A print screen machine is the most essential equipment a screen printer will need. This is obvious and that is why I would like to discuss the best screen printing machines that a newcomer should consider buying. These people would be benefited greatly if they would get to purchase any of these screen print machines.
What are the best screen printing machines for beginners? The list includes:
- Shzond (1-Station w/ 1-Color)
- Superland (4-Stations w/ 4-Colors)
- Simple NS101 (1-Station w/ 1-Color)
- Yudu Personal Screen Printer
- Merchmakr All-In-One Screen Printing Kit
- HE USA Stock (2-Stations w/ 4-Colors)
- Riley Hopkins JR (4-Stations w/ 1-Color)
Let me now discuss in detail each of these print screen machines.Shzond (1-Station w/ 1-Color) Screen Printing Press
Size: 25” x 20.8” x 12.6”
Weight: 32.6 lbs
Platen Size: 21.7” x 17.7”
Price: $99.99
If you are looking for an excellent screen printing machine for home use, then consider this one. This is a very reliable machine used by many DIY hobbyists and home users. You can also use this equipment for a small business.
Aside from t-shirts, the wooden platen will allow you to print on metal, plastic, paper, circuit boards, woven fabric, and wood substrates.
It is easy to get used to since you can remove the pallet and adjust it to any direction whether up or down, left or right, forward or backward.
You can also move upwards or downwards the screen clamp. This setup will work well for screen frames up to 1.8” thickness.
There is a special spring present that will allow you to move the screen up and down easily. This same spring will prevent ink splashing when operating with high intensity. Also, you will not get your squeegees expelling the same ink.
This same brand also has another model that comes in with a 4-color setup. This particular piece of equipment retails at $150.
This would mean that you can have up to 4 silk screens used in printing for a multicolor design. As you are well aware, one screen is reserved for one color.
Superland (4-Stations w/ 4-Colors) Screen Printing Press
Size: 56” x 56” x 7”
Weight: 103.2 lbs
Platen Size: 21.7” x 17.7”
Price: $1,749.00
You will not go wrong with this machine since it is considered as one of the best screen presses that is available out there today.
You will get faster completion times in terms of print jobs which would allow you to accept and handle more of them. You will also save on personnel costs since you will have one operator running it, that can handle more volume.
This screen printing machine is very adaptable when being used. First, it can handle different weights of screen frames. Second, it has an adjustable double-spring device to lend balance and stability while working.
The design is also of the tabletop style which works well with printing shops that do not have plenty of space.
You will like the design of this press because it is very practical. It is made of all metal and comes with a zero-rust guarantee. Cleanup, therefore, should be a breeze.
Equipment like this usually takes some time to assemble but this should not be an issue here. The packaging is well-thought-of since they have separated the metal parts from the rest of the components. It also comes with tools, videos, and manuals to help you guide you in the assembly and installation.
Each of the screen layers can rotate independently. You can have 4 colors maximum in your design or handle any overprinting necessary with your design graphics.
By the way, the package also includes one 1800W flash dryer. Similar to the screen printer, it is also easy to handle and generates consistent heat for drying your recently printed t-shirts.
Also, reviews of this same product specifically point out that there is excellent customer service.
Superland’s own 1-station w/ 4-colors model ($179.99) is also getting great customer reviews. Consider this version if you are opting for a basic screen printing press.
Simple NS101 (1-Station w/ 1-Color) Screen Printing Press
Size: 28” x 21.7” x 7.3”
Weight: 28.1 lbs
Platen Size: 21.7” x 17.7”
Price: $104.00
This is an ideal screen printing press for beginners.
It is also a perfect screen printing machine for home use since it does not occupy that much space. You can easily maintain and clean up because the design is metal with stainless steel. It also comes with rust-proof protection and advanced electrostatic spraying.
Expect that this screen press to last a very long time. Assembling this equipment is not that difficult.
This screen printer can handle almost any job that you will dish out. It has a dedicated t-shirt platen that will position your garments accurately. You can remove this same platen and replace it with another to handle other sized substrates like pillowcases, bags, and others.
Making adjustments is made easier because of the spring devices inside. The right intensity can easily be set. You will not get common screen printer mishaps like sprayed inks from squeegees and others.
Yudu Personal Screen Printer
Size: 32” x 21” x 11”
Weight: 32.1 lbs
Platen Size: 21.7” x 17.7”
Price: $479.99
Yudu is one of the leading producers of screen printing machines. When you buy one of their products, you are assuring yourself that you are getting a quality one.
This particular model is the right one to choose if you are actively searching for a screen print at home machine. It can handle both fabrics and paper-based products which are perfect for your DIY home projects. And it is compact enough that you do not need to set aside a big space for this.
Let me also add that you are getting a screen printing system with this purchase. It includes screen exposing, screen drying, and printing inside this one big plastic device.
The printed output volume is not that great so I would advise you strongly to look for other options if you are considering going into the screen printing business.
One of the numerous conveniences of this equipment is that you can also connect it to your computer and ink-jet printer. This same connection gives you flexibility and ease when working with your designs. You can easily transfer your graphics designs straight to your t-shirts.
I also like the fact that many other items are included when you purchase this t-shirt screen printing machine package. It includes among others: mesh screen, emulsion paper, squeegee, ink, platen adhesive, and others. You can get started printing right away.
It is only fair since this same printer package costs a bit more compared to the others listed in this article. For your added information, the Yudu marketing program is based on selling consumables that go along with their equipment.
And speaking of setting it up, there is both a user manual and an instructional DVD that will guide you.
I am very positive that you will also appreciate the control panel display that you will see here. It can control the fan operations, exposure, and the light of this printer.
Merchmakr All-In-One Screen Printing Kit
Size: 23” x 19” x 17”
Weight: 43 lbs
Platen Size: 21.7” x 17.7”
Price: $449
In a way, this screen printer bundle is almost similar to the previous Yudu package shown above.
It is another compact screen printing system that comes with its exposure unit that has its digital timer and strong fitted light. You will also notice that the price range of these 2 pieces of equipment is not that far from each other. And of course, it is both targeted for DIY people and hobbyists who will be working from their homes.
You will also get the following items with this package:
- 160 mesh screen to work with the HotSwap system
- Water-based inks (white and black)
- Water-proof transparency films
- Squeegee
- Scoop coater
- Dual-core emulsion
- Emulsion remover
- Degreaser and dehazer
One difference between these 2 screen printing packages is that this Merchmakr can allow its users to work with multicolor designs. It has this HotSwap registration system which permits this process.
This system is a special clamp which would enable you to change screens quickly and without much effort. Use the special screen registration tab to properly line up these different colors found in your design. You will not find this system, which is patented to this company, in any other similar screen printing packages.
Just because this printing equipment is designed for beginners, it does not mean that it is not sturdy. It is made of industrial steel which should make it last.
HE USA Stock (2-Stations w/ 4-Colors) Screen Printing Press
Size: 23.6” x 23” x 17.8”
Weight: 80 lbs
Platen Size: 21.7” x 17.7”
Price: $240
Screen printers who prefer to start in this business with a bang would be wise to get this print screen machine.
I think it is not fair to consider all newbies in this business not having plenty of technical knowledge with screen printing. Others may have already built up their respective customer bases and orders are already in the pipeline.
This model is perfect for these people.
The main reason is that since this model comes with this particular 2 stations 4 colors set up, they can handle 2 multicolor print jobs concurrently. Also, they can accept orders for large quantities and print on other materials aside from t-shirts fabrics such as metal, paper, plastic, and others.
This screen press is highly rated on eBay. Users like using it because of its quality, reliability, and durability.
Its unique design can provide you with more flexibility in adjusting the double-spring devices to handle the different weights of screen frames. The screen clamp can be moved quite easily to adjust for the thickness of these frames. This will result in high precision prints.
If you purchase this screen press now, you will also get the following items free:
- High-Quality Squeegee Ink Scraper
- Emulsion Scoop Coater
- 1 Yard of Silk Screen Printing Mesh 110 Fabric (screen frame not included)
-
Riley Hopkins JR (4-Stations w/ 1-Color) Screen Printing Press
Size: 23” x 31” x 59”
Platen Size: 16” x 16” w/ Neck
Weight: 88 lbs
Price: $1080
Riley Hopkins is a trusted name in the screen printing world. This company sells the most number of manual screen presses.
This JR model is an effective combination of this reputation and the flexibility for a just starting screen printer for t-shirts. You can produce professional-grade prints that will help you establish a good reputation with your customers.
This equipment is ideal for a screen print machine at-home setup. There is not much time required in setting up and learning how to operate this screen printer. You can either screw this screen press on top of a table or place it on a Riley Hopkins Press Cart which can also help you store up to 20 screens underneath.
Moving this piece of equipment around is no problem since it is portable. Do not worry about its durability since it is constructed using US Steel with a powder coat finish.
This screen press also has XY Micro Registration. You can adjust an improperly aligned screen without the need to do a reburn.
Last, this excellent screen print at home machine comes with the traditional C screen clamp that has a 9/16 off contact and tilt adjustment. It also has these heavy-duty springs and interchangeable and adjustable Riley Hopkins platens.
If you are looking for a more advanced screen press, you can check out the Riley Hopkins 300 series equipment.
I have given you the list of the best screen printing machines coupled with their features ideal for beginners like you, let me share with you further tips.
Type Of Screen Print Machines To Start With
Almost everybody I know who was starting with this screen printing business starts with a manual screen printer type setup.
The big reason behind this is that their starting budget is not unlimited. The second reason cited is that they want to be doubly sure that this business is right for them before they invest additional funds. This logic sounds very wise and logical.
Regardless of your reasons behind opting for a manual type printing press, you must have enough funds to sustain your business. You will likely be losing money initially since you are still building up your clientele.
Starting with a manual type screen printing press will make you learn and appreciate this particular t-shirt printing method. By the time you upgrade to an automatic screen press, you will pick up things that are essential to being a skilled screen printer for t-shirts.
Also, these manual screen printing setups can serve as a backup in your printing shop. Just in case something goes wrong with any of the electronic elements.
These t-shirt presses will give you flexibility in handling your customer’s orders.
A good example is that they can be the ones to handle smaller print jobs.
You can also limit these manual type t-shirt screen printers to jobs that would require higher print graphic accuracy or specialized ones. There is more operator control when handling these jobs manually.
Choosing Your Automatic Screen Printing Press
You will know that it is time to upgrade or get an additional screen press when there is an increase in production needed.
This is indicated by the number of hours being set aside to complete a printing job. Increased hours means more stress and fatigue for you and your personnel. This situation will be disastrous in the end if left unmanaged.
An automatic screen press can easily cut these hours by half. These machines are known to print at least four times faster when compared to their manual brethren. You can now accept almost all of the printing jobs which are being received by your printing shop.
Let us now discuss what you have to look for when researching these automatic screen printers for t-shirts.
For starters, choose an automatic screen press that is easy to operate. This piece of equipment must not be intimidating to handle. You are lucky since all the ones mentioned in this article fit the bill of being easy to operate.
Consider these additional factors in your automatic screen press.
Other Options to Consider When Buying A Screen Printing Press
I have touched on this matter earlier in this article.
If you are convinced that you need to get an automatic screen printer for your business even with limited funds, there are options. You can talk to your bank or local financing institution for a loan. You can even lease these screen printing presses which is advantageous somewhat since you are not paying as much as when you are buying it.
Shop around with these companies, compare their offers, and see to it that you get the greatest possible deal. Some equipment vendors have their financing programs and they usually have other incentives or bonuses to entice you.
You have to make time and perform serious number-crunching before proceeding. Ask yourself if your forecasted increased business is realistic. Such that you would take the plunge right now and get that added screen printer.
There is still another way to get this equipment. Consider buying it used. Check your favorite online classified ads since they should have at least one screen printing machine for t-shirts for sale listed.
Please see my previous article 5 Tips On Buying Used T-Shirt Screen Printing Equipment to know more about this topic.
Number Of Colors And Stations
From experience in this business, customers are always hesitant in paying for screen set up fees.
And that is why most printing shops limit the number of colors to about 3. This can be a good starting point for you to consider in how many colors would you need for your business as a startup.
There is an 80% rule that is being followed generally by printers regarding this topic. This means that the automatic print screen machine should be able to handle 80% of the total jobs coming in your shop. These same jobs are your bread and butter which allows you to take care of the impending bills and make money.
To get straight to the point, I think a 4-color capable screen printing press would be enough. Do remember that if you will handle more colors that this would mean spending more time in setting up and screen cleaning.
With this type of screen press, you can accept CMYK print jobs. You can also handle versatile prints and even have more than once job lined up at your screen press. This is valuable when printing a rushed customer order.
As for stations, this is dependent on these garments that you will be printing on. Each station that you will be adding allows you to finish a complete print on a set of garments at a given time.
Setting aside one station to set up this flash is also not a bad idea. Remember that anything that has a white underbase would require flashing before printing the additional colors.
I think a one station setup would be enough for a beginner like you. You can easily expand when your business is steadily growing and your skills are constantly improving.
You can always keep this particular screen press even when your printing business is booming. They can be later assigned to handle small print jobs.
Investing in a screen printing machine with many colors and stations may become a problem later if they are underutilized. You can not easily dispose of this equipment. You might just end up selling it at a drastically reduced price.
In case you are still unclear in terms of pricing your screen printing jobs, please check out my previous article How To Price Screen Printing To Customers For A Profit.
Maintenance And Warranty
Do not disregard this matter when looking for your automatic screen printer.
Always ask the vendor if the maintenance is simple enough that you or your staff can handle it yourselves. If service personnel can handle this for you at no extra cost, then that would be great for your printing shop.
The equipment vendor should give you lessons in properly operating these screen printing machines. Take advantage of these free lessons and attend. Maintenance must be covered within these lessons.
A warranty should be included with your purchase. If you can afford it, get this extended warranty when available.
Check if the clean up of this equipment is difficult to do. These tasks would help in extending the lifespan of your automatic screen printers.
Sizes Of Silkscreen Machines
This factor is just as important as the others mentioned before.
Do yourself a big favor and measure the space that you are setting aside for this printer. See if there is a fit for this specific screen print machine that you are eyeing to buy. If not, move on to the next one on the list.
Most of the screen presses listed in this article have their respective sizes indicated.
My other tip here is that you have to set up extra space around this screen printer. Simply operating this equipment within a cramped area will affect the print quality and wellbeing of your personnel.
As added trivia, you may notice that I used the word silkscreen here. There is no difference between silkscreen printing and screen printing except for the fact that the former was introduced in China way back a thousand years ago.
Other Screen Printing Equipment
Since you are only a beginner in the world of screen printing, you need to fully know the other equipment necessary to complete your printing shop setup.
Please refer to my previous article The Best Equipment Needed For Screen Printing Epic T-Shirts Immediately for reference on this subject.
You will be working with screens in this business or hobby. It is also critical to understand these various types of screens that are available. You will find this article Picking Screen Printing Mesh: A Simple Selection Guide very handy.
Screen Printing Ink
There are some screen printers bundles in this same article that already come with inks. Most of them do not, however.
To give you further insights on this subject, please read these previous articles.
I have also included with it how to properly store and dispose of these same inks. Trust me when I state that you should not take this matter lightly. It may end up costly for you if you do not pay attention to this subject.
