recommendations

[Kaz]

What printer are you getting?

[Paul]

... and what press, mugs and paper...???

[Greensleeves]

dont know either until i arrive at his warehouse. all i know is that everything is new and the ink cartridges will have to be filled with a syrings. He pointed that there was problems with the other system of using inks fed into the printer with tubes with air getting into the tubes. Thats all i know for now.

[jennywren]

I hope when you get what you want and its all that you wish for, I remember the thrill of getting started and learning and I'm like that with all new things that I do. So here wishing you well in your new venture

[Greensleeves]

Well im just the same as you. Remember starting a new year in school when i was alot younger. New school bag full of books and sharp pencils in your new pencil case. The whole year was going to be great. You had it all ahead of you. A whole yar of optismisism. Spoiled it all by not learning to spell correctly. lol

[accdave]

dont know either until i arrive at his warehouse. all i know is that everything is new and the ink cartridges will have to be filled with a syrings. He pointed that there was problems with the other system of using inks fed into the printer with tubes with air getting into the tubes. Thats all i know for now.

Is the equipment used or new ? If new do the company have a website. Maybe I'm being cynical but the explanation about the ink doesn't sound like they are an official distributor of sublimation ink. I'm sure Martin can confirm but I would have thought all official distributors would offer the easy flow system as well as cartridges. ?

[bms]

I'm sure Martin can confirm but I would have thought all official distributors would offer the easy flow system as well as cartridges. ?

Cartridges aren't available anymore for new Epson printers because of the costs. All new Epson printers from official distributors would be available with fully primed Easyflow ink systems, not refillable cartridges. If you get refillable cartridges then make sure you get the proper ink and the ICC colour correction profile to go with the ink. We have had SO many support calls from people who bought printers from companies selling sublimation equipment which weren't supported and they had to buy the correct printer and ink system again.

I'm more than happy to cast my eye over the set up you're being offered if you want to pm me or if you're happy to then post it up here. We all can offer advice as to whether €1500 is a good price or not, but there is a HUGE variation in cost of printers, presses etc.

[frizbee]

After many years of sublimation printing and many 100'000s of mugs later, the better quality equipment you buy the longer it lasts.

Ink is really the most important part of the whole process, however good your press, product or printer, without the right ink you will never be able to get a long lasting high quality result.

We use 6 Colour artanium on an Espon R265 printer & Sublijet 8 Colour on an epson 4880 printer and obtain excellent results, most of of trade customers arrive at our door as they have seen the quality of our mugs in other outlets and can't compete as when they set up they cut corners and bought either cheap presses, ink or products.

There are many companies who offer "dishwasher" proof products, I know of only 2 that actually do that pass the tests. The others some who claim to be the biggest, one who is the biggest certainly are not.

If its cheap, its probably not good, we've tried most of the presses available on ebay and none have lasted past a couple of 1000 mugs. We have a DF mug press (like BMS sell) that has done probably 10,000 mugs & many adkins studio presses the least used one has done over 15,000 the most used has done over 30,000 and still works, our wraps last from 1000 - 5000 mugs depeneding on how tight you use them, but of course BMS & Adkins are uk based stockists so parts arrive the next day and are good value.

We have never yet managed to sell a plate, they might be popular with a few in seaside towns, but they certainly arn't a make or break business item. Mugs & Coasters together in a acetate box will sell just as well. Buy slow float on transfer material for the plate and it will save a fortune in equipment costs.

Many times we have looked at importing items and have done several times, in the long run we have found it easier to stick to UK sourced products, we buy mugs by the Pallet (1800 mugs) importing them would mean to save any real money we would need to bring in so many its best to leave the supply chain to someone else, saving pennies is not always worth the trouble.

I can highly reccomend Martin @ BMS they always seem to have what we want in stock and get it to us the next day, their website is worth a visit as it stocks most things. His mugs are dishwasher proof and our standard mug and we use a lot of them 1,000s & 1,000s in fact I think we have had over 5,000 this year already.

For the slide on transfers, if BMS don't stock them, the magic touch do.

Ink & Ink systems BMS or purple monkey sublimation are a good bet.

Please don't buy fake ink & don't use cartridges, it must be an easy flow system. We don't want to see you back on here with a story about how its all going wrong. Sawgrass will confirm if you call them if a supplier is selling legit ink and other make of ink for desktop printers is not licensed.

Have fun and ask for any help you need.

[AJLA]

Could I ask frizbee as you have the two printers usig Artanium and sublijet do you have a preference? if you printed the same mug with each ink is there one more vibrant than the other?
Are the blacks the same?
Mandy

[Andrew]

Welcome to the forum Frizbee......... or is that Martin joining under a different name