i always hear to get the biggest u can afford. bigger is better

Agree with the others. I started with 15X15 and it got the job done but then I ran across a 16X20 and it is so much nicer with that little extra room.

I started with 15x15 and am still using it 1 1/2 year later. 

started with the 15x15 sunie and now have a 16x20 hotronix - buy the cheaper one and save for the bigger one or keep an eye open on craigslist for a mighty, hotronix, knight or hix

I am just getting started and found a used Geo Knight Dk20 (20x16) with auto open on Craigslist for $450.  Stay away from the cheap china presses.  I really like the size compared to the smaller presses I looked at.

My cheap $250 China press = 2+ years and hundreds of signs/flags/shirts/hats/etc. without an issue and excellent results if I do say so myself! 
Then again, my cheap $180 pCut (complete with stand and media basket) = 4+ years without an issue and excellent results too.
And then there's my cheap $120 WF1100/HotZone360 CISS which is great for making $$$ too.

There's gotta be some common denominator here somewhere in the mix... you think? 

Quote from: rghice on December 08, 2011, 02:16:08 PM

I am just getting started and found a used Geo Knight Dk20 (20x16) with auto open on Craigslist for $450.  Stay away from the cheap china presses.  I really like the size compared to the smaller presses I looked at.

My cheap $250 China press = 2+ years and hundreds of signs/flags/shirts/hats/etc. without an issue and excellent results if I do say so myself! 
Then again, my cheap $180 pCut (complete with stand and media basket) = 4+ years without an issue and excellent results too.
And then there's my cheap $120 WF1100/HotZone360 CISS which is great for making $$$ too.

There's gotta be some common denominator here somewhere in the mix... you think? 

From what I have read over at the t-shirt forums is that over time the cheap Chinese presses  the heat plates begin to heat uneven, and when you start having customers complain about vinyl coming off shirts, you lose your investment of equipment, time, raw materials, and then repeat business.  Are you ready to chance it at a while making shirts at a sporting event or trade show?  Not worth the chance in my book.  My geo Knight press has a lifetime warranty on the  heat plates, so when you have to buy a new press, Geo Knight will sent me a new heat plate.
I started out with the UsCutter Laserpoint, I have recently upgraded to the Graphtec FC7000.  My productivity has gone up, time is money.
My WF1100/Cobra Ink CISS has been great.
You get what you pay for, in the long run your are better in investing in good hard ware rather that replacing that of lesser quality(which at that point you will be looking at better quality hardware anyway)

I am just saying buy the best you quality hardware you can for your budget. Also keep in mind your long term investment.

Cheers

I believe that starting with what some would consider "inferior" equipment in order to capitalize on your original investment and familiarize yourself with your market is the most prudent thing to do when starting a new business venture.

I agree to this, but buy the the best equipment you can the is within your budget.  So would you rather buy a "new but inferior product" that has little customer service and replacement parts, or a "used, but superior" piece of equipment that has excellent customer service and replacements parts that can be at your doorstep by the end of the week? I am more comfortable knowing that I can get replacement parts and all I have to do is make a phone call and a tech will guide me through the install, not buying a new press.

In time and with proven success a knowledgeable business owner would then have an option of upgrading the tools he's actually using (as you did) and discontinuing the lesser used equipment.

Which is what I did, My USCutter  laserpoint, which was purchased second hand,was the weak link to my operation. I made some profit on it, it paid for the purchase of the Graphtec, and then I sold it on craigslist for double what I paid for it......like a knowledgeable business owner would do.

Telling somebody to invest "as much as they can" without knowing their market is just bad advice. There will always be somebody to buy old equipment in the event that the new business owner decides the time is ripe to "upgrade". I can count on my fingers and toes the amount of newbies on this and other forums went out and purchased "top of the line" equipment that only ended up being mothballed because the market they dreamed of was actually non existant.

I agree!  My advise was to invest as much as your budget allows for hardware and stay away from the cheap china presses, not "You need to go buy the Super Auto Best and Newest Press that is $1600.  A knowledgeable business owner should have a business plan, both short term and long term and a budget.  You do not have to have a huge start up fund.  Mine was $500. 

I respect your opinion, and it may have been the best choice for you and your business.  The post was asking for advice, I offered my thoughts.   

Remember the other saying, "a fool and his money are soon parted". 

I agree with this also.  In my case I needed to increase my output per hour cause "time is money and money is time" Better equipment will allow me offer more services than I could before.  BUT our conversation has swayed from the original topic of the thread.  We could debate the merits and cons of how we have invested in equipment, but the only thing that matters is that what we have done works for us.  Our markets are different and therefore our equipment needs are different.  If it works, then it works!