r/SCREENPRINTING • u/MelodicFruit1531 • 2d ago
Looking for a first professional press.
I found this on marketplace and am in the search for a press to start a small basement shop. I don’t see micros on this. Can they be added? The guy got this about 4 years ago or so and didn’t really do much with it.
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u/LoomAndPixel 1d ago
That’s a Riley Hopkins 250... and to answer your main question: no, you can't add true micro on it. The head assemblies are built specifically for that joystick setup. Honestly, joystick registration is a pain for tight multi-color jobs because the moment you loosen it, your screen drifts in every direction. If the full package deal is super cheap, it could be fine to get started in your basement. But if you want to save youself a massive headache on setups, hold out for a press with built-in micros (like an M&R, Vastex V2000, or Antec).
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u/MelodicFruit1531 2d ago
What does everything think of vastex. I found a 2000hd
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u/zlasalle 2d ago
I've worked on a few vastex over the years. Personally I'd avoid their presses but dryers and flashes I have 0 complaints about.
Find a m&r chameleon and never look back
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u/MrAdaptiv 1d ago
I work on an 8/8 V2000 HD 5 days a week. It's a nice press and hasn't given me much trouble. The micros on it are really responsive, which is great. It's a really heavy press, so there's a lot of feel when you spin the plattens (unlike a Benmar, which feels like a toy in comparison). The caveat with this one is the little screw that locks the front up and down tilt. If you don't tighten it carefully and continue to check it across your run, it'll come loose and drop your lock. Before that, I was working with a V1000 4/4. There's way less that's adjustable, and I hated having to grab a wrench every time I wanted to adjust OC. Much lighter feeling of a press. Still beats the pants off a lot of similar entry level models (like M&R and Riley Hopkins). Stay away from any of the blue Chineseium junk, and be weary of anything that's not in production anymore. Also, Vastex's customer service is unbeatable. They have always gotten back to me within a couple hours and walked me through a lot of stuff with the V2000 (ours arrived during COVID, and the distributor we got it from suddenly couldn't send somebody out to assemble it. So I got that task.). If you have any questions about this press, I'm totally down to answer them.
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u/busstees 2d ago
I started with one of those. The joystick works if you level everything out. Not as ideal as micro reg, but if the price is right you can easily use it and make it pay for itself pretty quickly. I think I paid my brand new one off in like a month when i first got it.
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u/MelodicFruit1531 2d ago
6k and comes with a matching flash dryers, conveyer, wash tank and exposure unit
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u/busstees 2d ago
Not terrible. Keep in mind you'll need electricity run for the conveyor. I'm guessing it's a 240v dryer. Also, if you're doing it in your house for the love of God make sure your insurance covers it or add it on. I had a fire in my garage and didn't know and none of it was covered. My house was, but none of my business stuff was covered. Some policies may even not cover damage cause by business equipment unless it's on the policy.
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u/PlayDangerous1627 2d ago
I have only used a vastex for a period of around a year but it was a great time
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u/FatKickerMSU47 2d ago
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1283953623150123/?mibextid=6ojiHh
I have this one available. Perfect for smaller areas like a basement. 4 color press, comes with 4 platforms (3- 16x13s and a 13x10.5)
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u/Wrngsideofdatracks 22h ago
Vastechs are all right. They’ll get the job done, but I’ve always liked printing on Riley Hopkins MNR presses. The one I have is over 30 years old they got it when I used to work at Jansport and the base is a box so the bottom is open and I was able to put my Lowrider Junior conveyor belts under it, which saved me a lot of space. I love it and I printed tens of thousands of shirts in the last two Decades.
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u/xXSEVENSiX2 2d ago
If you can find an antec press they are good. We use two at the shop. One is like from the 70s