Starting Kit for the Garage?

[tito]

Hi! I'm new here. Is this a good starting kit for a 1st time user, set-up in the garage? http://www.silkscreeningsupplies.com/product/1008x2

Thanks for the feedback!

[Shamax]

Welcome to the forums, tito!

To answer your question, I can only say "it depends". It depends on a lot of factors, mostly hinging on what level or type of work you want to do and what types of things you want to print on.

Just looking over the product page and given what I know personally of Ryonet's stuff (I use a 1-color/1-station Ryonet hobby press myself), here's the good stuff:
1) It's a fairly sturdy and reliable starter, hobbyist press
2) The platens can be easily swapped out
3) The kit comes with a nice 16" infrared flash that can be used in a standard outlet

And here's what will probably give you fits:
1) The screens included are wooden. If you don't have a pressure washer & something that will double as a good washout booth, they'll probably degrade on you pretty quickly. Aluminum screens are the way to go.
2) No micro-registration. If you're hoping to do tightly-registered 2-color jobs, you'll want to pay for a micro-registration upgrade.
3) The included inks (possibly) & emulsion. The included inks are plastisol, so you'll need to be prepared to dispose of your waste properly (can't just flush these down a drain). Also, the WBP emulsion that comes with their kits is ok and will probably do well if you're using a pressure-washer, but I had to fight with it a lot when using a bathtub faucet for washout.

Myself, I got one of the $200-$250 starter kits starting out, just to see if I could learn the process and find out if I would enjoy it. It's been a lot of learn by error, but a lot less than there would have been without great tutorials like Jonathan's. I'm still using my hobby press to do 1-color jobs, but now that I've got some hands-on experience with the process I know more about not only "what" I need, but "why" as well. I plan on using that coupled with funds I amass from my garage-boy, ink-slinging jobs to invest in something more long=term.

Now, if you've got some screen-printing experience under your belt you may want to wait another week or two to see the Ranar starter-kits that Jonathan will be posting on the Catspit page soon. They're supposed to be bench-top kits (like the Ryonet silver presses), but a lot more sturdy. He's said elsewhere that they're expected to start at around $1137 for a 1-color/1-station and go up from there. I expect they'll have some nice goodies included, plus you'll have not only Jonathan's seal of approval on it, but it'll help out him and the community here

[tito]

Shamax,

Thanks for the great info. Unfortunately I do not have experience with screen printing (yet, I hope). I'd be setting up in my garage which doesn't have a sink so my two issues are: disposal & UV protected while doing the washout. Can I get a ballpark idea of what I could be earning if I made one color (1000) shirts for the first year? This would include all the equipment and supplies to start from scratch.

Thanks so much!

[Catspit Productions]

Thanks Andy, you did an awesome job helping out here.

Tito,

If you’re interested in my kick ass Catspit kits check them out here:

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/ca ... -kits.html



I have to add photos and a video will upload to YouTube next week. I was going to upload it tomorrow but we have a very special upload scheduled for this Friday instead.

Now none of my kits will have micro registration and I do have a 1, 2 and 4 color set ups. But it is possible to do multi-color jobs. It may be a little difficult at first but after you get going you’ll understand how to set up artwork so it is easy to register and print. Starting slow is always a good idea. I can help you with simple spot color artwork as well.

I can upgrade any Catspit Kit with any RANAR floor press and/or dryers. So if you want micro registration then we put you in a press that has it and can handle it. That would be a floor press.

Stay tuned for photos, videos and more about my new Catspit Kits in the near future. I will also put it to RANAR to build us a 4 color bench press with micro registration. I’’s bet that would be a wicked little unit

As for your query about earnings, that too has many variables. Different jobs are priced differently and volume makes a difference too. It would be a galaxy type figure rather than ballpark. But 1000 pieces either way isn’t a large amount of shirts for one year.