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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: WoodenTShirts on June 11, 2012, 12:37:40 PM
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Hello everyone. I'm looking to get a new press (either a 4/4, 6/4 or 6/6). I really have no knowledge of what the quality of the different companies is like. I currently have a 4/4 that has no brand listed on it, and the micro registration is absolutely terrible (The heads are also getting stripped). I've got up to $4000 (hopefully a little less) to spend and I'm hoping you fine folks could recommend some quality presses for the price that have decent micro reg. Or actually if you could also tell me what companies to stay away from I would also appreciate that.
Thanks,
Jason
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First off, welcome, I'm so glad that you found your way here from the ghost town you first visited.
As was mentioned, you can't go wrong with the Vastex 2000 or Antec Legend, but in the used market, from about $1500 and up you may also find a lot of choices from various Hopkins iterations, Workhorse, R Jennings and others.
You just need to, at this point, avoid the entry level machines like CAPS and even the pretty good Odyssey from Workhorse, unless you come across a great deal. And, there are plenty of great deals out there,
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I bought a workhorse Odyssey new as a second press to my used Hopkins press, and the odyssey is a really good press, but I did beef it up to handle a heavy work load. If you have the money buy a good press to start with with as many heads you can stand,if you need to save cash and buy other stuff, the used market will net you some of those good press's for a steal sometimes.
Darryl
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I paid $4500 for a used ( barely) 6/6 M&R chameleon side clamps , nice press and have seen more around that price used. May be worth doing a couple weeks of daily searches on google until one pops up?
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4/4, 6/4 and 6/6 presses all do different things. 4/4's are like sportscars...built for speed, 6/4 are like a luxury car with added convenience. 6/6's are like 18 wheelers. What are you going to do with this press? If you can only have one press the 6/6 gives you the most capability but they are heavy and slow and have a big footprint. They all have their place in a shop. A lot depends on what type of work you do.
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we bought a Vastex v-2000 6/6 brand new after doing a bunch of research on quality and construction. For us the Vastex won our cash.There were several other brands very close in price and quality etc but based on the beef and structure of the vastex it was a no brainer.
i will say however the Antec legend series was also a very good press in our minds and the $$ were very very close. We just liked the Vastex better. The thing is built like a brick schnizt house.
I am pretty sure you can get a 4/4 new at the $$ you reference.
Just my 2 cents
mooseman
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I recommend looking for a used M&R Sidewinder or Chameleon, Vastex V2000 or Antec Legend. There are a few other presses out there that are worth buying but I know you can't go wrong with those 4 machines.
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WARNING WARNING WARNING Sarcastic post alert!!!
Go over to tsf and the press they will kill you for is a Silver Press from Ryonet. They will sing the praises forever on these things. So why buy anything else.
hee hee hee hee
We have Vastex 8/4 btw
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Thats funny. But for 1 and 2 color low quanity runs a $400 press will do the job. But any sort of production buy a production style press or take that money for a down payment on an entry level auto.
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WARNING WARNING WARNING Sarcastic post alert!!!
Go over to tsf and the press they will kill you for is a Silver Press from Ryonet. They will sing the praises forever on these things. So why buy anything else.
hee hee hee hee
We have Vastex 8/4 btw
I can't wait until they have a silver auto press.
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I had an old Richardson, run away from them, I picked up a like new r Jennings 6/4 for 3g. The MICROS are different but the press is beefy and holds great registration. I do like the anatec a lot also
Sent from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)
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Any well built press that has print arm struts, if a press lacks print arms struts or made of folded sheet metal I would pass...
I have owned and sold 6 presses. My current press is the Workhorse Mach IV 6/6.
Cant go wrong with any of these! Buy used , buying anything new these days is kinda stupid unless it's underwear or shoes lol.
Workhorse Mach IV
(http://images.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0PDoKs8NdZPeEsA5DyjzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBtdXFkOWthBHNlYwNmcC1hdHRyaWIEc2xrA2ZpbWc-/SIG=13vf2i6d3/EXP=1339467196/**http%3a//a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/lffgk.jjqfq/v/vspfiles/photos/WH-10005-2T.jpg%3f1328362692)
RJennings
http://www.rjennings.com/6-Color-6-Station-Press_p_357.html (http://www.rjennings.com/6-Color-6-Station-Press_p_357.html)
Antec Legend
(http://screenprintsource.com/images/antec_88.JPG)
M&R Sidewinder
(http://www.swfeast.com/en/images/SidewinderRS4c.jpg)
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I had an old Richardson, run away from them, I picked up a like new r Jennings 6/4 for 3g. The MICROS are different but the press is beefy and holds great registration. I do like the anatec a lot also
Sent from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)
the micros on that Jenning was my only beef if he updated them it would be the perfect press
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Thats funny. But for 1 and 2 color low quanity runs a $400 press will do the job. But any sort of production buy a production style press or take that money for a down payment on an entry level auto.
Not always true. Even a one color press needs to hold "register" for print/flash/print, and not all do.
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where are you located???????
Hello everyone. I'm looking to get a new press (either a 4/4, 6/4 or 6/6). I really have no knowledge of what the quality of the different companies is like. I currently have a 4/4 that has no brand listed on it, and the micro registration is absolutely terrible (The heads are also getting stripped). I've got up to $4000 (hopefully a little less) to spend and I'm hoping you fine folks could recommend some quality presses for the price that have decent micro reg. Or actually if you could also tell me what companies to stay away from I would also appreciate that.
Thanks,
Jason
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Thats funny. But for 1 and 2 color low quanity runs a $400 press will do the job. But any sort of production buy a production style press or take that money for a down payment on an entry level auto.
Not always true. Even a one color press needs to hold "register" for print/flash/print, and not all do.
Come to think of it you are right. If you didn't have those nylon bolts really snug you would have trouble with that silver press
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My money will always be on the Legend or Sidewinder as well.
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Thank you everyone for the input. I really appreciate it.
I've used a handful of presses at shops I've worked at, but I've been on my own for four years now with my current press. I have no idea who makes it as there is no name on it. My ex-partner bought it before I joined up with him. Here's a picture of it:
(http://home.roadrunner.com/~whatshesaid/press2.JPG)
I now know what to look for used.
Thanks again.
Oh, and I'm in Buffalo, NY.
Jason
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Sorry, you may have to change your name or move as we already have a Jason in Buffalo. ;D
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So where will you dry your screens if you get rid of this press? ;) (assuming that's what's going on down there at the base)
Think about where your going with your biz in the next 5 yrs. before choosing and whether or not you'd like the screens and platens you use on your manual to interchange with your auto. If so, there are two presses setup to do this - M&R Chameleon and Sidewinder.
Two similar presses, Anatol's Thunder and Lighting are not on par with M&Rs presses in this department as they can only barely handle auto sized roller frames. We have a Thunder and it struggles to hold our M3 frames up and is simply not engineered to handle the weight or height of these frames properly, end of story.
Other models can work this way with some modification, to some degree.
If interchangeability isn't a need, or you are willing to buy new screens and platens if/when you move to an auto and you don't need side clamps, I'd check out those Antec Legends. I never have ran one personally but they have the best rep from all that I've heard and are the only true 'all head's down' press I'm aware of.
Best bang for the buck might be a used American Rototex. They are hard to damage and parts are readily available still. I have yet to operate any piece of machinery that held registration as well as my Rototex did. Excellent machine to learn on and the entry cost is sometimes close to nil.
I would try used in excellent condition before a lesser model brand new. If properly operated and maintained, manual presses will last a very long time.
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Here's a Riley Hopkins in your own backyard -
$750
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/bfs/3001344451.html (http://buffalo.craigslist.org/bfs/3001344451.html)
and a second Riley -
$850
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/bfs/3036580457.html (http://buffalo.craigslist.org/bfs/3036580457.html)
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So where will you dry your screens if you get rid of this press? ;) (assuming that's what's going on down there at the base)
Zoo, you obviously are not familiar with the Brewmeister line of presses
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you can get something like the BLUE MAX oldie but goody press made by m&r
great registration, side clamps, aluminum pallets, easy to own
they pop up every now and then at. digitsmith.com
for the same token check out the rototex
also a great press.
Gabe
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So where will you dry your screens if you get rid of this press? ;) (assuming that's what's going on down there at the base)
Zoo, you obviously are not familiar with the Brewmeister line of presses
haha excellent!
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no wonder screen printer have bad reputation
in germany
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So where will you dry your screens if you get rid of this press? ;) (assuming that's what's going on down there at the base)
Zoo, you obviously are not familiar with the Brewmeister line of presses
What'ya mean I have the wrong inks on the wrong screens? Looks good to me....... :)
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Not to hijack the thread, but who could possibly turn down this deal?
http://buffalo.craigslist.org/bfs/3033484157.html (http://buffalo.craigslist.org/bfs/3033484157.html)
Ain't no cross-contamination here. :D
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So where will you dry your screens if you get rid of this press? ;) (assuming that's what's going on down there at the base)
Zoo, you obviously are not familiar with the Brewmeister line of presses
Now that's the type of press that gives you serious brand loyalty.
I swear I've some best of my done printing drunk.
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I had an old Richardson, run away from them, I picked up a like new r Jennings 6/4 for 3g. The MICROS are different but the press is beefy and holds great registration. I do like the anatec a lot also
Sent from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)
the micros on that Jenning was my only beef if he updated them it would be the perfect press
yes they are a pain to get use to you think the bastard that sold me it would have told me lol
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I have a 4/4 Jennings I want to sell. 2 sets of pallets and cap attachment with 2 elbows to print 2 color caps..
Frank
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I have 6/4 Antec Legend that is 19 years young.
Recently, I ran about 70 piece CMYK order, I did not have to stop and re-align the screens at all. It holds registrations on longer runs really good even being that old.
Those presses are built to last. Precise, easy to use and really light and easy to turn, which will help you on the long runs.
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/GREAT-VASTEX-Silk-Screen-Printing-Equip-/270996853506?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f18abd302 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/GREAT-VASTEX-Silk-Screen-Printing-Equip-/270996853506?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f18abd302)
Here ya go!
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I have 6/4 Antec Legend that is 19 years young.
Recently, I ran about 70 piece CMYK order, I did not have to stop and re-align the screens at all. It holds registrations on longer rund really good even being that old.
Those presses are built to last. Precise, easy to use and really light and easy to turn, which will help you on the long runs.
Dual registration gates baby!
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I had an old Richardson, run away from them, I picked up a like new r Jennings 6/4 for 3g. The MICROS are different but the press is beefy and holds great registration. I do like the anatec a lot also
Sent from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)
the micros on that Jenning was my only beef if he updated them it would be the perfect press
yes they are a pain to get use to you think the bastard that sold me it would have told me lol
If it makes you feel any better the micros on my Workhorse isnt much better just a better thought out turn buckle that doesnt kill your fingers, at least the eye rods are metal not plastic like the workhorse.
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I had an old Richardson, run away from them, I picked up a like new r Jennings 6/4 for 3g. The MICROS are different but the press is beefy and holds great registration. I do like the anatec a lot also
Sent from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)
the micros on that Jenning was my only beef if he updated them it would be the perfect press
yes they are a pain to get use to you think the bastard that sold me it would have told me lol
If it makes you feel any better the micros on my Workhorse isnt much better just a better thought out turn buckle that doesnt kill your fingers, at least the eye rods are metal not plastic like the workhorse.
Just joking man I love the press it was in great shape
Sent from samsung gem(the worst smart phone ever)
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I ended up finding, and buying, a 4/4 Vastex 2000 for $1500.
So far I love it.
Thank you for everyone's help.