Advice on DTG printer

[kevinjplee]

I have been offered a 4 year old DTG printer, but as I have had no experience in this field I am unsure of what questions to ask the vendor.

What are the most important questions to ask?

[Earl Smith]

My thoughts, dont bother.
If the printer hasnt been used every day for the last 4 years the heads will be blocked up. If it has been used every day then its worn out.

[InkExpress]

As Earl Smith says it could be a major issue if the printer has not been used regularly. What printer model / manufacturer is it?

If it is not using white ink and just CMYK inks it could be ok as it generally the white ink that blocks (they usually have some kind of recirculating method for the white inks)

If it were me I would be asking-

1) What ink is being used in it
2) Can the seller print a nozzle check pattern from it to show it is working
3) What print volume has it produced

If it is an OEM DTG printer, i.e. it has not been made by converting a standard desktop printer it could well be worth looking into. A desktop printer that has been converted could be tricky as if something goes wrong its hard to know what parts have been changed and to what.

Alex

[pw66]

To be perfectly honest DTG are the sort of thing that you want to buy new, with a manufacturers warrenty, or used from a dealer with at least 6 months dealers warrenty.
Unless it is cheap - like a few hundred pounds - it isn't worth taking the chance. You could spend a small fortune on keeping it running.

[pw66]

To be perfectly honest DTG are the sort of thing that you want to buy new, with a manufacturers warrenty, or used from a dealer with at least 6 months dealers warrenty.
Unless it is stupidly cheap - like a few hundred pounds - it isn't worth taking the chance. You could spend a small fortune on keeping it running.

[logobear]

don't bother with this UNLESS you already have experience of this exact model and a couple already installed.
DTG printers have halved in price in the last 4 years, and got a lot better.
As a beginner you need support & training and need to do maintenance and service etc.
On the other hand, if you want to throw money away .....
imho

[kevinjplee]

Thanks to everyone who replied.
The general consensus is to avoid s/h printers, advice which I will take
thanks again