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« Last post by R8R on January 31, 2026, 12:58:35 PM »
Just heard from some former employees of mine that has caused the unwarranted but perhaps worth discussing angst on my part. Ever buy an eighty thousand dollar auto reclaim unit but cant buy the chemicals due to bankruptcy? Ever get into high density/lenticular printing without costing it out and price accordingly? Ever waiting to your compressor completely dies and have to rent an outside gas one? Ever acquire a company that while having a book of business, loses money? Ever thought of moving ink inventory to an upstairs out of access area? Ever bought a larger/over engineered piece of equipment?
On behalf of the shop I currently work at, I feel attacked. 
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« Last post by R8R on January 31, 2026, 12:56:11 PM »
The designation of "FX3U-32BL" means it's a common 3 volt button battery with a terminal soldered to it to plug into PLC systems. Not exotic. Cheap and convenient: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CY9798Q/ref=pe_386300_440135490_TE_itemEven cheaper: https://batteryguy.com/fx3u-32bl-plc-lithium-battery-3v-500mah.html
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« Last post by Frog on January 30, 2026, 06:13:18 PM »
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« Last post by GaryG on January 30, 2026, 05:42:14 PM »
How about using a torpedo heater in a small garage with xylene everywhere? Man, it could of went sky high. Harry across the street says, you can print these 8' panels of foamboard for the store. Risk upon risk, dumb upon dumb for money just staring out 30 years ago. 
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« Last post by GaryG on January 30, 2026, 05:32:18 PM »
Been a long time.
Need to replace our FX3U CLP 3v battery on our Sportsman EX circa 2011. M&R has the one we have benn using all along, but see others that are a fraction of the cost. I want to make sure the much less expensive, similar looking ones have same volt / specs will work? Not too weak, not too hot, just right.
Any suggestion for a substitution?
Thanks Crew,
GG
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« Last post by mk162 on January 29, 2026, 01:41:47 PM »
Laser to screen is probably best however, we bought one two ys ago and it is awesome with no consumables. Downside, totally overkill for a two auto shop. ROI might never happen. On top of that it was part of a quarter of a million investment, auto coat, auto reclaim (they cant afford the chemicals). All three retail stores closed. They are in trouble. But at least they got the young kids running the shop. Upside is the larger contract owners are in contact and ready to move as soon as I land somewhere. Shows you where the loyalty and trust lie sorry for the rant. They are a great family, they just put family first rather than kids finding jobs of their own. Sorry for the rant but Douthett is my vote, I do not recommend
used units. Usually blanket, bulbuls and glass will cost you, thinking four or more autos, depending on volume might make better sense for an LSR
We are a one auto shop. the wax douthitt unit is probably overkill for us, but I wouldn't give it up. The Saati unit seems to work well so far. We are testing new emulsions because the stuff we were using for a slower and wider latitude is taking forever on the new bulb. Like 5+ minutes.
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« Last post by Admiral on January 29, 2026, 11:43:38 AM »
Laser to screen is probably best however, we bought one two ys ago and it is awesome with no consumables. Downside, totally overkill for a two auto shop. ROI might never happen. On top of that it was part of a quarter of a million investment, auto coat, auto reclaim (they cant afford the chemicals). All three retail stores closed. They are in trouble. But at least they got the young kids running the shop. Upside is the larger contract owners are in contact and ready to move as soon as I land somewhere. Shows you where the loyalty and trust lie sorry for the rant. They are a great family, they just put family first rather than kids finding jobs of their own. Sorry for the rant but Douthett is my vote, I do not recommend
used units. Usually blanket, bulbuls and glass will cost you, thinking four or more autos, depending on volume might make better sense for an LSR
Yeah, I wonder what screens/day you need to be at to make sense. Lasers were probably double the price 2-4 years ago. Our M&R CTS (2 head) is costing us $3000/year in maintenance (replacing print heads is way too expensive) and the consumables and other maintenance $2500/year too. If the laser is truly so little maintenance and no consumables it makes perfect sense for us. Screen time is quicker than our 2 head CTS too, only about 1 minute 20 seconds it looked like. My plan is do print heads again soon then get a max of 2 years and by then get a laser system.
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« Last post by 3Deep on January 29, 2026, 11:40:32 AM »
That's what I did to our old Atlas 5 way unit when I could no longer get bulb's I bought an LED light and ballast rewired it, way better than the original unit ever was
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« Last post by tonypep on January 28, 2026, 05:40:21 PM »
Laser to screen is probably best however, we bought one two ys ago and it is awesome with no consumables. Downside, totally overkill for a two auto shop. ROI might never happen. On top of that it was part of a quarter of a million investment, auto coat, auto reclaim (they cant afford the chemicals). All three retail stores closed. They are in trouble. But at least they got the young kids running the shop. Upside is the larger contract owners are in contact and ready to move as soon as I land somewhere. Shows you where the loyalty and trust lie sorry for the rant. They are a great family, they just put family first rather than kids finding jobs of their own. Sorry for the rant but Douthett is my vote, I do not recommend
used units. Usually blanket, bulbuls and glass will cost you, thinking four or more autos, depending on volume might make better sense for an LSR
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Tape Update: I got a few rolls of the kraft tape in and love it for sending out small boxes. I got a cheap a$$ dispenser but haven't used it. I cut the tape to length and then run it over a sponge I have on a small plate. It works for me as I don't send a lot of boxes out. There's some nice cut to size machines, but I don't need to drop $300 on something that will sit unused most of the time.
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