Red flags, and what not to buy first

Red flags

• No current photos, no maintenance history, or a seller who won’t let you test print. No paperwork on liens.
• Wobble in the center shaft or print heads, heads that won’t hold registration with the same screen, or platens that aren’t level.
• A product page that promises a heat gun or flash will fully cure, with no mention of wash testing.
• Equipment that needs power you don’t have, like a 5-20, 6-20 or 240V plug in a garage with only standard 15A outlets.
• A dryer you can’t fit through the door or plug in.

What not to buy first

• An automatic press. Learn screens, exposure and curing on a manual first; most defects come from screens and curing, not the press (see Fix a problem).
• A heat gun as your only curing tool for anything you sell.
• More colors than your art needs. A solid 4-color press beats a wobbly 6-color.
• A discharge setup without a conveyor dryer and ventilation.
• A big 240V dryer before you’ve confirmed the electrical.
• An extra-cheap press with no micros, if you plan multi-color work.