Which Mug Press?

[Stitch Up]

We're in the market for a mug press, ideally one that can do more than 1 at a time AND, maybe do other things too.

What would you buy?

John

[Justin]

Funnily enough I was just thinking about mug presses today. I'm now using a DF10 from BMS. For what it cost it seems to be doing a first class job. I used to use a dual head press from Listawood which was quick but I struggled to get a decent full wrap image. Very expensive bit of kit. Personally I think you're better off having 2 seperate presses, still way cheaper.

I had a George Knight DK3 for a while. The rolls royce of mug presses they say! Uhm. Mine was a refurb from SN, still very expensive. I never got on with it that well to be honest and I don't (personally speaking) care for George Knight presses anyway.

The other alternative would be the halogen oven. I've used these a lot. First one I paid through the nose for at SubliNation, then bought a JML £50 oven. Both worked identically. You have to factor in decent wraps at around £25 each and you need 8 pre oven so it gets quite expensive.
I found it took 20 minutes to 'cook' 4 mugs properley. You don't save a huge amount on time but you can have 4 more mugs always ready to go in.
Heat proof gloves essential, the mugs get incredibly hot and it takes a bit of getting used to taking the wraps off whilst hot!

My advice, all depends on how many mugs you need to do. 2 seperate presses, maybe try a cheaper one first as I have. If it's a particularly big job it's worth getting it outsourced, no labour for you and a very healthy mark-up.

Justin http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_jokercolor.png

[Stitch Up]

Seems you've used a few Justin!

Very interesting to hear your comments on the glass ovens. We have one but the element's gone - it's not a halogen one!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/datasafe/Stitch-Up/Hardware/P1010100.jpg

When they were first advertised on Subli-nation I was staggered at the price!

Anyway, how well fo they work?
How consistant are the results?
Where did you buy the clamps from and what type did you buy?

Seriously interested in one of those.

We presently have The Mug Machine

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/datasafe/Stitch-Up/Hardware/HPp616TS.gif

John

[Justin]

Are you sure that wasn't a halogen oven? Looks identical. I caught 10 seconds of the Shopping channel the other day whilst channel surfing :-) and JML are still marketing them on there. Seems you can cook pies in them as well, lol.

I think we got the wraps from SN if I remember correctly.

These (http://www.sublisupplies.com/mug-machine/90mm-beer-stein-/-large-mug-clamp-sn0042/prod_22.html) were the first ones I tried which were ok but not brilliant.The second ones were heavier duty with a full height handle

These (http://www.sublisupplies.com/mug-machine/the-mug-machine-sn0351/prod_18.html) were the ones I got on much better with, much better quality and heavier duty. These are also much easier to remove with your heat gloves on.

Overall I got on ok with the wraps. I would say the finished image appears very slightly blurred compared to a normal press. This may have been down to me overcooking them slightly but I think having the image cooking for such a length of time exposed to that heat you're not going to get 100% crisp image. That said, I wouldn't think many customers would tell the difference. Results were consistent, full wrap can be achieved but they have to be very tight. Also, I had to use a paper insert inbetween the transfer and the wrap as the image blows through (Xpres paper) which adds to the overall time. Bit fiddly to get the hang of using wraps. At least you could buy a couple and an oven for about £100 and give it a go. You'd have no problem selling them on if you didn't get on well with it (On this forum of course!)

Justin http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_jokercolor.png

[Stitch Up]

No, it's not a halogen oven. I removed the element

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/datasafe/Stitch-Up/Hardware/Element1.jpg

I might be able to find a replacement. I think it was called a whirlwind oven but I don't know the brand.

There is a mug press on eBay that does 5 mugs at a time BUT @ £1000 + they must be dreaming.

John

[Justin]

I've seen those 5 mug presses, very expensive. I looked at importing a similar one which was way cheaper, I'll dig out the details.

Justin http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_jokercolor.png

[Justin]

This is the multiple press I was talking about.

http://www.tjlewis.co.uk/mug%20press.jpg

Not sure if it would be any good but price wise it's about £110. Obviously you need to factor in shipping, import tax and vat but it would still be significantly cheaper. It looks to be a cheaper version of the eBay one in terms of build quality but then that's some price difference! The eBay one claims to offer printing onto handles and also mug bases, I'd like to see that in action.

Certainly looks interesting.

Justin http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_jokercolor.png

[Justin]

I have been watching a video for a machine similar to the eBay one. As it's a horizontal press you seem to have to slide the mugs in from one end. Maybe not a big deal but may make it trickier when it comes to removing them?
This press (above post) is a vertical press so should be easier to load/unload.

Justin http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_jokercolor.png

[Stitch Up]

Do you have a link for that multiple press Justin?

The one on eBay is over £1000! Assuming you clear £2 a mug in profit, you'd have to make 500 mugs before you start smiling!

I much prefer the top loading mug presses - I think you could get away without taping the paper to the bug!

[Justin]

You have PM!

[Justin]

http://www.jmldirect.com/product.asp?pf_id=H1600&src=froogle&changecurrency=GBP

I see JML now do an extender to make the oven 80mm taller. Maybe enough to now squeeze 8 mugs in!??! Not sure how long it would take to 'cook' 8 though!

The ovens can now be bought for under £40+postage.

Justin http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_jokercolor.png

[Stitch Up]

http://v.ku6.com/show/ut43OOQhlX_Xaruj.html

[Justin]

How d'you get the video to play? My Mandarin is a little rusty Laughing
Justin

[Justin]

http://www.cpl1.co.uk/Mug-Printing-Machines.html

Look at these prices!

Claiming that these are British made.

[Justin]

http://dg-shenghua.en.made-in-china.com/product/ieHJCjPUXDhu/China-CE-Approval-Mug-Heat-Press-Machine-Mug-Heat-Transfer-Machine.html
Another option?

[Stitch Up]

How d'you get the video to play? My Mandarin is a little rusty Laughing
Justin

I'm fluent in Mahdarin.


Look at these prices!

Claiming that these are British made.

Yeah rite and only about £1300 out!!!

I'm thinking of ordering one of the 5 mug thingys and some other stuff from China.

[Justin]

I saw a video of the 5 mug press (pic I posted) and it seemed to have been changed to a horizontal machine. I tried to ask them about it on live chat but for some reason they stopped talking to me...twice! :(

I'd want confirmation of the layout before ordering. If they work ok they'd be fantastic. 5 mugs in just a few minutes!

Justin http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_jokercolor.png

[Stitch Up]

I had quite a long chat with Jeosef this afternoon. Was very helpful.

I too noticed the change, What specifivally are you concerned about - he's on my skype list - told him I was a dealer.

John

[Justin]

I think the portrait layout as per the pic would be easier/quicker to load and unload. But if the design has been changed I guess there's a good reason for that.

Justin

[Justin]

Just got prices for these presses:

http://www.sh-heatpress.com/up_pic/2009632435063514.jpg

£95+shipping, tax, vat.

Certainly worth a try :-)

Justin

[Paul]

hi guys! but what will happen if electronic will go out the window?? you have 5 heat blankets ice cold :)

I would preffer buy 3 or for cheap press then one who does 5 at a time. it's still need this same amount of electricity so you r not saving a lot :)

and if that would be me I would ALWAYS buy horizontal press. more options when pressing.


Paul

[AJLA]

My mug machine was purchased from Subli and the price was a shocker @£275.00 it came with the four wraps a box of sample mugs to practise with which was definitely needed as it took nearly the whole box to get it right!

It is actually an Elitech oven with a subli sticker on that fell off when the oven got hot.

It is just a normal little oven that you can cook a roast in so I should have done the research on that. I have seen them very cheap on the tv so keep your eye out for one on there.

Now although it does give me good results I would not have bought were it not for an order that paid for it as it takes 12 mins to do the set of four. When I have just the one I use the Jarin which will not give me anywhere near to a full wrap.

[Justin]

Shipping on one of those dual head presses is £85, so it would cost £180 shipped. 2.2% import tax+vat on the lot, total somewhere in the region of £211.00.

Justin :-)

[castlegategiftcreations]

don't know if anyone has looked at domglobal. they have a DG5 multipress which presses 5 mugs (£599 + vat) or they also do the DG5plus which also comes with some attachments for doing plates etc - ths is what you get with the DG5 plus

1 x DG5 Digital Controller

5 x Mug Elements (press 9.10.11 oz mugs)

2 x Mug Elements (press 7,8 oz Mugs,cups)

2 x Latte Elements

1 x Cap press attachment

1 X Set of Plate press attachments

1 x Bottom of Mug attachment

Video Instruction manual (online )

12 Months warranty

this one is priced at £799 + vat .

We have bouht from them before and not had a problem.

[Stitch Up]

Barter, you'll get that price down.

[Justin]

Domglobal always looks so expensive. That said, the mug press does look very good and when you compare the price to a Novachrome twin head press......

I'm fascinated to see if it can really print onto handles and bases as this is something we've discussed at length on other forums.

Will take a closer look me thinks. Hey, maybe we could get a discount for reviewing things on the forum!

Justin :-)

[Justin]

Just looking at this DG5. Few questions spring to mind.

The claim is that it can print 10oz mugs right up to the handle, that would be an improvment (11oz 1cm away which is till good) I wonder if this the case?

The press is shown printing onto handles. I assume that this takes as long as a normal press and exposes the front image (or plain mug) to further heat. Could this cause a problem?

Printing onto mug bases is something I've always wanted to do. Are all subli mugs coated on the base though?

How easy is it to load/reload? Having 5 mugs finish at the same time and having to remove right through 5 hot press heads.
I like to dunk mine in room temp. water which works well. Could any delay cause the sub process to continue thus giving ghosting?

Just thinking aloud!

Justin :-)

[bms]

Hi Guys,

Lots of information here and following Justin's email I thought I'd hope over to this forum and offer some advice etc. If you're thinking of importing direct then make sure you have some backup plans - too many people have bought machines, find they don't work and then surprisingly the chinese suppliers loose the ability to speak english!

I think my advice here would be to invest in more than one mug press. The multi-head units are fine, but once you have them cooking with mugs in them you are twiddliing your thumbs. If you have more than one press then you can stagger the printing process and this may work out more productive. I'm not sure how DG's 5 in 1 presses work, but check on the cost of replacement blankets or what happens if one blanket goes - does the rest of the machine still work?

If you're looking for a cheap mug press then we'll launch our new DF1 mug press on this forum later. We have these in stock, but not on our website as we were going to launch them nearer to Christmas. We'll discount the first 10 units if this is of interest to anyone. They are a single mug press but digitally controlled and do the job well.

[Justin]

"surprisingly the chinese suppliers loose the ability to speak english"

How true that is!

I agree, I personally think you're better off buying single head presses. Just using 2 seperate presses can increase your turnaround times considerably.

Justin