Posted by Jason Cabaniss - Outside Sales on 3/23/2016
If you are just starting out in screen printing, the choice of screen printing equipment available can be overwhelming, but a good 4 color-4 station press will likely prove to be a worthwhile investment for you.

It is the age old argument - you want to buy the best and most versatile and feature-rich screen printing equipment that you can, but when you are just starting out you often must stretch whatever budget you have across multiple pieces of equipment needed to get your shop up and running.  A 4 color-4 station press (Ill call it a 4-4 in this article for brevity) makes an excellent choice for a starter screen printing press for several reasons, and here are a few.  

For most screen printing businesses, athletic seasons are the busiest time of the year as printing athletic apparel represents the better part of their livelihood.  A 4-4 press is almost ideal for most athletic printing jobs because the vast majority of team jerseys across most sports will use a 1 or 2-color front and a 1 or 2-color back.  Assuming the latter (a 2 color front and back), a 4-4 press will allow all needed screens and stations to complete the entire jersey.  you can print-flash-print the front, run through the dryer to cure, then repeat the process for the back and you are done.  Once you get your registration and alignment correct you won't have to deal with it again through the completion of the job.  

As customers are charged more for each additional color, you may find that budget-minded customers prefer a simple 1 or 2-color print job (front or front and back).  Again, the entire job can be completed on this screen printing press.


companies like Vastex offer a variety of 4-4 presses in both tabletop and freestanding models

But what if the job is bigger?  Well, a 4-4 screen printing press is obviously plenty of press for a 4-color process print job, just set one station up for each layer of the print.  With this technique you are not really limited at all to any amount of colors - use the four color process printing technique and achieve nearly photo-quality results.  

Best of all the 4-4 press is affordable and selection is plentiful.  You will find presses at Texsource available from industry leading manufacturers like Workhorse, Vastex, BBC, Brown, and Genesis equipment companies, all featuring their own feature set to cater to your specific needs.  If financing is an issue, Texsource can help you there too.  We offer screen printing equipment financing for many equipment purchases for qualified buyers.  And with your equipment purchase you always get the service that Texsource is known for - the best service in the industry with the most experiences sales and support staff.  

When you are ready and considering purchasing a new screen printing press, contact us and let us talk shop with you!
Posted by Ronnie Cannon - Outside Sales on 3/22/2016

With many more brands available as an authorized dealer from Texsource, we can more completely serve the needs of screen printing shops of any size and output - choice is a great thing!

Often times we hear from our customer just how amazed they are when they first find us on the internet, or when they first hear about us from someone in the industry.  They are amazed at the immense selection of top industry brands that we serve as authorized dealers for, and it is indeed a lot.  Where other internet retailers have a few product lines to choose from, we believe that every piece of screen printing equipment has a place in a particular shop; a buyer of one brand might not be interested in a different brand, but it is always a good idea to compare, research, and price; and that is something that you simply cannot do anywhere else.  

Have a look at a competitor (not now, stay right here!) - if you are looking for a manual screen printing press you will see one brand.  If you are looking for ink you may see a brand or 2; same with supply items.  How will you know you are getting the best deal, or even the best product for your particular situation?  The answer is that on those sites you simply can't, because there aren't any other product lines to compare to.  

Let't take that same request for a screen printing press and have a look at our site - we see presses from true industry leaders such as Workhorse, Vastex, Brown, BBC, Hix, and Genesis.  Six different manufacturers all competing with each other.  Same thing with dryers, flash units,exposure units, etc.  We even carry a full line of automatic presses from different manufacturers.  


Texsource is an authorized dealer for more brands than any other US retailer

What about screen printing ink?  You know who the most reputable brands are, and they are all right here.  We carry International Coatings, Rutland, Union, QCM, Triangle and our own house-brand Texsource inks.  Again, 6 complete product lines, with full descriptions and comparisons of every series that a particular manufacturer offers.  Have a look at the manufacturer list on our homepage (it is the dropdown on the left-hand side of our site).  You'll see every name of reputable brand on the market.  

We carry such an immense product line because we are absolutely committed to serving the customer interest.  One line of ink and one line of equipment simply will not serve our customers because then we are merely salesmen and pitchmen for a product line - our interest is in your continued success.  We carry more screen printing equipment lines because we spend the resources necessary to buy into these brands and take the time to learn their product lines so that we can know what product fits you best - it is never about a commission check or just making a sale here, it is about your long term growth and success.  
So browse around a while, read the numerous product reviews left by satisfied customers, ask a question if you have one - we are here to help you and make sure that have the right products and that the product you have work for you.  More brands give you more information, and more choices.  And when you are representing your shop with your hard earned money and are looking to make an equipment or supply purchase, more choices are always good to have!
Posted by Ryan Bolin - Outside Sales on 3/21/2016
If you have happened on this article while searching around for Screen Printing Equipment Packages, then this will be a worthwhile read as I give you tips on what to look for so that you don't get left holding the (empty) bag.

Lots of online retailers will sell you a "Screen Printing Equipment Package" - these are usually marketed and sold as some sort of turnkey equipment package that will have you screen printing in minutes.  But is it really that easy?  And what about service after the sale; when you need help the most will the cheapest retailer available back up the sale with the help you need?  And what about all the options available, are they worth the upgrade?

First, lets start with the equipment.  Usually if you are looking at a starter shop package you are looking at a screen printing press, a way to dry or cure the ink, some sort of exposure device or exposure unit, and some necessary supply items.  Just in these items alone there can be a lot of variety.  What we in Texsource sales recommend is not to go overboard with your press; if you are getting a smaller size press just to get your feet wet then this is usually the first piece of screen printing equipment that you will outgrow.  Consider at least a 2 color press even in your introductory press; it will give you much more flexibility in your printing and give you some good experience in multi-color prints and lining up your screens.  A tabletop press can be fine, but you will find that mounting it to a good stand or table will benefit you with greatly increased stability.  

Many screen printing kits will come with only a heat gun or perhaps a flash unit for curing.  These are entirely fine for starting out and getting your feet wet, as stepping up to a dedicated conveyor dryer can often be a bigger financial step than many are willing to make, at least at first.  When you are ready and have the hang of it (and you are starting to print jobs for 'paying' customers), then you will find the benefits of a dedicated conveyor dryer are hard to live without with regards to production.  You no longer have to sure items one-by-one by hand - simply print, lay on the dryer, and let them run through.  Many of the entry level conveyor dryers (such as the Vastex D100) carry an entry level price, but have the build quality and features to give you plenty of room for growth.  With proper care, such a dryer should perform well in your shop for many years.


the Vastex D100 is an excellent entry level conveyor dryer

When it comes to exposing your screen, many kits include a 500w lamp kit; it is simple, easy to setup, and easy to use.  the problem is that they offer very little protection or isolation for your screen, and they can take quite a bit more time to burn your image.  You won't have to spent much more money at all to step up to a dedicated exposure unit such as the Genesis Unit.  The difference may be a few hundred dollars, but now you are getting much more efficiency with your burns (less downtime, wasted burns, emulsion, etc).  This is probably a step that many would recommend you take from the very start if you are able.  

What about the supply items?  Well, here is where the competition skimps on you.  Texsource give you absolutely EVERYTHING you need to get started printing, right out of the box.  Inks, emulsion, screen, squeegee, cleaning supplies, etc.  You get it all included in every startup equipment package that we sell.  For anyone within driving distance of any of our locations, every package purchase gets you free admission to any of our Introduction to Screen Printing classes - a $70 value.  If you are not within driving distance and you have any issues at all or just need some help getting going, we are here for you with chat support, Skype, and a dedicated support staff whose job it is to help you get on your feet.  We want you to succeed because if you are successful we want to be your supplier - it is as simple as that!

Take a look around at our equipment and supply kits and packages - we offer more manufacturers and products than ANY supplier in the US, and with 4 location we can get your items to you fast.  When you are ready, contact us and lets talk shop!
Posted by Ronnie Cannon - Outside Sales on 2/29/2016

It isn't always as cut-and-dry as "my dryer just died" when deciding if an upgrade or replacement may be necessary.  Here are some tips to help you decide if an upgrade might be right for you.

Some things might be easy to determine - does one of my press arms no longer hold the pallet because there is a giant crack in the metal?  This is an easy one to answer, but what about some of the electrical equipment in your shop - your dryer, your exposure unit, your flash unit, etc.  If they turn on then they must be working properly, right?  Well, that may be true, but it may not tell the whole store of what screen printing equipment in your shop might need replacing.  

Consider first of all your exposure unit.  Are you not seeing exposure times as short as you used to?  If you are using a unit with halogen or fluorescent bulbs, you might have inconsistent performance across bulbs.  Sometimes this is easy to spot, but not so much if you are experiencing inconsistent burns in your emulsion (some spots washing out easy, others perhaps not washing out at all).  Some of the new LED exposure units offer incredible exposure times and greatly increased bulb life.  Rather than continuing to replace bulb and suffer from performance issues, it might be time to consider an upgrade to the newest technology for your business.


The screen printing dryer can sometimes be the hardest piece of equipment to diagnose, and most shops have the 'if it turns on it must be ok' attitude, but this mistake can be costly.  Consistent speed for higher output shops absolutely depends on a properly working dryer having the ability to hold heat properly within the drying chamber.  If you find yourself constantly having to adjust heat , belt speed, or element height in order to maintain proper curing, it might be time for a comprehensive inspection of your screen printing equipment.  

The same principle applies to your flash unit as applies to your screen printing dryer; look for inconsistent heat and varying flash times as reasons that you should perform a thorough inspection.  Issue like this cause lost production time, are inefficient for a shop, and cost you money.  If you are constantly stopping to make adjustments to your screen printing equipment, then your shop is already losing money that could be spent on a proper upgrade.  
As always, Texsource maintains an experienced sales staff that is standing by to help you diagnose any screen printing equipment issues that you might have.  Call us today at 888-344-4657 for free advice on upgrading with no obligation.  We look forward to hearing from you!    www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Josh Gilbert - Outside Sales on 2/11/2016

This is a question that we as sales reps get a lot here at Texsource.  It isn't necessarily an easy question to answer, but there are some factors that can help narrow your search down.



One of the first factors that we hear a customer mention obviously is price - what is the absolute best screen printing press that they can buy for $x (whatever their budget may be).  This is a fair question, as indeed a customers budget may in fact be a limiting factor when considering some presses, but as presses vary greatly in their feature set, the 'best' press for the price may in fact not be the right press for that particular customer.  


Consider computer sales, or automobile sales.  A potential buyer doesn't typically arrive at a car dealership and approach the salesperson with the question "How much does a car cost".  Likewise, you wouldn't go into your local tech shop and simply ask how much a computer costs.  Well, what kind of a car do you need - a speedy sports car, a truck, a utility van?  Likewise, what is your computer going to be used for - heavy graphics work, video editing, home cinema, or just browsing and sending email.


Look at the purchase of a new screen printing press in very much the same way - decide what features you need, what features you might be paying a premium for and may not necessarily need, the size and footprint of the press, availability of part, warranty information, etc.  You may find that the press you had your eye on isn't necessarily the best fit for your shop after all.  

Fortunately Texsource has done a great deal of the vetting of manufacturers for you.  We are currently authorized dealers for Workhorse, Vastex, Genesis, Brown, and BBC presses. All of these companies deliver a variety of quality products and are the most reputable brands in the screen printing industry.  As always, we go to great lengths to be able to offer knowledge and service of the products as well, and all of our staff undergo training on all types of equipment, techniques, and supplies.

I have seen quite a few customer suffer from 'buyer's remorse' soon after receiving their shiny new screen printing press, only to find out that certain features are either lacking or there are extra costs involved to fully take advantage of all a certain press can do.  The good news is that the Texsource sales staff is your best friend in this regard - our sales reps all have vast experience in the industry and it is our job (including mine) to have the answers for you when you need them.  Before pulling the trigger on a new press that you might have found with a different seller, place a quick call to Texsource and let our experience work for you - we know where others have failed and our advice is always free and no obligation.  We want you to get the screen printing press that will serve your needs the best!  Call today at 888-344-4657 or use our online chat support found on our website.   Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Ryan Bolin - Outside Sales on 1/29/2016

In an effort to always bring our customers the very best in Screen Printing Classes and Education, Texsource announces more specialty classes and clinics for 2016.

Our customer have given us some great feedback on our screen printing classes and clinics over the last year, and Texsource has listened and made some changes to our annual class schedule in response.  


Discharge Printing - One of our most requested classes.

Our customer have demanded even more of our Screen Printing 101 class (Introduction to Screen Printing) at all of our location, and we now have twice as many 101 classes scheduled for 2016 as we had in 2015.  We have also revamped the class to include even more hands-on instruction time.  Customers learn best from watching and participating.  We are making an effort to keep these class sizes small and the individual attention as high as possible.  As always, you will learn on the very latest screen printing presses and supplies.  The knowledge you gain from these classes should be of great value to anyone in any shop environment.  

Customers have also asked for more specialty classes and clinics, and we have responded with an excellent selection of classes that cannot be found anywhere else.   Recently we hosted a clinic featuring Rutland Inks introducing their new line of silicone screen printing inks - this class was held even before the official launch of the product line in January.  Talk about a competitive advantage; Texsource customer get a head start on everyone else in the US on an exciting new screen printing ink product.  

We have also scheduled yet another silicone ink class in addition to other specialty classes coming up such as a class on white screen printing ink, discharge printing, for-color process printing, Corel Draw for Screen Printers, and more.  

The goal, as always, is customer service and education.  We want to keep both ourselves here at Texsource and you, our customer, up on every aspect on what makes a shop successful, and our classes and clinics are a great way to accomplish that.  


Increased hands-on instruction time

So how do you attend a screen printing class?  Well, you can always visit the link for 'Classes' on our website (this is the best way) - there you can see all four of our locations and click the one that is most convenient to you.  Classes are usually posted during the first week of the calender month and are normally held either the 3rd Thursday or 3rd Friday of each month (depending on location).  And if you don't see a class you need, message us - let us know what you would like to see.  Most of our class schedule for 2016 is a direct result of feedback we received from customers in 2015, so your feedback is needed and welcome.  We look forward to seeing you here!   Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Harvey Cole - Outside Sales on 1/12/2016

If you are looking for the largest selection of brand name screen printing equipment, ink, accessories and supplies, then Texsource should be your go-to website!

Lots of companies these days call themselves 'suppliers' to our screen printing industry, but who do you choose?  Should you look for the lowest price only?  Should you find the supplier closest to you?  Well, those factors aren't always what they seem to be.  


More selection in stock than any other supplier

 Texsource Screen Printing supply has been in business for over 20 years.  We are the choice every day for thousands of screen printing companies across the US who depend on quality service, fast shipping, and low prices to keep their own customers happy.  It is our high level of expectations for ourselves that keeps us always looking to improve every day on our commitment to those customers.


Have a look around our website - it might take you a while!  Texsource is an authorized dealer for more product and screen printing equipment brands than any other US supplier.  For screen printing ink alone, we are an authorized dealer for 7 leading brands!  To keep that up, we have to ensure a level of quality as we represent the brand names that we sell - that means knowledge of the products and service after the sale.  How is this accomplished?  Texsource offers monthly classes at several of our locations, and all support staff attends and participates in the classes.  Often, we will have company reps in to give special clinics regarding new products.  When you have questions, we want to have the answers!


Texsource Training Class

Are you shopping by price?  We challenge our competitors to match our supply and equipment prices - often the lowest you will find in searching.  The reason is that Texsource buys products in massive quantities, often by the truck load, ensuring that we not only get the best pricing from the manufacturer, but also have the lowest shipping cost per product.  

Looking to get your order fast?  Texsource stocks a full range of items at 4 US locations - NC, Georgia, Indiana, and Texas.  Your order is always shipped from the closest available location, ensuring that you get your order as quickly as possible.  And you don't have to wait - all in-stock items are shipped same day if ordered by our cutoff time.  

There is no room for short-term gain decisions here at Texsource - every decision we make is geared toward the long-term benefit of our customers.  We very much want to keep our reputation of being the best screen printing supply company available, and we will work even harder every day to not only earn your business, but to help you succeed and keep your business for years to come!      Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
Posted by Dwayne Collins - Outside Sales on 3/10/2016
For many years, Texsource Screen Printing Supply has offered custom PMS color matching for ink to our customers.  Now we are very please to be the first distributor in the US to offer fully automated Pantone color matching for inks to our customers. 

This new system was developed by Novaflow Corporation of Canada for Rutland Inks, and Texsource is the very first US distributor to have this system installed at our NC facility.  It draws from up to 18 primary color containers in closely monitored and weighed amounts, ensuring a fast, precise, and consistent match.  Custom color matching is available in pint, quart, gallon, and 5 gallon sizes.  


Pantone Ink Mixing Station Now Available at Texsource

The best news is that custom mix quotes will soon be a thing of the past as well, as Texsource is currently working toward a flat-rate pricing model across all sizes.  That makes it easy and fast for the shop owner.  No more having to get a quote and get back with your customer - you will know your exact cost no matter what PMS ink color you need.  Also, our web team is quickly developing a new web interface that will allow for ordering of any PMS color right online - you point and click, we mix and ship!

This equipment is an investment in the Texsource customer - we are committed to providing you the absolute best service available from any supplier of screen printing supplies.  Custom Pantone inks can now be quickly mixed and shipped out same day when ordered by out cutoff time each day.  You don't have to wait, and in turn your customer gets their product faster as well.  

Want to see the system in action?  Here is a quick video shot by some of the guys here to give a quick overview of the features and performance that it is capable of -


Mixing by hand is a slow process that is inconsistent and sometimes unpredictable.  When you need a customer color mixed quickly and correctly, trust Texsource to deliver.  Once again, we are leading the way in putting the interest of the customer first!

  Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com
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