I used to use an Epson ET-2550 ruclips.net/user/postUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 , an early model of the ink tank style. It worked well, but had one nuisance that drove me up the wall; if you didn't put it in high quality print mode you'd get a streak across the page. I'm happy to say I have yet to see this with this printer. The print quality has been fantastic so far, the set up was super easy. All in all I'm very happy with this printer.
@Smalltown Apparel if you don't mind me asking who are reputable suppliers you would recommend for sublimation blanks? I'm always fearful of getting crap products from overseas
@dailydrivendomestics7317 I honestly read the reviews on all the brands. I know there are some scammers. If I can find my persons link I will. It's hard to link them bc its not a direct link.. but every time I try a vendor I read yrs in business and reviews
@Smalltown Apparel thank you so much I appreciate it. I just watched your video and I have been considering converting a epson 8550 or epson L18000. I have been watching alot of maintenance videos and trying to see if it's the best move for me as well.
People don't understand the work and risk it takes to start a business, I understand your pain. Thanks for the information it saved me a lot of time and money
Epson L1800 is great❤ It's only $1200 I converted it on my own from a you tube video I have had it for almost 6 months. It works really well. I print all day long.
So glad I came across your video. I'm wanting to start a business & have heard all the selling points from different companies. And quite honestly, was getting more confused. I finally decided today to "just go for it" & spend the 3, 000. So thankful I saw this first. Thank you!
Aww I wish u the best! Yes I've learned sooo much since I made this video. If you ever need transfers to get going I can help you. Www.smalltownapparelstore.com I definitely think you can go for it but I would do sublimation or screen prints and order dtf🤗
The cleaning needed is an everyday thing. I have had a L1800 and Artisian and they both are a disaster. I have had three for years and haven’t been able to use them. Worst idea ever for me.
I bought an L1800 and it printed about 16 and tanked. They could not fix my issue, don’t allow refunds and have no idea how to fix anything they ship. Don’t do it, it isn’t worth the savings. Trust me!
Thanks for the heads up, i was thinking about buying one of these, but i think for me would be better just to buy a heat press and get people to print my designs for me, as they dont charge that much for them anyways, so you wont lose any money on start up cost etc. i had a look around for A3 prints and they range from $5.50 to around $8.00 Each Australian. Tell you the truth i just dont want to be pulling my hair out when something goes wrong :) Cheers from Australia
Yes its absolutely a huge difference between industrial printer and desktop. And those prints are cheap. Even alibaba sells them pretty reasonable! I definitely would buy prints! Thank u for watching 💜
Wow!!!! Thank u so much for making this video. I converted an 8550 to sublimation and have been debating whether doing one for dtf. I think I will stick to ordering transfers for now. I am sorry you had to go through that. I know what it’s like for equipment to break in the middle of a big order. Thank u so much for sharing !
Its a new frontier, that's why you can either keep costs down significantly and deal with the nightmares yourself or pay for the support. Both sides have pros and cons, after junking a few overseas DTF printers I am a firm believer of established US sources at this point.
Yes its all such a gamble! I have people that bought from US also and are suing! So it's all from overseas just different support. Thank u for watching 🤗
I bought a DTF printer off Ebay for about $2600. A year later it broke down on me, the carriage was not even unlocking and eventually the powr gave out. Decided to get back into DTF printing and i bought an artisan 1430 and decided ill do the conversion myself after some videos and research. Honestly it is worth it cause i would sell custom transfers. I also didnt do daily maintenance which was ny fault but now ill make sure to do it. I had also gotten another printer from the same company on ebay and literally after my first print or so it completely died. Dont but a DTF printer from china or ebay. Best to go with a US supplier as they have tons of support and warranty. It may be more expensive, but it would be more worth it.
Oh no I'm so sorry you went through that! You can actually buy overseas and have help in USA. I know someone that has helped me sooo much for free. It's a lot to learn! They all come from overseas though.
@@smalltownapparel Yes very true! But I've learned not to buy from Ebay lol. I've heard Procolored is good, and the printers come from overseas but they do have better resources for their machines and they have a lot of assistance too! Definitely going to look into them if I want to invest in something a bit more pricey.
i converted my epson l1800 to dtf and seriously if you dont have a huge extra budget you will go down the printer has too many sensors that will fail and will make you nuts. & it made me a PRINTER TECHNICIAN in the long run. the rip software is 100-200k dollars. "THIS IS THE MOST HONEST REVIEW ON DTF"
That is really interesting that it created a new job! And that's awesome that you can fix them! Bc there are so many people needing a tech out there. You should make videos!
@@smalltownapparel just been lazy but i only have a piece of advice modding the epson printers "DON'T TRUST ALL DTF MODDING VIDS from technicians some of them will give you errors & I learn it on a hard & expensive way"
The bottom line is if you do not want to your own printer repair technician and expert DO NOT buy a dtf printer. I have a large format and the printer brings me in over 6 figures a year but until I was willing to learn every screw, bolt, wire etc… it just wasn’t worth it. But now I love it. I know to expect the mother boards to go out once a year, I know I have to buy new print head’s every month, I know a few times a year I will have to replace the motherboards. And buying from alibaba is great as long as you know when you get it you are on your own!!!!
Thank you so much for this information I have been thinking about and researching DTF printers or buying an Epson 8550 and converting it, So I will be buying and converting one after seeing your video
I bought an epson 8550 from Amazon & it came with a one month warranty. After that month, it started acting up. Epson wouldn't replace it & I had to reach out to Amazon again. They did give me my money back minus the $115 restocking fee.
Thank you for this video. I appreciate your honesty and do not feel like you were being negative at all. Sounds like you could have had every reason to be negative with the stuff you went through, but you weren't.
Thank you for this video, I too was ready to buy a desktop DTF printer for my small business, this video has me putting a halt on that for now, Thank you very much!!
Glad I could help! I know it's all a gamble but honestly I would have saved up $ for commercial printer and purchased transfers. I hope you will follow my journey. I just purchases a commercial printer so we shall see...
Bought my first one from china and had nothing but trouble and no support. Hemmed and hawed about buying another, bit the bullet and bought from an American company and so far so good. Most important is the support! Best wishes to all in the dtf business ❤️ thank you for sharing your experience!
I wish u luck! Yes I have sooooo many stories about so many. And I'm friends with a lot of USA suppliers. They do purchase overseas but offer support. It's all a risk but at the end of the day it's what it takes. I wish u the best🩷
Thanks so much I have been looking for one but now nooooo way. Not after seeing this thank goodness there are real people like you in this world who are not conning people just to make money. ❤
Important: once you start using ink, do not change ink brands. Even if there is a sale on ink. Ink from different companies are not compatible and will clog the print head.
I could give you an ear full! We bought a very expensive printer and wished we didn’t. We are really really good about maintenance. Customer Service and tech support is not good.
Oh I completely feel your pain on this! I know some people that spent muchhhh more than me that did and really regret it. I'm sorry you went through that! I do appreciate u watching💜
Well I’m super proud of you for being able to take your printer apart and fix the mother board 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼!!! But what a nightmare sorry you had to go through this lol
I have a custom apparel business, and I have a commercial 12 inch DTF printer. I try to tell people to stay away from the converted printers. The print heads are not made for DTF inks, and they are very very slow. I've been booted from a couple of DTF Facebook pages for saying that the converted printers are a waste of money. If someone can't afford a commercial printer, or can't finance a printer then the best thing to do is just order transfers from someone. I hate seeing people buy these things. The people that convert and sale these printers know that they will not last. In my opinion the converted printers are a scam to steal money. It was the same way when people were converting printers for DTG.
Yes I completely agree!! I'm actually researching a 24 inch printer and really been following it for a bit. I have a couple friends that purchased so I'm waiting to see their outcome. I definitely agree that they aren't made for it! I wish you luck on your business! I love dtf and the results but those desktop printers aren't worth it! And yes I'm in a couple groups. The first guy that ever had dtf in USA is in the group and he tells everyone to stay away from the desktop or Converted! Bc there are a few trying to sell people converted ones. I always say what those risks are! Have a great day🤗
@MsEddines I def don't recommend desktop. There are 3 brands with great reviews from there for commercial printers. Hjd, Audley, and Okai. I'm in a bunch of groups that discuss pros and cons of buying overseas vs Alibaba. And you can order overseas outside of Alibaba but Alibaba ensures delivery. I just ordered Okai this week. I know their customer service is incredible. I'll be documenting the whole experience!
Some lessons are expensive. May be you wouldn't have learned the lesson of "being patient and doing enough research before making big decisions" if the problem is not this much complicated. I had similar experiences and eventually learned to be patient. Really appreciate you for taking time and for explaining your hard experience which is saving thousands of dollars of many like me.... You've got a strong soul, you would succeed greatly one day! All the very best with your business.
Hi, what’s crazy is that I bought that same printer u have. Received in The mail two days ago. It is defective straight out the box. Now I’m waiting to troubleshoot with the vendor. It’s bad I can even print my first page.
Thank you because I had just started searching dtf printer after investing in a large 24in sublimation printer from epson its working fine now, but in the beginning first 2 went up had to spend weeks no production and I remember the hopeless frustration I had during that time. Trying to spare my self that heartache again so will just create my own designs and pay someone esle to make dtf for now.
Yessss it's a lot to go through! I learned a ton. I actually print DTF now if you ever need someone. I have an industrial printer now.. Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Aww thank u! Yes I know so many even buying here in USA.. I think its honestly bc its a desktop. But I made a huge purchase after 6 months of research! I'll keep u posted😉
There is one word in an African language that describes being sorry for what you have gone through etc. etc. It spells: YAKO. ( the "YA" reads like YATCH and the "KO" reads like CODE. YAKO) Just 4 letters to profoundly express thousands words!
I converted my epson 1430 and it took a crap on me after 20 prints. Just bought a dedicated DTF printer on amazon just to keep the orders covered, but im worried that its just gonna crap out too. Luckly I got the continued warranty support, but yea this ish is a headache for sure!
From someone who owns printer and has both name brand commerical printers and asia brand equipment all of them breakdown and require a lot of maintenance regardless if they are run daily and even more maintenance if they're not run daily. I recommend buying your transfers instead, it will save you a lot of headaches and the cost of doing so will out weigh the time you will spend maintaining equipment or worse having them repaired. I would only recommend looking into purchasing your own printer setup if you are going run it for at least 4 hours a day if you won't be running it daily its not worth the headaches and cost. Printheads wear out, Dampers etc tons of other things that will eat into any profits you make. I started off printing and selling shirts but pivoted and I offer my print services to local crafters, and print business. It keeps my printers running and they get ready to press transfers without investing in equipment. I recommend anyone who is thinkig about getting your own equipment to find someone in your area who does something similar to what I do.
Yes 💯 I completely agree with that! I would have purchased transfers had I really known the outcome. I still love dtf but I'm not at a commercial grade level yet. Thank u for watching 💜
Problem with transfer paper is the toner , doesn't last long and doesn't stick well on stretched coton. Ink made better. One option is if this powder machine will work with our Mimaki UV printer so we won't have the maintenance issue for another printer. hope I'm right , if anyone can confirm. Thanks
The problem is like she said crafters see a content influencer talking about this printer and dtf printer is so easy to use yet they don't know nothing about the company or machine but cuz they get the machine free they all tell lies. They are only focusing on crafters cuz they know professional won't fall for it. Here is one example. It's a guy that's a crafter and he has a graphtec ce7000-60 and got the siser Romeo 24" cutter. He claims that the Romeo is way better than the graphtec and quieter. We talking a stepper machine vs a servo machine. He says the software is easy to use. So you have people like him that lie to crafters and they use they're affiliate link to get paid but they don't even use the machine they have. It's just sitting in the videos they make till the company ask for it back. Crafters don't know the pain that goes into this business. 💔
@tshirtsidehustle was my intro to your video. Thank you for being honest about this purchase. You have given so many the birds eye view of dtf desktop printer.
Great video for those who are beginners to DTF or less knowledgeable but it seems more like this is more for those purchasing off of Alibaba, and the issues that come from buying that way. DTF has been around for a good while but is new to those who have jumped on the trend and have zero idea of what comes along with it. Hopefully, they come across more videos like this. Wishing you tons of success my friend. 🙏🏼
Yes I love dtf but there's soooo much to it! Lol. It's not necessarily alibaba bc I have great experience and service with them but, rather the companies selling on there. I know lots of big dtf businesses and they all purchase overseas but it really depends on the company. I just made a big purchase so I'll be sharing soon! Thank u so much and good luck to you!🤗
@smalltownapparel I completely understand ya there. 😁. I've been at it since 2018 so to see where it's at today is wayyyy better but it definitely still needs improvement. Keep shooting the content my friend, and being a voice. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😁
thanks for making this because me and my mom have been looking at stuff because she wants to expand the business and this video really help because she had concerns about printers like this
Yessss it's way better to purchase the transfers! I wasted a ton and then I bought transfers for a while and invested in an industrial printer. But it takes so much work! If u need any prints my site is Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Honestly with something over a certain dollar amount - I wouldn’t even gamble on not going through a supplier/company that’s stateside or somewhere that has a return guarantee… I’d have to be ok with losing that money before I’d gamble on alibaba or any of those overseas purchases. Id rather just pay the full cost and know that I’d have customer service and be able to return easily if I have issues. I’ve been through that before. Never again.
Yes there's also a lot of issues with US suppliers too. It's really all a gamble. I like to research a lot now bc you can gain knowledge through others experiences. Thank u for watching 🤗
Tienes toda la razón. Yo he tenido en 3 años 2 máquinas basadas en Epson L1800 y al menos he gastado 1800€ en 6 cabezales y otros cientos de euros en líquido limpiador. Una ruina. Cuando la máquina funciona te animas porque el coste es muy bajo y el resultado es muy bueno y bonito. Pero la mayoría del tiempo se pierde en limpiezas de cabezal y pérdida de tinta. Y la velocidad es desesperante. 24 minutos por 40 cm. Al final he decidido subcontratar y ahora vivo más feliz dedicándome a diseñar y vender ideas. No compren máquinas basadas en el cabezal L1800. Saludos desde España y enhorabuena por el canal.
I love the idea of a DTF printer and being able to sublimate with white. What a nightmare it’s been trying to set it up including the software. I’m actually going to hire a professional computer person to help install the software.
Sorry late for comments, i did invest in a industrial one with 60 cm width and own shaker and that dual head epson heads. And let me tell you its not for a weak hearted one. In the first couple months alone i had lots of head change. And each head costing me like 1500 aud per head mostly the white getting clogged. It is getting more and more expensive to run as machine get older
Yess I've heard,omg. Lol. I just invested in an industrial so I plan to film all of it. I've learned a lot of stuff lately and seen the trials and tribulations the friends have had lol. I wish u all the luck!
I have exactly the same machine as you,, only that it has a different logo on the front, I have printed more than a hundred t-shirt transfers with it and very happy with it and the results, the colors I get, the ombré effects, I guess is matter of luck, or even a matter of the ink, not the machine itself, mine has got an Epson printhead, maybe you can just change printhead and get it running like new, there are plenty of videos that explain how to flush or how to change printhead.. I bought the dampers and liquid kit to be able to leave it unused for a long time and I left it and I was afraid anything was blocked or that the ink could have clogged the tubes or head... and it didn't! So I would never say to people "Don't buy a machine like this, they are a nightmare" because I have quite a good experience with it, I feel sorry you didn't get the same experience I do, so I would never say that all these machines are useless, because the are very useful.
I know some might work ok but not for longevity. They simply aren't meant to do dtf and parts often break,etc. But I'm glad you have had good luck. I gave mine away bc I print commercial on a 24 inch now. But I try to help others bc soooo many think it's going to bring great success. And far to many get junk. I wish u the best!
@@smalltownapparel Well, though it may not be the best machine available, and I guess it is quite far from that, I certainly didn't get junk, maybe it could be considered a good hobby machine, certainly not a professional one, but it is not junk, and I have been using it since January 2023 and it is running good
I got an epson l1800 overseas as well and I have had a few hiccups but I finally have it all figured out... Most Importantly, I learned how to PREVENT ink clogs and now I run my printer smoothly
@@jaywilliams7974 i bought another set of dampers filled with cleaning solution. When I’m not using my printer, I switch out my dampers with ink and put the dampers filled with the cleaning solution and run a ink flush. You can leave the printer sitting there for months without a single clog because there is no ink the print head, just the cleaning solution. Hope this helps!
Do not buy from overseas. I run an Epson F2100 and even though it's a DTG printer I use it to print DTF and it works great. I've printed several thousand prints with it and I've discovered that the harder I run the machine the better it prints. They are expensive but they're dependable and here in Colorado they have service techs who can come out and work on it if needed
I actually know the owners of several large DTF companies now, all of the machines come from overseas. Their are just techs in the USA to service them. I've learned so much since then and researched. Thank u for watching
Thank you so much for sharing, I was going to buy one and something said, no. I buy things from Alibaba but they get you with those prices. I am sorry that you had to go through that experience. I thank you. There are a lot of use out here engaging in home businesses. I appreciate you because that was not easy. Thank you for looking out for us, I have subscribed to your channel. You are my earth angel today. Stay focued on your business. This too shall pass. You have a double dose of goodness coming your way. Keeping us all in prayer!
Yes they do get you with prices! But honestly I started researching in groups for dtf and sought advice from people with dtf businesses. So much great advice from experienced users that have spent $$$$ and wasted $$$ I appreciate you watching and subbing. I am going to be sharing my new experience with my investment. I am praying it all goes well and then I can offer others wholesale pricing till they get going. I am glad I was able to help you. I just try to be honest with others🩷 Praying for you too Leticia🩷
These printers are modified printers and the print heads are the issue as they are not mean to run pigment inks through them. Look for a commercial printer with at least one XP-600 print head. This is the perfect beginner setup and the print head is cheap to replace regardless if you are using a remanufactured or Epson Seal print head. If I lost you with this comment, it is best to buy your transfers from a transfer company.
Hello! Yes I think its hit and miss. I followed maintenance so overboard with it lol. Buttt it simply blew the motherboard first few prints in. I have so many friends that have had issues and a couple might be ok till they aren't. I've heard dtg can have issues. I think they all can lol
@@smalltownapparel I really do appreciate the honesty. You were not trying to sell anything. I have watched so many and everything is always sugar coated.
dang. i was wondering what its like to start a custom shirt business. most people talked about heat press the printer and sewing machine. i did sewing machine research first for embroidery. then heat press bc someone recommended not direct touch but hovering heat press. and then was recommended DTF printer. and here i am running into your video. before your video i was like wow, its ganna be like 10k ish to start the business. i hope your business is kicking ass now. thank you for helping me out
Aww thank u so much! Trying to grow it lol. Honestly I started with sublimation bc its much cheaper or you can buy dtf transfers and no upfront costs besides transfers and heat press! Much cheaper than buying it all up front!
DTF had been always on my mind . I want one "BUT" there is to much set up for it . The time u take to make a shirt sucks . And the ink $$$$$$$$$. Find a company to buy transfers . I get mine from TKO transfers
I would not ever consider a small one..and the big ones require so much maintenance and ventilation etc. I would buy transfers. If you need any I now print with an industrial printer Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Thank you for sharing your experience. I was going to check out these printers and do minimal research and hop on the band wagon. I will stick to buying from my printer lady here in BC Canada and keep at it. I can't handle the nightmare involved 😂 I like things easy peasy. You should do more videos for newbies! 🥰
Thank you for the information. I was considering a DTF printer but several makers have advised against it. I currently get DTF iron ones from jiffy shirts and they are always great products.
Yes! I've been printing on an industrial one for over a year now. I definitely say to buy transfers bc these desktops will just waste your money. Jiffy outsource all of their orders to different vendors each time. If you ever need a small business feel free to check out my website www.smalltownapparelstore.com My fb group is linked in it🩷🩷
I wish you knew it’s actually Epson L1800 inside there. They just converted it and put new cover. Maybe if you knew connecting with Epson CS support would be much easier and faster although they’d not give warranty coverage since the printer was already “jailbroken”. Epson L1800 is less than $1000 actually
I have been thinking it is cheaper and less hassle to buy transfers for t-shirts. I can still design my own and send it to a company to put on film. This confirmed it for me.
Yeah it's cheaper and less of a hassle to buy transfer from someone else . But sometimes u can get bigger images. Or when u ask for 12x12 some times they can't make it that size
Hi great video I was thinking about ordering one of these DTF printers from china .not from alibaba.and they are expensive tho .I might go the route of converting one .i want to start a little business for my thirteen old son .and thank you for advice..and the DTF technology have moved on from alot from you initially posting your tutorial.
Oh yes it's changed a ton! If you are working in it I def don't recommend hand pondering as constant breathing in of powder by hand is harmful. I would purchase gang sheets of transfers to test out first. Feel free to check out my website Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
I work at a company that uses a commercial dtf printer and we have to clean the lines with DISTILLED water only an we clean it after every use an before we do the next logos. I wonder if u can clean those lines the same way we do. Also dtf printers are so new that there is no manual or anything. When it breaks down we have to have a guy come in an pay big bucks for him to fix it! When I left yesterday the machine was messing up so it's also a learning process for us as it's so new!
appreciate your honesty. seems DTF printers are the new 3d printers, very cheap from china with awful tech support 9:24 letting anyone access your system remotely is a dangerous game unless you have a separate computer
Yes the desktops sadly aren't made for long term use. Almost like a cheap shortcut. And yes no support! I gave mine away! I do print commercial dtf since this video if you ever need someone! Thank u for watching
Glad I could help! If you ever need transfers I print them now bc I waited and researched to buy a large industrial one. Those small ones are just a headache. My site is Www.smalltownapparelstore.com I just hate to see anyone go through what I did. Thank you!
So tempting but, Dtf printers sounds like a costly nightmare and the daily maintenance is unbelievable, just to have the added benefit of printing on dark colors. it's like caring for a child. Thank you for giving us the heads up, and sharing your truth.. I think I'll put my investment in a commercial embroidery machine. Between HTV, Sublimation, & DTF... they all have limitations, the cracking, color restrictions, fabric restrictions, color fading & all the hacks, and continuous investment smh...
Yes absolutely so many pros and cons of each. We definitely compare it to a newborn! Bc so much is involved with it. And absolutely go for embroidery if u can! I think it looks so interesting! I appreciate u watching 🩷
this is a modified version, made from L1800/1390, most of them are SECOND HAND Epson made, that is why it is problems from motherboard, we never use second hand machine to make DTF....
Yes most of these don't hold up at all for very long. Out of tons of people with various printers, maybe 2 head up longer. I favor the large industrial ones, not small desktop. Thank u for watching!
Yes I was sooo excited and omg a nightmare. I love dtf prints but if I did it again I'd save for a big one and buy prints. These small ones are just prone to issues. Thank u for watching💜
Thank you for sharing your story with us! Sounds like a nightmare! I heard a lot of negative critics about PTF and PTG. Will you continue now with your ptf machine and your business?
I honestly wouldnt..I would order transfers from someone bc you can still make a great profit without the headache. It's what I did until I could buy my big one. And I do customs Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
It’s late but should have taken this issue to your bank. I had an issues and let my bank get involved and got my money back. Ali always refused to refund or send replacement.
$3k and it didn't even come with a white ink circulation system? Huge rip off. Can grab a Epson L805 for like $400-500 off Ebay and convert it. That's what I did, no fail yet. Probably done 300 prints. Good to do a small test print on paper every day tho to make sure the piezo nozzles don't clog. Even if they do clog it's not the end of the world. Just annoying to have to clean.
Thanks a ton, very helpful. I was just about to purchase a similar DTF printer on alibaba. I think i may go with the ET8550 and look into converting it instead
Blessings on blessings for sharing this Truth with those of us who are quick to jump into the fire before knowing how to use an extinguisher! With all this being said, do you think its more to do with your type of printer i.e. the brand or any such DTF home use printer would be the same? I have the Epson 8550 Eco Tank and I love it for Sublimation printing but just like you I want to do DTF to dark shirts. I have been using another company to do the DTF printing and the cost per gang sheet is about $30 for a 22"x70", which isn't to bad. The goal being no middle man if it makes sense to invest in the DTF printer or let the bigger companies do it and bare the repair and maintenance costs...!? Decisions decisions...!
So I honestly don't recommend any desktop for it. They yield different results, many parts constantly need replaced and they just aren't built for dtf to be honest. So this is a year and half later and learned so much from others and I don't know anyone that prints with a company to ever recommend one. In the long run its better to buy gang sheets. Bc even with the large scale printers there is sooooo much that goes into them. It's a full time job lol. Feel free to follow my Facebook Group or Instagram. I have a large industrial printer and run lots of specials on gang sheets weekly🩷 m.facebook.com/groups/smalltowntransfers/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Thank you for watching. Actually I've had friends spend $$$$$$ and still got crap. It's all hit and miss. I know they all come from the same place with different levels of customer service but it's all luck and knowledge.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO . I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH A EPSON ET2720. CONVERTED IT,LOST THE WARRANTY . PRINTED ABOUT 20 DESIGNS AND THE MOTHER BOARD FAILED. I'VE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE AND COULD NOT FIND A REPLACEMENT,
I'm so glad I found this honest review I was thinking of getting a procolour dtf machine They seem to have great online help But same issues motherboard and heads blow I think I will go white toner
I do not mean to confront the owner of the video. But I want to see both sides of the coin. The DTF printer in question is dedicated and it is now obvious that it needs regular maintenance, cleaning the heads, etc. Having said that and watching the Epson regular printers that have been "CONVERTED" to print DTF are having great success. Epson L1800 and XP1500 models, these are just regular printers never designed for DTF, but people figured out to convert them to print DTF and they are having great success. One poster said her Epson is going for 13 months provided she keeps maintenance going. This sorta kinda confuses new entrepreneurs because here the contents says these printers are horrible, but others are having success. My personal believe is that the brand of the dedicated printers if they are made in China is the red flag. Over the years I used to build computers and fix, etc. Chinese parts were horrible, they will work 1 week. I learned to stay away from electronics made in China unless is an American company manufacturing in China.. But straight chinese electronic products are the red flag. So far people are happy with Epson converted to print DTF.
Honestly every story is different. I know many people in the DTF industry that have huge companies selling these. Some are techs themselves and even though they sell the smaller scale option they agree its junk. Almost any printer is from overseas except Mimaki,etc. And the USA companies import from overseas. I know this for 100% fact bc 3 well known DTF industrial printer company owners well known to most, all buy overseas. Difference is they offer their support and can help with them. Some people have great success with them yes, but most are just not worth it. And that's coming from tonsssss of people I know in the industry. About 3 success stories lol. But for the industrial ones, it's hit and miss. I have had wonderful success as others buying same brand but then my best friend got same one and never could get ut going so she invested more into a usa one that we know is from overseas bc she had the option to order direct but she wanted it faster and it came with his on site training, at a cost. So I'm trying not to give folks huge hopes in these by sharing my experience. But at the end of the day everyone is free to do what they like. Thank u for watching
I used to use an Epson ET-2550 ruclips.net/user/postUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 , an early model of the ink tank style. It worked well, but had one nuisance that drove me up the wall; if you didn't put it in high quality print mode you'd get a streak across the page. I'm happy to say I have yet to see this with this printer. The print quality has been fantastic so far, the set up was super easy. All in all I'm very happy with this printer.
That's great!
So, this is essentially a "Don't buy from alibaba" video.
🤣🤣pretty much for that. But for other items I'm happy with purchases.
I bought a funsun dtg 5k wasted no help at all.
@Smalltown Apparel if you don't mind me asking who are reputable suppliers you would recommend for sublimation blanks? I'm always fearful of getting crap products from overseas
@dailydrivendomestics7317 I honestly read the reviews on all the brands. I know there are some scammers. If I can find my persons link I will. It's hard to link them bc its not a direct link.. but every time I try a vendor I read yrs in business and reviews
@Smalltown Apparel thank you so much I appreciate it. I just watched your video and I have been considering converting a epson 8550 or epson L18000. I have been watching alot of maintenance videos and trying to see if it's the best move for me as well.
People don't understand the work and risk it takes to start a business, I understand your pain. Thanks for the information it saved me a lot of time and money
Exactly! Thank u so very much for wTching!
Thank you for your honesty. I love these videos because they just make you more aware and allow you to make better choices as you grow your business.
You are so welcome! I try to always be 100% transparent and honest with others🤗
Epson L1800 is great❤ It's only $1200 I converted it on my own from a you tube video I have had it for almost 6 months. It works really well. I print all day long.
That's great! I do know a ton of people in the business. Some have luck with theirs till it just randomly messes up. I wish u luck with yours💜
Are you able to print black cotton shirts with that printer?
Yes you don't print directly on this like Dtg bit you print on the film and apply it
How do you convert it and convert to what?
Can you make a video?
So glad I came across your video. I'm wanting to start a business & have heard all the selling points from different companies. And quite honestly, was getting more confused. I finally decided today to "just go for it" & spend the 3, 000. So thankful I saw this first. Thank you!
Aww I wish u the best! Yes I've learned sooo much since I made this video. If you ever need transfers to get going I can help you. Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
I definitely think you can go for it but I would do sublimation or screen prints and order dtf🤗
Thank you so much
The cleaning needed is an everyday thing. I have had a L1800 and Artisian and they both are a disaster. I have had three for years and haven’t been able to use them. Worst idea ever for me.
There software is junk. I had to buy new AcroRip from another vendor
I bought an L1800 and it printed about 16 and tanked. They could not fix my issue, don’t allow refunds and have no idea how to fix anything they ship. Don’t do it, it isn’t worth the savings. Trust me!
Thanks for the heads up, i was thinking about buying one of these, but i think for me would be better just to buy a heat press and get people to print my designs for me, as they dont charge that much for them anyways, so you wont lose any money on start up cost etc. i had a look around for A3 prints and they range from $5.50 to around $8.00 Each Australian. Tell you the truth i just dont want to be pulling my hair out when something goes wrong :)
Cheers from Australia
Yes its absolutely a huge difference between industrial printer and desktop. And those prints are cheap. Even alibaba sells them pretty reasonable! I definitely would buy prints! Thank u for watching 💜
Wow!!!! Thank u so much for making this video. I converted an 8550 to sublimation and have been debating whether doing one for dtf. I think I will stick to ordering transfers for now. I am sorry you had to go through that. I know what it’s like for equipment to break in the middle of a big order. Thank u so much for sharing !
Thank u Janet🩷🩷
Holy crap thank you so much I literally was going to buy one off of alibaba next month got you saved my wife and I such a Headache
Its a new frontier, that's why you can either keep costs down significantly and deal with the nightmares yourself or pay for the support. Both sides have pros and cons, after junking a few overseas DTF printers I am a firm believer of established US sources at this point.
Yes its all such a gamble! I have people that bought from US also and are suing! So it's all from overseas just different support. Thank u for watching 🤗
I bought a DTF printer off Ebay for about $2600. A year later it broke down on me, the carriage was not even unlocking and eventually the powr gave out. Decided to get back into DTF printing and i bought an artisan 1430 and decided ill do the conversion myself after some videos and research. Honestly it is worth it cause i would sell custom transfers. I also didnt do daily maintenance which was ny fault but now ill make sure to do it.
I had also gotten another printer from the same company on ebay and literally after my first print or so it completely died.
Dont but a DTF printer from china or ebay. Best to go with a US supplier as they have tons of support and warranty. It may be more expensive, but it would be more worth it.
Oh no I'm so sorry you went through that! You can actually buy overseas and have help in USA. I know someone that has helped me sooo much for free. It's a lot to learn! They all come from overseas though.
@@smalltownapparel Yes very true! But I've learned not to buy from Ebay lol. I've heard Procolored is good, and the printers come from overseas but they do have better resources for their machines and they have a lot of assistance too! Definitely going to look into them if I want to invest in something a bit more pricey.
i converted my epson l1800 to dtf and seriously if you dont have a huge extra budget you will go down the printer has too many sensors that will fail and will make you nuts. & it made me a PRINTER TECHNICIAN in the long run. the rip software is 100-200k dollars. "THIS IS THE MOST HONEST REVIEW ON DTF"
That is really interesting that it created a new job! And that's awesome that you can fix them! Bc there are so many people needing a tech out there. You should make videos!
@@smalltownapparel just been lazy but i only have a piece of advice modding the epson printers "DON'T TRUST ALL DTF MODDING VIDS from technicians some of them will give you errors & I learn it on a hard & expensive way"
The bottom line is if you do not want to your own printer repair technician and expert DO NOT buy a dtf printer. I have a large format and the printer brings me in over 6 figures a year but until I was willing to learn every screw, bolt, wire etc… it just wasn’t worth it. But now I love it. I know to expect the mother boards to go out once a year, I know I have to buy new print head’s every month, I know a few times a year I will have to replace the motherboards. And buying from alibaba is great as long as you know when you get it you are on your own!!!!
Yes I have an industrial one now! It is a lot of work. These small ones aren't worth it
Thank you so much for this information I have been thinking about and researching DTF printers or buying an Epson 8550 and converting it, So I will be buying and converting one after seeing your video
Glad it was helpful!
I bought an epson 8550 from Amazon & it came with a one month warranty. After that month, it started acting up. Epson wouldn't replace it & I had to reach out to Amazon again. They did give me my money back minus the $115 restocking fee.
Thank you for this video. I appreciate your honesty and do not feel like you were being negative at all. Sounds like you could have had every reason to be negative with the stuff you went through, but you weren't.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for this video, I too was ready to buy a desktop DTF printer for my small business, this video has me putting a halt on that for now, Thank you very much!!
Glad I could help! I know it's all a gamble but honestly I would have saved up $ for commercial printer and purchased transfers. I hope you will follow my journey. I just purchases a commercial printer so we shall see...
Bought my first one from china and had nothing but trouble and no support. Hemmed and hawed about buying another, bit the bullet and bought from an American company and so far so good. Most important is the support! Best wishes to all in the dtf business ❤️ thank you for sharing your experience!
I wish u luck! Yes I have sooooo many stories about so many. And I'm friends with a lot of USA suppliers. They do purchase overseas but offer support. It's all a risk but at the end of the day it's what it takes. I wish u the best🩷
May I ask where you bought from?
Swing design, but when shipped the invoice said it was shipped from DTF station in Buena Park California.
Thanks so much I have been looking for one but now nooooo way. Not after seeing this thank goodness there are real people like you in this world who are not conning people just to make money. ❤
Absolutely! I e been printing over a year commercially with a large one. I definitely don't recommend buying the desktop. I'm glad I could help🩷
Important: once you start using ink, do not change ink brands. Even if there is a sale on ink. Ink from different companies are not compatible and will clog the print head.
In small machines it's a little different. In large machines u flush it all and can switch them bc commercial dtf printers try new ones constantly
I could give you an ear full! We bought a very expensive printer and wished we didn’t. We are really really good about maintenance. Customer Service and tech support is not good.
Oh I completely feel your pain on this! I know some people that spent muchhhh more than me that did and really regret it. I'm sorry you went through that! I do appreciate u watching💜
Thank you for the information, not that I could afford one, but just to know about the maintenance puts me off buying one, so sorry you had issues xx
Yes its been a mess! Lol. But I just likevto help anyone in this situation so they don't just see glamorous videos lol. Thank u for watching 💜
Well I’m super proud of you for being able to take your printer apart and fix the mother board 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼!!! But what a nightmare sorry you had to go through this lol
Thank you so much!! Yes omg it's really hard to do it on a small one!
I have a custom apparel business, and I have a commercial 12 inch DTF printer. I try to tell people to stay away from the converted printers. The print heads are not made for DTF inks, and they are very very slow. I've been booted from a couple of DTF Facebook pages for saying that the converted printers are a waste of money. If someone can't afford a commercial printer, or can't finance a printer then the best thing to do is just order transfers from someone. I hate seeing people buy these things. The people that convert and sale these printers know that they will not last. In my opinion the converted printers are a scam to steal money. It was the same way when people were converting printers for DTG.
Yes I completely agree!! I'm actually researching a 24 inch printer and really been following it for a bit. I have a couple friends that purchased so I'm waiting to see their outcome. I definitely agree that they aren't made for it! I wish you luck on your business! I love dtf and the results but those desktop printers aren't worth it! And yes I'm in a couple groups. The first guy that ever had dtf in USA is in the group and he tells everyone to stay away from the desktop or Converted! Bc there are a few trying to sell people converted ones. I always say what those risks are! Have a great day🤗
May I ask what company/brand you prefer for the commercial size.
@MsEddines I def don't recommend desktop. There are 3 brands with great reviews from there for commercial printers. Hjd, Audley, and Okai. I'm in a bunch of groups that discuss pros and cons of buying overseas vs Alibaba. And you can order overseas outside of Alibaba but Alibaba ensures delivery. I just ordered Okai this week. I know their customer service is incredible. I'll be documenting the whole experience!
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Some lessons are expensive. May be you wouldn't have learned the lesson of "being patient and doing enough research before making big decisions" if the problem is not this much complicated. I had similar experiences and eventually learned to be patient. Really appreciate you for taking time and for explaining your hard experience which is saving thousands of dollars of many like me.... You've got a strong soul, you would succeed greatly one day! All the very best with your business.
Aww thank you very much! I really appreciate it and wish u well🤗
Hi, what’s crazy is that I bought that same printer u have. Received in The mail two days ago. It is defective straight out the box. Now I’m waiting to troubleshoot with the vendor. It’s bad I can even print my first page.
Omg are u serious?! Ugh I'm so sorry! It's so frustrating! I hope you get a resolution. Thank u for watching!
Thank you because I had just started searching dtf printer after investing in a large 24in sublimation printer from epson its working fine now, but in the beginning first 2 went up had to spend weeks no production and I remember the hopeless frustration I had during that time. Trying to spare my self that heartache again so will just create my own designs and pay someone esle to make dtf for now.
Yessss it's a lot to go through! I learned a ton. I actually print DTF now if you ever need someone. I have an industrial printer now.. Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Thank you so much for this video. I was thinking I wanted one but thank God you made this video. I’ll continue to use the powder.
🤣yes I try to be honest just bc I tend to get sucked into the excitement of products. And I want to help others. Thank u for watching 💜
ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!! I’m so glad I didn’t invest in one of the overseas machines.
I’m so sorry this happened to you. It’s a real shame.
Aww thank u! Yes I know so many even buying here in USA.. I think its honestly bc its a desktop. But I made a huge purchase after 6 months of research! I'll keep u posted😉
There is one word in an African language that describes being sorry for what you have gone through etc. etc. It spells: YAKO. ( the "YA" reads like YATCH and the "KO" reads like CODE. YAKO) Just 4 letters to profoundly express thousands words!
I converted my epson 1430 and it took a crap on me after 20 prints. Just bought a dedicated DTF printer on amazon just to keep the orders covered, but im worried that its just gonna crap out too. Luckly I got the continued warranty support, but yea this ish is a headache for sure!
Yesss it really is! Wishing u luck. If you ever need transfers Www.smalltownapparelstore.com (I have a 24 inch commercial one now)
Will bookmark this just in case. Thx!@@smalltownapparel
From someone who owns printer and has both name brand commerical printers and asia brand equipment all of them breakdown and require a lot of maintenance regardless if they are run daily and even more maintenance if they're not run daily. I recommend buying your transfers instead, it will save you a lot of headaches and the cost of doing so will out weigh the time you will spend maintaining equipment or worse having them repaired. I would only recommend looking into purchasing your own printer setup if you are going run it for at least 4 hours a day if you won't be running it daily its not worth the headaches and cost. Printheads wear out, Dampers etc tons of other things that will eat into any profits you make.
I started off printing and selling shirts but pivoted and I offer my print services to local crafters, and print business. It keeps my printers running and they get ready to press transfers without investing in equipment. I recommend anyone who is thinkig about getting your own equipment to find someone in your area who does something similar to what I do.
Yes 💯 I completely agree with that! I would have purchased transfers had I really known the outcome. I still love dtf but I'm not at a commercial grade level yet. Thank u for watching 💜
where you located info ? trying to get transfers made
Problem with transfer paper is the toner , doesn't last long and doesn't stick well on stretched coton. Ink made better. One option is if this powder machine will work with our Mimaki UV printer so we won't have the maintenance issue for another printer. hope I'm right , if anyone can confirm. Thanks
The problem is like she said crafters see a content influencer talking about this printer and dtf printer is so easy to use yet they don't know nothing about the company or machine but cuz they get the machine free they all tell lies. They are only focusing on crafters cuz they know professional won't fall for it. Here is one example. It's a guy that's a crafter and he has a graphtec ce7000-60 and got the siser Romeo 24" cutter. He claims that the Romeo is way better than the graphtec and quieter. We talking a stepper machine vs a servo machine. He says the software is easy to use. So you have people like him that lie to crafters and they use they're affiliate link to get paid but they don't even use the machine they have. It's just sitting in the videos they make till the company ask for it back. Crafters don't know the pain that goes into this business. 💔
Thank you for being so honest. I was looking into buying a DTF printer verses converting a printer into one. this is very helpful!
You are so welcome!
@tshirtsidehustle was my intro to your video. Thank you for being honest about this purchase. You have given so many the birds eye view of dtf desktop printer.
Aww thank you for watching! I just try to help anyone else out that I can. I love dtf but I so regret my purchase. Thank u for watching 💜
Great video for those who are beginners to DTF or less knowledgeable but it seems more like this is more for those purchasing off of Alibaba, and the issues that come from buying that way.
DTF has been around for a good while but is new to those who have jumped on the trend and have zero idea of what comes along with it.
Hopefully, they come across more videos like this.
Wishing you tons of success my friend. 🙏🏼
Yes I love dtf but there's soooo much to it! Lol. It's not necessarily alibaba bc I have great experience and service with them but, rather the companies selling on there. I know lots of big dtf businesses and they all purchase overseas but it really depends on the company. I just made a big purchase so I'll be sharing soon! Thank u so much and good luck to you!🤗
@smalltownapparel I completely understand ya there. 😁. I've been at it since 2018 so to see where it's at today is wayyyy better but it definitely still needs improvement. Keep shooting the content my friend, and being a voice. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😁
@THETSHIRTBUDDY aww thank you so much! And good luck to you my friend🤗
@@THETSHIRTBUDDY I just went over to your channel and joined!
@smalltownapparel awwwwwww. I appreciate that, and following right back. Nice to meet you on this journey my friend. 😁🙏🏽
thanks for making this because me and my mom have been looking at stuff because she wants to expand the business and this video really help because she had concerns about printers like this
Yessss it's way better to purchase the transfers! I wasted a ton and then I bought transfers for a while and invested in an industrial printer. But it takes so much work! If u need any prints my site is Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Honestly with something over a certain dollar amount - I wouldn’t even gamble on not going through a supplier/company that’s stateside or somewhere that has a return guarantee… I’d have to be ok with losing that money before I’d gamble on alibaba or any of those overseas purchases. Id rather just pay the full cost and know that I’d have customer service and be able to return easily if I have issues. I’ve been through that before. Never again.
Yes there's also a lot of issues with US suppliers too. It's really all a gamble. I like to research a lot now bc you can gain knowledge through others experiences. Thank u for watching 🤗
Tienes toda la razón. Yo he tenido en 3 años 2 máquinas basadas en Epson L1800 y al menos he gastado 1800€ en 6 cabezales y otros cientos de euros en líquido limpiador. Una ruina. Cuando la máquina funciona te animas porque el coste es muy bajo y el resultado es muy bueno y bonito. Pero la mayoría del tiempo se pierde en limpiezas de cabezal y pérdida de tinta. Y la velocidad es desesperante. 24 minutos por 40 cm. Al final he decidido subcontratar y ahora vivo más feliz dedicándome a diseñar y vender ideas. No compren máquinas basadas en el cabezal L1800. Saludos desde España y enhorabuena por el canal.
Aww thank u so much! Yes its much better to buy transfers!
I love the idea of a DTF printer and being able to sublimate with white. What a nightmare it’s been trying to set it up including the software. I’m actually going to hire a professional computer person to help install the software.
Sorry late for comments, i did invest in a industrial one with 60 cm width and own shaker and that dual head epson heads. And let me tell you its not for a weak hearted one. In the first couple months alone i had lots of head change. And each head costing me like 1500 aud per head mostly the white getting clogged. It is getting more and more expensive to run as machine get older
Yess I've heard,omg. Lol. I just invested in an industrial so I plan to film all of it. I've learned a lot of stuff lately and seen the trials and tribulations the friends have had lol. I wish u all the luck!
I have exactly the same machine as you,, only that it has a different logo on the front, I have printed more than a hundred t-shirt transfers with it and very happy with it and the results, the colors I get, the ombré effects, I guess is matter of luck, or even a matter of the ink, not the machine itself, mine has got an Epson printhead, maybe you can just change printhead and get it running like new, there are plenty of videos that explain how to flush or how to change printhead.. I bought the dampers and liquid kit to be able to leave it unused for a long time and I left it and I was afraid anything was blocked or that the ink could have clogged the tubes or head... and it didn't! So I would never say to people "Don't buy a machine like this, they are a nightmare" because I have quite a good experience with it, I feel sorry you didn't get the same experience I do, so I would never say that all these machines are useless, because the are very useful.
I know some might work ok but not for longevity. They simply aren't meant to do dtf and parts often break,etc. But I'm glad you have had good luck. I gave mine away bc I print commercial on a 24 inch now. But I try to help others bc soooo many think it's going to bring great success. And far to many get junk. I wish u the best!
@@smalltownapparel Well, though it may not be the best machine available, and I guess it is quite far from that, I certainly didn't get junk, maybe it could be considered a good hobby machine, certainly not a professional one, but it is not junk, and I have been using it since January 2023 and it is running good
I got an epson l1800 overseas as well and I have had a few hiccups but I finally have it all figured out... Most Importantly, I learned how to PREVENT ink clogs and now I run my printer smoothly
How did you prevent the ink clogs?
Yes absolutely! Maintenance is key! My printer unfortunately had issues right out of the delivery. I'm glad yours is doing well!
Daily maintenance.
@@jaywilliams7974 i bought another set of dampers filled with cleaning solution. When I’m not using my printer, I switch out my dampers with ink and put the dampers filled with the cleaning solution and run a ink flush. You can leave the printer sitting there for months without a single clog because there is no ink the print head, just the cleaning solution. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for making this video... I'm going to subscribe to your channel because of your honesty.
Aww thank you! Yes I try to always be that way💜
Do not buy from overseas. I run an Epson F2100 and even though it's a DTG printer I use it to print DTF and it works great. I've printed several thousand prints with it and I've discovered that the harder I run the machine the better it prints. They are expensive but they're dependable and here in Colorado they have service techs who can come out and work on it if needed
I actually know the owners of several large DTF companies now, all of the machines come from overseas. Their are just techs in the USA to service them. I've learned so much since then and researched. Thank u for watching
Thank you so much for sharing, I was going to buy one and something said, no. I buy things from Alibaba but they get you with those prices. I am sorry that you had to go through that experience. I thank you. There are a lot of use out here engaging in home businesses. I appreciate you because that was not easy. Thank you for looking out for us, I have subscribed to your channel. You are my earth angel today. Stay focued on your business. This too shall pass. You have a double dose of goodness coming your way. Keeping us all in prayer!
Yes they do get you with prices! But honestly I started researching in groups for dtf and sought advice from people with dtf businesses. So much great advice from experienced users that have spent $$$$ and wasted $$$
I appreciate you watching and subbing. I am going to be sharing my new experience with my investment. I am praying it all goes well and then I can offer others wholesale pricing till they get going. I am glad I was able to help you. I just try to be honest with others🩷 Praying for you too Leticia🩷
Yes!! but, even a converted printer there is going to be issues....i just think its comes with the territory.
Yes 💯 I agree! All of then have issues!
These printers are modified printers and the print heads are the issue as they are not mean to run pigment inks through them. Look for a commercial printer with at least one XP-600 print head. This is the perfect beginner setup and the print head is cheap to replace regardless if you are using a remanufactured or Epson Seal print head. If I lost you with this comment, it is best to buy your transfers from a transfer company.
This video is older.. I've Bern printing g commercial with 24 inch for over year now and 4 head. Thank u so much for watching!
@@smalltownapparel 🤣😂🤣😂
I have the same printer, have had no issues. Maintenance is very important with these machines. I also have dgt and have had to replace the head😵💫
Hello! Yes I think its hit and miss. I followed maintenance so overboard with it lol. Buttt it simply blew the motherboard first few prints in. I have so many friends that have had issues and a couple might be ok till they aren't. I've heard dtg can have issues. I think they all can lol
Thank you soooo much! I’m going to follow you because you’re honest.
Aww thank you! Yes I absolutely try to be 100% transparent
Thank you so much for being openly honest with your experience.
I try to always be that way in hopes of helping others. I appreciate u watching 💜
@@smalltownapparel I really do appreciate the honesty. You were not trying to sell anything. I have watched so many and everything is always sugar coated.
dang. i was wondering what its like to start a custom shirt business. most people talked about heat press the printer and sewing machine. i did sewing machine research first for embroidery. then heat press bc someone recommended not direct touch but hovering heat press. and then was recommended DTF printer. and here i am running into your video. before your video i was like wow, its ganna be like 10k ish to start the business. i hope your business is kicking ass now. thank you for helping me out
Aww thank u so much! Trying to grow it lol. Honestly I started with sublimation bc its much cheaper or you can buy dtf transfers and no upfront costs besides transfers and heat press! Much cheaper than buying it all up front!
Wow! I wish I had seen this before I bought mine. It is truly too much work to keep this up. Like she said it's good when it prints.
I totally agree! I print commercial now if u ever need prints bc I know how iffy the desktop is! Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Thank you for sharing your unfortunate experience. Very informative very helpful. Best of wishes on your journey 👍
Thank you so much! I appreciate u watching 💜
This is starting to sound like a dtg!! Same with humidity and printer head issue!! Yikes thanks for this video good
To know
Yes there's a lot lol. Thank u for watching 🩷
When you buy foreign and cheap unfortunately this can happen. Thank you for letting people know.
Yes very true. Thank you for watching 💜
DTF had been always on my mind . I want one "BUT" there is to much set up for it . The time u take to make a shirt sucks . And the ink $$$$$$$$$. Find a company to buy transfers . I get mine from TKO transfers
Thank you! And yes its a lot lol
If I were to get a DTF printer which one should I get for a small business? Should I even consider DTF ?All the help is really appreciated.
I would not ever consider a small one..and the big ones require so much maintenance and ventilation etc. I would buy transfers. If you need any I now print with an industrial printer
Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Thank you for sharing your experience. I was going to check out these printers and do minimal research and hop on the band wagon. I will stick to buying from my printer lady here in BC Canada and keep at it. I can't handle the nightmare involved 😂 I like things easy peasy. You should do more videos for newbies! 🥰
Glad it was helpful!
We bought our DTF from swing and have loved it!! Yes maintenance is key but it takes about 5 minutes before 5 minutes at the end of the day.
If you don't mind sharing your maintenance routine😁👀
Which one did you get from swing? I know they are a reputable company
You need to do printhead cleaning, shake the bottles to get it stirred, etc. At least for smaller ones. Larger ones require a lil more
@@smalltownapparel we got the A3 + and are in the middle of purchasing the A3+R because it has a roll feeder and the regular A3 doesn't
Thank you for the information. I was considering a DTF printer but several makers have advised against it. I currently get DTF iron ones from jiffy shirts and they are always great products.
Yes! I've been printing on an industrial one for over a year now. I definitely say to buy transfers bc these desktops will just waste your money. Jiffy outsource all of their orders to different vendors each time. If you ever need a small business feel free to check out my website www.smalltownapparelstore.com
My fb group is linked in it🩷🩷
I wish you knew it’s actually Epson L1800 inside there. They just converted it and put new cover. Maybe if you knew connecting with Epson CS support would be much easier and faster although they’d not give warranty coverage since the printer was already “jailbroken”.
Epson L1800 is less than $1000 actually
Well my friends bought the 1800 for 3k and had nightmare stories too
Thank you so much!!! Yours is the only channel talking about this problem. Could you please make a video on how to convert it?
Aww thank u so very much! I actually haven't converted a dtf, only sublimation
I have been thinking it is cheaper and less hassle to buy transfers for t-shirts. I can still design my own and send it to a company to put on film.
This confirmed it for me.
Yes very true!!
Yeah it's cheaper and less of a hassle to buy transfer from someone else . But sometimes u can get bigger images. Or when u ask for 12x12 some times they can't make it that size
That is a really good idea
@fernando b how do you get it bigger? Do you have a wide print printer?
Thank you for this information I sure was looking at printers in Alibaba but now getting one from EBay hoping and praying 🙏 I get a good one
Good luck! I don't think the issue is where I got it. But it's how these desktops are created
Love your transparency!!!
Aww thank u! I try to be!🩷
Thanks for this video! Cause I’m in the market to buying a Dtf machine as well and this helps a lot
Glad it was helpful!
Hi great video I was thinking about ordering one of these DTF printers from china .not from alibaba.and they are expensive tho .I might go the route of converting one .i want to start a little business for my thirteen old son .and thank you for advice..and the DTF technology have moved on from alot from you initially posting your tutorial.
Oh yes it's changed a ton! If you are working in it I def don't recommend hand pondering as constant breathing in of powder by hand is harmful. I would purchase gang sheets of transfers to test out first. Feel free to check out my website
Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Thanks a lot!!! You saved me a huge amount of money, time and stress.
Glad I could help! Thank u so much for watching🤗
I work at a company that uses a commercial dtf printer and we have to clean the lines with DISTILLED water only an we clean it after every use an before we do the next logos. I wonder if u can clean those lines the same way we do. Also dtf printers are so new that there is no manual or anything. When it breaks down we have to have a guy come in an pay big bucks for him to fix it! When I left yesterday the machine was messing up so it's also a learning process for us as it's so new!
appreciate your honesty. seems DTF printers are the new 3d printers, very cheap from china with awful tech support
9:24 letting anyone access your system remotely is a dangerous game unless you have a separate computer
Yes the desktops sadly aren't made for long term use. Almost like a cheap shortcut. And yes no support! I gave mine away! I do print commercial dtf since this video if you ever need someone! Thank u for watching
Great insight, thanks for sharing (how ironic that one of the ads in the middle of this video was for Alibaba 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻).
Thank you so much! 🤣that is funny!
Thank you!! I was ready to buy but had my doubts.. this was confirmation I should not get one!
Glad I could help! If you ever need transfers I print them now bc I waited and researched to buy a large industrial one. Those small ones are just a headache. My site is Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
I just hate to see anyone go through what I did. Thank you!
So tempting but, Dtf printers sounds like a costly nightmare and the daily maintenance is unbelievable, just to have the added benefit of printing on dark colors. it's like caring for a child. Thank you for giving us the heads up, and sharing your truth.. I think I'll put my investment in a commercial embroidery machine. Between HTV, Sublimation, & DTF... they all have limitations, the cracking, color restrictions, fabric restrictions, color fading & all the hacks, and continuous investment smh...
Yes absolutely so many pros and cons of each. We definitely compare it to a newborn! Bc so much is involved with it. And absolutely go for embroidery if u can! I think it looks so interesting! I appreciate u watching 🩷
this is a modified version, made from L1800/1390, most of them are SECOND HAND Epson made, that is why it is problems from motherboard, we never use second hand machine to make DTF....
Yes most of these don't hold up at all for very long. Out of tons of people with various printers, maybe 2 head up longer. I favor the large industrial ones, not small desktop. Thank u for watching!
Don't buy overseas garbage, my friend steered me away from buying on Alibaba, thank goodness.
Yes its great for very specific things! But not most, unless you have a tech degree lol. Thank u friend
Thank you for taking your time to help other people like this. I hope your good karma pays dividends for you (unlike that printer).
Aww thank you so very much🩷 I really appreciate it!
Thank you so much. I was about to purchase one. I think I'll wait
Yes I was sooo excited and omg a nightmare. I love dtf prints but if I did it again I'd save for a big one and buy prints. These small ones are just prone to issues. Thank u for watching💜
Thanks so much for your honesty, i was thinking of buying and instead im going to continue buying transfers for now.
No problem!! I try to be very honest bc there's so many fake videos out there! Lol. I will be sharing lots more soon!
Thank you for sharing your story with us! Sounds like a nightmare! I heard a lot of negative critics about PTF and PTG. Will you continue now with your ptf machine and your business?
Don’t buy a DTF period!! I got mine from Ricoma and it’s the same story!! I paid $8500 for the printer and heat press.
Aww thank u! Yes I actually have an industrial one from overseas and it's been a lot to learn. I'll be sharing about it!
so what you would buy if you would start again dtf? which printer you think is a good one unter 3k
I honestly wouldnt..I would order transfers from someone bc you can still make a great profit without the headache. It's what I did until I could buy my big one. And I do customs Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
Thanks❤️
Oh interesting…so i just need the t-shirt and a press and thats it☀️🤌
It’s late but should have taken this issue to your bank. I had an issues and let my bank get involved and got my money back. Ali always refused to refund or send replacement.
Yes I wish I would have now😭
$3k and it didn't even come with a white ink circulation system? Huge rip off. Can grab a Epson L805 for like $400-500 off Ebay and convert it. That's what I did, no fail yet. Probably done 300 prints. Good to do a small test print on paper every day tho to make sure the piezo nozzles don't clog. Even if they do clog it's not the end of the world. Just annoying to have to clean.
I too experienced failure with a DTF desktop printer. It has been a nightmare, and over $3000 down the drain.
Oh no! Yesss it's so disheartening. I appreciate u watching 💜
Same 😢😢
Thanks a ton, very helpful. I was just about to purchase a similar DTF printer on alibaba. I think i may go with the ET8550 and look into converting it instead
Glad I could help🩷
This entire experience sounds exactly like what happened to me with the Procolored UV printer.
Yesssssss I've heard that!!!
Blessings on blessings for sharing this Truth with those of us who are quick to jump into the fire before knowing how to use an extinguisher! With all this being said, do you think its more to do with your type of printer i.e. the brand or any such DTF home use printer would be the same?
I have the Epson 8550 Eco Tank and I love it for Sublimation printing but just like you I want to do DTF to dark shirts. I have been using another company to do the DTF printing and the cost per gang sheet is about $30 for a 22"x70", which isn't to bad. The goal being no middle man if it makes sense to invest in the DTF printer or let the bigger companies do it and bare the repair and maintenance costs...!? Decisions decisions...!
So I honestly don't recommend any desktop for it. They yield different results, many parts constantly need replaced and they just aren't built for dtf to be honest. So this is a year and half later and learned so much from others and I don't know anyone that prints with a company to ever recommend one. In the long run its better to buy gang sheets. Bc even with the large scale printers there is sooooo much that goes into them. It's a full time job lol.
Feel free to follow my Facebook Group or Instagram. I have a large industrial printer and run lots of specials on gang sheets weekly🩷
m.facebook.com/groups/smalltowntransfers/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Www.smalltownapparelstore.com
So thankful for your explanation! Thanks for taking the time!
Thank u🩷
Thank You for this!!! I was about to place an order
Oh I'm so glad I could help you! I appreciate u watching 💜
Man so so sorry to hear this. Thank you, though, for warning us.
Thank u so much for watching!
Thank you darling it's the cost that gives you the service. You bought cheap you got cheap service. Anyways this helps alot 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thank you for watching. Actually I've had friends spend $$$$$$ and still got crap. It's all hit and miss. I know they all come from the same place with different levels of customer service but it's all luck and knowledge.
Hey sweet friend. Didn't realize you had a channel just subscribed ❤
Thank u love🤗
Thank you for your honesty, glad I came across your video.
Glad it was helpful! I appreciate u watching!
I think I will just stick with my Epson WF7310 for Sublimation and my Roland BN20 which covers everything. Thank you for an honest review from the UK
Glad to help!
You should buy a prestige A+ it was about the same price
My wife and I are about to purchase an all in one 12H2 to expand. We have a few friends who bought smaller ones so want to go big or go home.
Yes I learned a lot from this and have had a 24 inch for a while. It's a lottttt of work with dtf so just be aware😉 I wish u luck!
If I ever buy one it will be Epson DTG and DTF all in one
Creators want to create, not repair. Thanks for the warnings.
You bet
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO . I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH A EPSON ET2720. CONVERTED IT,LOST THE WARRANTY . PRINTED ABOUT 20 DESIGNS AND THE MOTHER BOARD FAILED. I'VE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE AND COULD NOT FIND A REPLACEMENT,
Oh no I'm so sorry! It's so sad what happens!
I'm so glad I found this honest review
I was thinking of getting a procolour dtf machine
They seem to have great online help
But same issues motherboard and heads blow
I think I will go white toner
Yes procolored has bad support is what I've been told from owners and basically no matter brand, same issues.
I do not mean to confront the owner of the video. But I want to see both sides of the coin. The DTF printer in question is dedicated and it is now obvious that it needs regular maintenance, cleaning the heads, etc. Having said that and watching the Epson regular printers that have been "CONVERTED" to print DTF are having great success. Epson L1800 and XP1500 models, these are just regular printers never designed for DTF, but people figured out to convert them to print DTF and they are having great success. One poster said her Epson is going for 13 months provided she keeps maintenance going. This sorta kinda confuses new entrepreneurs because here the contents says these printers are horrible, but others are having success. My personal believe is that the brand of the dedicated printers if they are made in China is the red flag. Over the years I used to build computers and fix, etc. Chinese parts were horrible, they will work 1 week. I learned to stay away from electronics made in China unless is an American company manufacturing in China.. But straight chinese electronic products are the red flag. So far people are happy with Epson converted to print DTF.
Honestly every story is different. I know many people in the DTF industry that have huge companies selling these. Some are techs themselves and even though they sell the smaller scale option they agree its junk. Almost any printer is from overseas except Mimaki,etc. And the USA companies import from overseas. I know this for 100% fact bc 3 well known DTF industrial printer company owners well known to most, all buy overseas. Difference is they offer their support and can help with them. Some people have great success with them yes, but most are just not worth it. And that's coming from tonsssss of people I know in the industry. About 3 success stories lol. But for the industrial ones, it's hit and miss. I have had wonderful success as others buying same brand but then my best friend got same one and never could get ut going so she invested more into a usa one that we know is from overseas bc she had the option to order direct but she wanted it faster and it came with his on site training, at a cost. So I'm trying not to give folks huge hopes in these by sharing my experience. But at the end of the day everyone is free to do what they like. Thank u for watching
Thanks for the info, I will wait 1 year, with the hope that a better dtf printer will come online.
Fingers crossed!