Screen Printers Open - A Forum for Screen Printing and Embroidery

So what about that 60" Mariah 3 vs the American 48"?

Alan - you have a 48" and you don't have too many issues with loading 2 autos?

Alan  -when I get ready to look at the new auto's  Imma call you.

We only have the one auto but have the manual press that we have printed on at the same time the auto was rolling at full speed, we didn't have any issues on the 48" loading to jobs at the same time.  It wouldn't be any different if we were unloading a second auto on it, and you will have to load from opposite ends of the belt and fold the shirts in half.  I guess if we were printing a 16x20 image on both presses it might get a little tricky, but you can work around those kinds of scenarios.  I think a 60" would be ideal, but I really think you can get by with a 48" like we have since the belt speed is so fast.  If I were you, I'd try for a 60, but if a good deal on a 48 comes along, you won't have a bottle neck if it's a good powerful dryer.

Let me know when you want to talk autos, there are some really good ones out there right now.

The bottom dryer on McClain's page is a 500,000 BTU dryer.  Do the math on hourly operating costs on that one.  Mine is 180,000 and runs about $1-$1.25 per hour depending on gas prices.  A dryer like that will eat you up.

I've heard that some older model sprints had bearing issues and they are really hard to replace.  I think the problem was the bearings got too hot and the grease melted out.  I am not 100% sure what caused it though.  I got this from a tech that keeps recommending M&R presses, so he's not anti-M&R.  For the price of new, you might want to look at it.

Yeah newer dryers are much more efficient.

This is actually a really good thing to remember about any gas or electric forced air dryer - KEEP THEM CLEAN AND LUBED! The bigger dryers often have big squirrel cage blowers with grease fittings for the bearings. High temp grease must be used. Standard grease will melt and vaporize in the dryer - and it's a nightmare to clean out. Also, lint removal should be a religiously scheduled maintenance item.