DSF

hi guys,
im new to all this and starting up a sublimation business.
i will be mostly working with polyester spandex up to a weight of 300gsm with a 10% stretch. now my idea is to print the sewing patterns that include the designs and heatpress it, then cut and sew it. pretty easy. since im starting my budget is limited until i get a few orders done and if it goes as planned i will be soon buying a roll to roll printer and some serious roll heat press but until then i need to improvise to get this thing going. I will be doing all the stuff from football, basketball, rugby, cycling jerseys and uniforms of white polyester stretch materials so i need a printer that will do a 100cm print and a large heatpress of 100x100 cm...ive been looking for some cheap chinese products but im really afraid of buying stuff there so im asking u guys for help.
any comments are appreciated...

bili

First bit of advice is to do your research and put together a business plan (assuming you haven't done this already)
Secondly, outsource all your production until you have your market sorted, and can see your business plan and projections are working out
Thirdly, buy quality used kit, rather than splashing out on expensive new or cheap rubbish
You will get better results with a rotary press than flat bed, but they don't come on the market often - maybe about once a year for a 44" model at a decent price on Ebay. Rotaries give a more consistent print, use up less space and less electricity than a flat bed press.
A used Epson 9600 is perfect for this type of work, although slow by modern standards, quality is good, and they are real workhorses.

(We have a HeatJet 43 rotary press we got on Ebay fro £1600 inc del and VAT, and an Epson 9600 we also got on Ebay for around £500 IIRC. We do production of textile homeware and fashion products - lampshades, cushions, skirts, bags in the method you mention... Sewing machine wise, we also have industrial straight stitch, walking foot, and overlocker which were donated to us from a friend)

Pisquee,
thanks for the valuable infos.
I didnt know the 9600 is capable for the stuff i need. Ive seen some on ebay for 800 but didnt think of it since i thought its not what i need.
Also i always thought rotary presses are huge but now that u showed me the heatjet i will have to see if theres a way to get a used one if i manage to find one.

Bili