st-1520 vs ST-2030 vs ST 3042 vs ST420 which one do you recommend?

[TorukMakto]

Hi,
Fantastic forum I hope could collaborate and help with my knowledge. I am trying to start up a new and mini sublimation lab, my main business will around phone cases.

After reading a lot, I made the decision to take as printer the Virtuoso - SG400 that I think it's a good printer. My doubts are in the choice of the Heat Vacuum. After seeing a lot of videos I saw that the first one st1520 should remain a good machine but I'm asking you if you could recommend any of that heat machines.

Thanks a lot for any advices.

[socialgiraffe]

The ST1520 is a terrible machine and I would avoid at all costs.

I have one here that someone gave me for review. They did not want it back after I told them what I thought of it. The best use I have found for this machine is as a stand. The radio reception is perfect if I put my radio on top of the machine and next to the window

Lots of new machines out there, the Listawood ones look good or I have the ST3042 which serves me very well and prints perfectly on a range of media.

Good luck

[TorukMakto]

Thanks for your reply. And so do you reccomend the st3042? I read that in this printer you cant use the 3d film, is that correct?

[socialgiraffe]

I use the ST3042 and never had a problem, but that maybe me. I know others who hate the machine. If you are just looking at phone cases then a dedicated machine such as the one sold by Listawood will be a much better solution.

The ST3042 uses paper not film, I do not use film as there are too many problems when printing (i.e. roller marks)

[malkram]

I used the 2030 and it works very good with paper, but you can't use film with it (well, it's supposed to work with film but it actually doesn't.. or once every 100 attempts). I recommend you don't buy blue jigs (from Sunmeta) but rather gold jigs (from Sunfly) because blue jigs can leave stains on cases (because sometimes there is ink transferred on the blue jig..)

[TorukMakto]

Thank you for your advices. About the gold jigs, do you know any EU seller?

[malkram]

Nope, it's $30 per jig at Sunfly's so I would assume it's minimum €50 at any EU seller. I have their pricelist and contact details if you want. But maybe there are other jigs type (I know there are grey ones but I don't know any seller and don't know if they are good).