What's a really good 1 color press with roller coaster volume?

[RGPW17100]

Rollers can be re cored for around 50-75 bucks each. Because of the amount of Ryobi 3302 out there the price for new ones is pretty affordable. Look at syntex web site. The main problematic rollers are on the crestlines. They usually only get about a year before they start giving you problems. Ink should be an oil based. Normally black is affordable around 9 to 11 dollars a pound depending on volume. To start with I would buy 5 lb cans of all the mixing inks. There is about 11 of them probably more if you add 032,072 and 021 as mixing inks. They can vary in price due to pigment cost. Have a local ink vendor give you pricing and dont forget to get 10 or more lb of Reflex Blue.

Buying an ebay press could be a problem. if there is a damaged cylinder or the press or other major parts of the press are not working those presses could be just part presses. I would want to go to where they are being sold and test them for Registration maybe a dry solids test and then running at least one 11x17 full coverage with trap to verify good registration and then try running it at full speed. Check around locally for used ones. You might pay more for upfront cost but you will pay less for rigging and you have the opportunity to see what you are buying.

[wld85022]

Keep in mind that the only small press line still in existence to my knowledge is Ryobi. AB Dick is gone. All the Presstek line are Ryobis.

Hamada is gone. You can still get parts from Japan but finding tech support is going to be fun. In Phoenix there is NO ONE. Actually Hamada is alive and well they have just withdrawn from the U.S. market. What does that tell you?

Townsend (T51) is long gone. Completely. Not that I consider that bad. I never warmed up to those units.

Heidelberg is very pricey. All the other small presses - Multis, Chiefs, etc are history.

Sad because "digital" (aka "copiers") really is a joke. Expensive, slow and offset quality is still better. Try running 50,000 6x9 catalog envelopes on a copier.

And of course offset has no click charges, We have four "high speed" copiers where I work and I just laugh when the Manager moans about the click charges......

[cmac617]

my 2 cents...or maybe 3
have done the small shop env equip 360's 975 etc
3302 is by far the better bet even if you want SOLIDs there is a "ghost buster" roller that can be added in the clean-up tray position...have done 4/c work with every good "pleasing color" results on these...all in all even with mitsu. plates..best idea for start up in offset...BUT (there's always a BUT) any equip is only as good as the PRESS person....training training and get your moneys worth

[Kaoticor]

We have a Heidelberg QM-46 2 color which runs very well for us. Simple to use and an easy press even if you arn't in offset printing in my opinion. But remember you have to get set up with plates for it!