Table top Conveyor Dryer

[unworked_apparel]

Hi Jonathan,

I have limited space to work with. I've been looking into smaller conveyor dryers & I came across this.

http://www.vastex.com/news/AA-0473_D-100.php

I was wondering if you had any thoughts on a table top conveyor dryer or smaller dryers in general. Would it be worth it?

Thanks for all you help. You've truly been a lifesaver.

John

[Catspit Productions]

Yes, smaller dryers can and do work. But we normally run them through at a much slower speed so they can only print so many shirts an hour. With a small table top oven or a mini belt dryer like the Scamp DX200 5' Belt Dryer made by RANAR,

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/ra ... pment.html

you have to be vigilant in watching your cure. Generally speaking the smaller the oven chamber the more likely you are to have fluctuations in temperature. Avoid fans or open air spaces where drafts can affect a small unit like this. But they are a step up from just a flash cure unit and much better.

You’re welcome and thanks for posting to the Catspit forum!

[ApeShirt]

But it looks like it's necessary to fold the shirt prior to placing on the belt. That seems time consuming and gives a real chance of accidentally touching the print. Or is this not the case?

[TouchJourneyman]

Yes, smaller dryers can and do work. But we normally run them through at a much slower speed so they can only print so many shirts an hour. With a small table top oven or a mini belt dryer like the Scamp DX200 5' Belt Dryer made by RANAR,

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/ra ... pment.html

you have to be vigilant in watching your cure. Generally speaking the smaller the oven chamber the more likely you are to have fluctuations in temperature. Avoid fans or open air spaces where drafts can affect a small unit like this. But they are a step up from just a flash cure unit and much better.

You’re welcome and thanks for posting to the Catspit forum!

Do you have to do that with every run?

Also do you think its worth it ? I think it cost around $1650 with shipping.

[Catspit Productions]

Yes you would have to do that with every run. Even with my larger belt dryer I always check on things throughout the run. But on a smaller dryer it’s probably very wise to do so.

I can’t tell you it would be worth it but yes a little belt dryer like that would improve cure consistency and increase the production rate speeding things up.

As for having to fold the shirt some to accommodate these smaller dryers it may be true but I have to tuck my sleeves under my shirts to put them on my belt so I think you could lay it down on the belt in such a way as to be one folding and tucking motion.

I think it can be worked out with some experience using the smaller unit. I know many people who have this size belt dryer and even one who has this Vastex one and he likes it.

[ApeShirt]

Hmmm.... this might be one of my next big investments. A flash dryer is time consuming.

[unworked_apparel]

Great, thanks for the feedback everyone. I think this might be my next purchase. Measurement wise, it's pretty much all I can fit into the space I have at the moment.

[Momchicabron]

Invest in a quality (HIX) heat press 16" x 20". you can print your shirt, carefully place it in the heat press, cover image with wax paper, then press for 15-20 seconds @ 325 degrees. Heat press = a great investment when starting out; you won't regret it ( unless you buy a cheap one).

[ApeShirt]

Invest in a quality (HIX) heat press 16" x 20". you can print your shirt, carefully place it in the heat press, cover image with wax paper, then press for 15-20 seconds @ 325 degrees. Heat press = a great investment when starting out; you won't regret it ( unless you buy a cheap one).

Hmm.....I've been wanting a heat press anyway for numbering and names. When using a heat press for curing, do you lock it down and continue printing while it's curing? Also, is it consistent heat every time? Can you scorch or over cure?

[Catspit Productions]

Yes, this is an interesting alternative curing method that I am planning on doing a video about. I have been told you can print the plastisol ink onto the shirt, dry it to the touch with a heat gun and then press it in a heat press for 30 seconds at 350 degrees Fahrenheit using a Teflon sheet over the print. I don’t know how well this works as I have never tried it yet but I will do an experimental video on this very soon.

If you had a heat press I would say try it out but if you plan on going farther with your printing and running commercial jobs you will want to cut down production time by using a little belt oven. Doing it with the heat press may work and it may work well but it will definitely be much slower than using a little belt dryer.

But yes, it should be consistent and yes you could scorch the shirt if it’s too hot but I wouldn’t worry too much about over curing the ink. You practically have to burn the shirt to do that. I sell very inexpensive heat presses here:

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/ri ... pment.html

They are imported from China but I have been selling them for over 4 years now and no one has ever had any problems with these units. A Hix press could run you almost as much as the little belt dryer. A 16x20 Hix clamshell press is about $1200.

http://www.hixcorp.com/ht600p

So you have to weigh the investment against your end goals here. What are your long term goals with screen printing? Commercial work or hobbyist “now and then” type stuff.... follow?