the 1 i have been leaning toward. And it would be great when I get a bigger shop to just add on chambers and extensions.
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M&R Heatwave.
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I would go with gas if it was me, but if I had to stick electric, M&R and Vastex both make good ones.
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Gas is not an option for my current shop. Maybe when I move into a bigger more permanent type of space.
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The vastex dryers are super-reliable little guys and come in at a good price. Our EC-I (30" belt) has served us well but I'm surprised to hear others running autos with them, even on the double wide model. The chamber is really short on them so this is a plastisol only unit, it banks on 'zapping' the ink up to cure rather than cooking it which is fine for plastisols, maybe not optimal, but very functional.
Maybe also check out an M&R Fusion. I think it's the economax's big brother, still all electric and wider belt. I would be cranky about using a 24" wide belt but I like that the M&R units are insulated and gated. The vastex is quite literally an IR panel hanging in a black powder coated tin box. Yet, our EC-I uses very little electricity it seems so I don't know how much insulation should factor in, it just seems like common sense though to keep the heat in the chamber.
Gas is obviously the ultimate but if you don't have gas or propane or the capital for that purchase, not an option. The heatwave costs about 3x what these models run for example. You might make that back in a hurry if gas is that much cheaper than electric in your area though. Keep in mind you could hook up a propane tank where gas is not an option.
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You could probably find everything you need in 1 dryer used at 1/2 those new prices. Just saying...
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Thats what concerns me about the Vastex is the 20 inch chamber. I do discharge once in a while and would think a longer heat chamber would be better for that although none are ideal for discharge.
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you might consider black body force air big buddy
it can cure platisol and water base inks
the best of both worlds in one package ;)
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If I was to ever purchase another electric dryer, new or used, my choices would be:
1) M&R Radicure (forced air, can do wb/discharge, built like a tank)
2) Hix NPII (forced air, can do wb/discharge, built like a...humvee)
3) Ranar Turbo Jetstar (forced air, can do wb/discharge, built like a Jeep)
I've honestly never been impressed with the Vastex stuff.
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If I was to ever purchase another electric dryer, new or used, my choices would be:
1) M&R Radicure (forced air, can do wb/discharge, built like a tank)
2) Hix NPII (forced air, can do wb/discharge, built like a...humvee)
3) Ranar Turbo Jetstar (forced air, can do wb/discharge, built like a Jeep)
I've honestly never been impressed with the Vastex stuff.
hopefully not built like my Jeep ;D That dryer come in a straight 6? :o
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I just dont have many options. I have 100 amp service, 30 for my compressor, 20 for 1 flash and then everything else so I figure 30-40 amps max and gas is just not an option.
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Forgot about Hix dryers.. that 3610 NPII dryer looks pretty sweet. 3 phase is 27 amps.
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Oh yeah forgot that as well, no 3 phase! I cant wait to move but we just signed a 2 year lease a few months ago.
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Belt size should be your first consideration. Buy the widest you can.
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If you want to run discharge I would stay the hell away from the Vastex units or any short, open type of drying system. Some of the higher end Vastex models have a primitive sort of air exchange system that might make it possible but even with the wide belt how slow would you have to run it to get ink to discharge? Too slow.
I'd take the advice above and maybe check out a larger, used machine. Go as long as you have space for, widest belt you can fit as well. Keep in mind, even if the machine is rated higher than you think you can use you don't have to run all the panels at once. Our Texair that's in the new space is rated at 110 amps of 3phase. :o It's a monster. While I'm hooking it up as if it were going to run full bore, we're not going to ever get near that sort of amp draw with it though and will be only using certain panels, set fairly low and the hot, forced air section, cranked up. Some of these big 'ol boys are quite cheap and, from what I've seen of this ones guts so far, look very straight forward to repair. If you went that route you could simply disconnect one of the panels or, find the optimal setting and let your breaker tell you when it's too much. You would need to find a single phase unit though which might be a little tricky.
I've heard this repeated many times and found it to be 100% true- you'll outgrow the dryer first. It will bottleneck your production if you don't plan ahead and swapping gear out can take your attention away from getting those prints made.
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I have an old Vastex Econored with a 30 in belt and two heat panels inside. It has a built in exhaust and I have run Pleasticharge (Union Discharge) some. I just lower the belt speed way down.
Don't have any experience with other brands, but the Vastex folks are more than willing to help out on problems, even though I bought "used" and not from them.
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Yeah I did not think I would have an auto so soon as I started out with an 18 inch Little Buddy dryer and currently have a 24 inch Ranar Curestar 4000 which will only do about 150 an hour comfortably. I would like to at least double that number.
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Oh yeah forgot that as well, no 3 phase! I cant wait to move but we just signed a 2 year lease a few months ago.
I just sold my ancient Ranar Turbo Jetstar. It was 24" x 8', 27 amps. It could handle discharge, albeit slowly.
I helped the dude that I sold my press to install a larger, newer version of the same dryer. 36" x 8', about 35 amps (maybe 40?) single phase. They are really, really nice for the price and built solid. I would take a long look at one if you are doing occasional discharge work.
I mentioned the Heatwave for several reasons:
1) Gas rules over pretty much any electric dryer.
2) It can run on a single 20 amp 120v circuit and minimum gas service, or an on-site propane tank.
3) You can take it with you to the next location and not worry about further upgrades for awhile
4) It will pay for itself in a couple years of electric bills.
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Oh yeah forgot that as well, no 3 phase! I cant wait to move but we just signed a 2 year lease a few months ago.
I just sold my ancient Ranar Turbo Jetstar. It was 24" x 8', 27 amps. It could handle discharge, albeit slowly.
I helped the dude that I sold my press to install a larger, newer version of the same dryer. 36" x 8', about 35 amps (maybe 40?) single phase. They are really, really nice for the price and built solid. I would take a long look at one if you are doing occasional discharge work.
I mentioned the Heatwave for several reasons:
1) Gas rules over pretty much any electric dryer.
2) It can run on a single 20 amp 120v circuit and minimum gas service, or an on-site propane tank.
3) You can take it with you to the next location and not worry about further upgrades for awhile
4) It will pay for itself in a couple years of electric bills.
My little Ranar is a workhorse for what it is for sure. I will have to look into propane. Problem is the tank would have to be indoors.
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I don't have any personal experience with the other two dryers, but I am happy with my M&R economax. I am putting out a real 180 to 220 per hour depending on the garment (I like a little slower belt speed). I was told by local dealer that it is pre-wired for a third heat panel if the need arises.
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There is always the option of a USED m/r radicure. In same price range.. 3 panel models are probably in that amp range.
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In this current economic situation, I'd scour the internetweb google maker machine for a used dryer. It looks like quite a few auto shops run with a smaller dryer than I'd expect to see. I wouldn't want my dryer to be my bottleneck if I were you but if you're not going to be running the auto with a full crew then 250-300/hr would probably be just fine.
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Yeah I will be loading/unloading myself so I figure 250-300 an hour. I would like the dryer to be more than capable and be able to handle it when I do hire people and be able to double production with a loader and unloader. Thats what I like about the vastex is the add-on capability when I move from this shop in 2 years.
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Yeah I will be loading/unloading myself so I figure 250-300 an hour. I would like the dryer to be more than capable and be able to handle it when I do hire people and be able to double production with a loader and unloader. Thats what I like about the vastex is the add-on capability when I move from this shop in 2 years.
If I was to set up an auto shop with only 100A service, and no 3-phase, it would HAVE to have a gas line.
You are gonna sink so much $$ into your utility bills in 2 years that you could have bought a used gas dryer anyway.
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I could just drag along with 150 an hour for a couple years before I move but that would be frustrating in itself
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I thought lack of gas service is why you're looking at electric, right?
Not much you can do if you don't have the line.
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Lack of gas service and limited to about 40 amps single phase only.
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Thought I'd seen that.
On the 100 amps service. I've only got what most would call 50 amp service - double 50A breaker providing 220 service. On that feed, I have a Vastex 30A (220) Dryer, a 20A (110) Flash, 15A (110) A/C, 5 sets of double florescent tube lights and occasional use of the exposure unit. I know it's a bit tight, but so far no problems. So if you have a 100A (double breaker for 220 service), I doubt you have a lot to worry about. Talk to an electrician and discuss things. You might be surprised.
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I'll have a Lawson dryer on a truck heading up I5 late this week. Part of a deal, and I don't need the dryer. Hit me up if you're interested. It's a 36" belt and 8 or 10 feet long, can't remember.
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those lawson dryers work excellent. you cant go wrong with the omega and the 36" probably pulls about the 40 amps..an its AMERICAN MADE.
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WHA? Something AMERICAN MADE? No Way!! I'm thinking of ordering Rosetta Stone for Chinese.
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Get a gas dryer and run it on Liquid Propane. You just hook it up to a container no gas line needed. I was thinking about doing it here. Then I got a screaming deal on a Workhorse 52 inch belt dryer.
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Get a gas dryer and run it on Liquid Propane. You just hook it up to a container no gas line needed. I was thinking about doing it here. Then I got a screaming deal on a Workhorse 52 inch belt dryer.
Like a bbq propane tank? Or something bigger? I would think the tank would have to be pretty substantial.
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I really am not sure. I never looked into it. You can use any size tank. You just have to have it filled more. I know in my area you can have a service come fill your tanks. I am sure some one on here will break it down BTU/hour to gallon of gas.
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You need one of those big tanks, the ones that are the size of a car. I have no idea what one of those would run nor do I know if you can lease them from a gas company. I think you have to buy them. I would recommend it, it's cheaper in the long haul to go gas.