What is the best manual press?

truthstore

5700.00 investment for a new M&R Sidwinder. Pretty hefty investment for a small startup business not including all other equipment needed.

Binkspot

Pay me now or pay me later. I still say Sidewinder or Vastex.

1. Its a long term investment. Are you serious about printing or not. If not buy a silver press.
2. Resale later when you upgrade.
3. Used equipment is always out there.
4. Bad equipment=bad business. Is it your ability to print or the equipment causing problems.
5. There are almost endless variables in screen printing try to eliminate as many as possible with good equipment.
6. Will you be able to hold registration pushing poly ink through a screen.


I have both and both are great at what we use them for. We had two Sidewinders for a shot time and wish I had not sold the second one. Our Sidewinder works at least five days a week 8 hours a day. It has been in our shop for three years (second owner, its six years old) and other then cleaning, some grease and the occasional adjustment it works perfect.

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Owner/Operator of Middletownink

Northland

Truthstore... the question was:
"What is the best manual press?"

The answer appears to be:
"Sidewinder"

Prosperi-Tees

The best manual press is one that:
1) holds registration
2) has good micros
3) is tool free
4) has fast pallet changeover
5) easy to spin for long runs
6) is the right height for you to comfortably print
7) side clamps are a plus
8) makes you money regardless of its price tag

Am I missing anything?

Binkspot

Options avaliable such as pallets, reg system (it will pay for itself with the first couple of multi colored jobs), etc.
Max screen size, we run everything from 20x24-25x36 on the Sidewinder and up to 36x36 on the Vastex.

Just saying

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Owner/Operator of Middletownink

screenprintguy

Depends on whether or not you are taking your new venture seriously, we were, we are now, 6 years later growing into the possibility of finally adding a second auto. Not that other brands of manuals won't do the trick, but I personally don't see investing money into a tool that you will later regret, or have to upgrade, especially something like a manual press, this one will stay with us till we retire. I grew up in a family of building contractors and saw how cheaping out just doesn't cut it long term. Sidewinder, is very precise, using steel bearings vs plastic stubs for it's registration, big thing, it's interchangeable with M&R automatics, so if and when you move up the ladder, you aren't sitting with a bunch of wood pallets, anything you use pallet wise can be interchanged. You can pick up sidewinders all day long on the used market used and be very comfortable buying one as they are built to last. We knew when we started up that we were investing for our life time, and if, God forbid, it didn't work out, what we invested in would at least have a high re-sale value because of what it was. Just my 2 cents.

Best of luck in what ever you choose.

Mike

eks

Vastex

socalfmf

are you kidding me....a 5700 investment is too much. are you starting a business or a hobby? if you want to start a business you had better start figuring out what it really costs to be in business.

at 5700 investment to make 10X off that in the first year would be very easy....

you have to start looking at the whole picture...like Blinkspot said...pay me now or pay me later....I would rather have a great solid piece of equipment like M&R vs. anything else out there...M&R holds their value, they have a great rebate program and they are second to none....

again...look hard at the business plan...

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Sam Wildt
Palomar Printing
Worcester, MA
www.palomarprinting.com
www.facebook.com/palomarprinting

tonypep

I have an original Hopkins Side clamp press that can print with 23x31 frames. Awesome built like a tank. Six colors four stations. Shrink wrapped upstairs ready for shipping 3K Located in Chas Sc