TrackHawk707

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Everything posted by TrackHawk707

  1. TrackHawk707

    Heat foam for hat press

    Hey guys so my hotronix hat press came in and I was extremely happy up until I pressed my first hat. It was a foam hat and I did exactly what I was reading. (This was for sublimation) I placed my print lined it up and threw heat tape on it with no Teflon (which another bad idea) I don’t know why they tell you not to use it but some ink got on my heat platen and you’ll see it on my white hat below. Craft paper should probably have been used. but anyway so now the press completes and it has markings from the heat tape and a box around the print from the paper. I figured I needed more of a firm base so I didn’t get bent out of shape I ordered Teflon pillows and still getting creases in the hats I tried different pressures but did stay around the area pressure you should be at when applying subs and or vinyl. If anyone has any feedback I’d appreciate the help. I will attach some photos and maybe just let me know what you think. The red hat creased in the middle and the gray and white foam hats I’m sure you’ll see the marks. (Gray hat done with no pillow) everything else had the pillow. I looked for a firm heat safe foam but can’t seem to find anything safe for heat up to 400 degrees. One hat came out perfect and I think cause it’s a different style hat.
  2. TrackHawk707

    Stahls Cap Press

    Hey guys! been doing some research of cap press machines and I come down to deciding on the Stahls Maxx or the Hotronix auto cap press. I hear there is an awesome profit margin in the hat area so figured Id make the move and purchase a very well off machine rather then a budget one and risk possible issues. The reason I can't decide is due to just a $150.00 dollar difference. I know the hotronix reads the pressure apparently for you and its clearly auto open, while the maxx seems to be the same without those 2 options. I don't do insane volume so auto open isn't a priority (yet) but then I think its only a $150 more so do I just get it so later down the line I don't kick myself in the ass? Anyone have any input on how each machine functions. I watched a lot of youtube videos and been reading peoples reviews I can't say I seen ONE negative one on both machines which is a nice thought and gives me peace of mind spending my money as I try and expand my home shop but I just want some more info on which one and if anyone has experience with them.. pros / cons / ETC. Thanks in advance for your feedback hope to hear from you guys.
  3. TrackHawk707

    Roland BN20

    Hey all! So most of you know I work a full time job and do side work of shirts, decals and some sublimation. I taught myself pretty much everything from scratch and I feel I learned plenty to take on the next step and seeing the price is dropped on the Roland BN20 I think Id like to take that jump. Now I know its slow and and not a "production print and cut machine" but for what I will need it for is plenty for my in home shop and with the price drop really just puts the icing on the top lol. I been researching forever it feels but I still think I'm missing a few things. I see the Roland site claims you have to have Intel?? I'm curious if my computer will work even though its not intel based. I built a AMD (3600 processor) build, 16GB of ram and just curious if anyone knows if this is ok? Next is actual sticker. Now i know clearly laminating them makes it a hell of a lot more durable but is it truly necessary? I don't want that to come off as I push crap out but I feel like depending on the situation you wouldn't need the laminate. (there is just so much printable vinyl out there and this will be my first time using these i didn't know if one is better then the other for certain jobs and so on. All in all if anyone can guide me with thoughts and input printing and will this next chapter be extremely difficult for a first timer. I do learn fast but some users on a roland bn20 facebook group got me worried with some post I seen scrolling threw. lol Thank you and hope to hear from some of you guys! (sorry if posted in wrong area I searched in the search area and no matter what I typed it said no results)
  4. TrackHawk707

    Roland BN20

    its funny cause I appreciate the input and opening my eyes more. I got excited when my girlfriends father came to me looking for 8 dozen hoodies for his company hes a supervisor for and even though its only two colors on different style hoodies and zip ups the way I been making them on my graphtec ce6000 plus just seemed like it was super time consuming. Oh and little chest logos as well as right sleeve text. so I know the owner loved my work to ask for an order like this so I figured BN would pay close to itself in that one order but your right I need to keep in running and that might be hard to do around the times Im slow. Its hard to come to a conclusion cause besides this order I do get alot of can you do this and that and alot of the times I cant thats why i got into sublimation but the poly garments are hard to sell in my area i guess no one ever wants them. I didnt know about the cromablast till I had already started with the sublijet. got to really do even more research and maybe just jump on in cant get anywhere without taking a chance ... right ? lol
  5. TrackHawk707

    Roland BN20

    Oh wow. Ok I was reading mixed things on pretty much everything you have mentioned. The inks I heard last "forever". which I promise I don't believe cause like you said the self cleaning waste a lot of ink and I learned first hand with my sawgrass printer lmao man that burnt me up when I jumped into that and realized it later. I did read the BN is very I guess well say forgivable when it comes to letting it sit. I wouldn't want to do that but again I do this in my home so getting jobs could slow up as I also have a full time job at nights. I agree accounting for everything like an extra head but inst this printer suppose to be a "tank" for your average in home use and thats why they say its not really for your production runs? guess I was reading in all the wrong areas cause now id be worried keeping multiple jobs coming in to use it? but I am smart so even if I had to run it for personal use promotion stickers or something thats an option i guess?
  6. TrackHawk707

    My subs almost up !

    My subscription is almost up ! Im just curious am I the only one who pays for illustrator or is there an older version that works just fine for our field of work home business or not ?! that price is a killer last nov I believe it was 250 for the year with my student discount LOL Thanks again for any input !
  7. TrackHawk707

    Windows OR Mac

    Hey everyone! So I have a CE6000 and Im currently using a mac with illustrator and graphtec studios. My real question is I know mac in this field is limited but am I missing out on anything that could help me grow, save me time designing and or anything else I can possibly be missing out on. My main forte is shirts and hats (sublimation and vinyl for hats) and i don't like sublimating on the poly shirts, not much interest there for my area as is. Im asking cause Im planning on building my first computer thats just a hobby I just enjoy and never got around to actually doing it. I understand the system requirements for this field is very easy to achieve so thats not a worry. Love my mac but want more out of my home business as well. Im terrible at explaining so if you understand what I'm trying to figure out Id appreciate all the info / help! I heard apparently graphtec offers a free program for windows thats easy 1,000 bucks but you have to have a windows, i don't know how true that is but i stumbled on it on another site. THANK YOU FOR ANY INPUT
  8. TrackHawk707

    Windows OR Mac

    I just always heard windows is better for this field so I would like to just jump in because I'm building one just to have a desktop in the house since my laptop is starting to lose it a little and the storage is maxed so now i rely on an external ha. not the end of the world but I like to explore so windows i should pick up pretty fast.
  9. TrackHawk707

    Windows OR Mac

    Im sorry I didn't explain that well ... Im building a windows based computer I already have a mac air older style model (2015)
  10. TrackHawk707

    My subs almost up !

    Thank you guys I will be looking more into it. Im in the mix of building a PC just cause Mac has limitation to this field and just trying to explore other options out there now ! hopefully I can kill this subscription cause its driving me nuts lol
  11. TrackHawk707

    What is this?

    So as I scroll threw Instagram I came across what looks to be a new way to transfer full color images to me anyway. How is this done? clearly I can’t use my sawgrass as to that’s for polyester clearly. This looks to be transfer paper anyway not F&M stuff. I have an HP ENVY printer is this possible with that? I google searched but a few different things show up and I’m not exactly sure what’s what. I will attach images but I don’t own the rights just sharing for learning purposes and to give you all an idea. Sorry if this is a repost in anyway I just wanted to show what I found see if that’s something I can offer or even use it for hats with my new press
  12. TrackHawk707

    Sawgrass 400 ink

    So I knew what I was getting into with sublimation and the price of it but who don’t like to save money here and there. so my sawgrass 400 is ready for ink. I been looking on different sites and happy to see many different people have them but in that I was hoping to strike a deal but it’s the same no matter what site $77.00 per color plus shipping. Anyone know anything maybe I am missing. If not it is what it is like I said I knew what I was signing up for hahah
  13. TrackHawk707

    Heat foam for hat press

    Thanks goose and yes you definitely did mention the all star platen I just realized that. Sorry. I’m probably going to invest in that honestly if it makes things easier then the time alone is a big benefit. The pillows did work decently but like you said it can be a pain to stuff in there keep it lined up doing so and all that.
  14. TrackHawk707

    Heat foam for hat press

    Lmao yes the mirroring method! I done it so many times in the past that I think I finally got it down now. Appreciate the help I’m going to try tomorrow. The hotronix is coated from what my directions / info says so that’s good to know. Do you guys know of any firmer pillows or foam or do you guys just not use them at all? The pillows are better then nothing but still gets under my skin I can’t get these hats super smooth for a nice perfect press even after pre press and pulling it more.
  15. TrackHawk707

    Heat foam for hat press

    funny you say that goose. I legit cut it to size so that it was easier to line up perfectly. lol welp your idea is a home run much rather do that then have markings. even if it takes a little longer to center. thank you on the compliments the foam hats are super comfortable and the prints are nice and bright! the pre-press your talking about I do but I never thought to try and move it and confine it after the small press. I feel like i need to get more platens this one leaves a big gap in the center so unfortunately i don't think it will work but I'm def going to try. & Dakota yes I think I saw something on paper but figured if teflon was no good to use don't cover it but now I'm little mad at myself for getting this on my platen. I have some ez off think it could work? I never had to use it before so not really sure how to tackle that.
  16. TrackHawk707

    Intro for you all

    Hey everyone! My names Mikey, I been doing vinyl decals and very minimal sublimation work. I started off with a titan and now upgraded to a graphtec. I use illustrator as my program & as for my printer it is the sawgrass 400 (which to be honest I’m not enjoying the sub market) I might of pulled the trigger to early so I blame myself and I just don’t do enough volume and rather not waste ink by letting it sit, so I’m always doing prints every few days to keep the ink moving. Anyway I do work full time so this is more of a spare time type of deal I push a lot of decals and shirts and hoping to learn and grow along side with all you here. The next thing I wanting to take on is screen printing but being home having just a spare room for an office won’t work but some day ... some day I will get into that field :) P.s the username is for my love for jeeps (srts & clearly track hawks but unfortunately do not own one) lol *another note that sprayground sticker is not made by me. They are a backpack company that I love and currently own 2 backpacks and 2 luggage’s I use for travel and they always send stickers. Lol I’m aware and saw on this forum the copyright area so I just wanted to make clear it’s not something I did. thanks everyone looking forward to this little journey.
  17. TrackHawk707

    Intro for you all

    Thanks ! That’s awesome wish I was able to build lol not much of a auto mechanic but I can do super light work and basics haha & yeah the spare room is awesome (wish I had a little more room) but just what I need for now I guess so I appreciate the feedback!!
  18. TrackHawk707

    New to the forums

    Welcome ! Good luck continuing your journey! Guys and Ladies here are amazing!
  19. TrackHawk707

    100% Polyester Tanks

    Build my inventory slow pretty much but I recommend asking for deposits cause when I first started I’m a super nice guy and never did that and I can’t tell you how many times I ordered product and then they didn’t want the shirts anymore or never got back to me with a design ETC
  20. TrackHawk707

    100% Polyester Tanks

    So basically I order $50 bucks worth of product when ever I get a customer order. I ask for 10% - 20% deposit depending on what and how much they need. Normally they don’t need $50 dollars worth but I order what they need and then I use business money to get other product I use more frequently to get me to the free shipping. So long story short I order what ever the customer wants lol I just ordered some racerback tanks for 5k run for these girls and they are prefect.
  21. TrackHawk707

    What is this?

    whew crazy I seen them as I'm bored a searching around. maybe one day lol good news is my hat press came today and wow the build of the hotronix is beautiful !
  22. TrackHawk707

    What is this?

    Is that good for business though the ink will hold up? Always nervous with quality of new stuff I find out.
  23. TrackHawk707

    Starting Out With Vinyl Cutting

    Graphtec is so quiet, it’s ridiculous on how the servo motor makes such a difference compared to machines out there that don’t have it.
  24. TrackHawk707

    Starting Out With Vinyl Cutting

    if possible go right for the graphtec ! I mean I started small and it became an addiction and I love what I do and continuing to grow daily. just bought a hat press without testing the waters. hey if it don't work Im into hats thats what I collect so I will just make myself a bunch worse comes to worse LOL. I know you said a hobby but believe me even as a hobby the graphtec will be great and the learning curve is extremely easy to overcome. DO IT YOU WONT REGRET IT. haha no pressure
  25. TrackHawk707

    USCUTTER

    Welcome! yes Im with Dakota what machine did you go with? .. good luck !