Which Screen Printing Kit is Right for Your Shop?

 So you’re looking to start up a shop, but don’t know where to start. Maybe you want to upgrade your equipment, but hate comparison shopping. Well, there’s a solution. Buying a screen printing kit can be a great way to get all your equipment and supplies with one click. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a shop upgrade, there’s a kit for you. How do you know which screen printing kit is right for you? Let’s break it down. 

BRAND NEW TO SCREEN PRINTING

Do cool t-shirt ideas keep popping in your head? Are you looking for new, creative hobbies to express yourself? Maybe you’ve been following DIY printers like Salt & Pine Co. or Pigskins & Pigtails, and you’re inspired by their work and want to try it yourself. Or perhaps you currently own a business and would like to make your own merchandise for it. 

When you’re brand new to screen printing, you just need the basics to help you get started. Say hello to the Riley 150 Kits. They are a great option to test drive screen printing without breaking the bank. These kits are equipped with the essential equipment — a press, a flash dryer, and an exposure unit. By investing in efficient, straightforward equipment, you’re able to focus on learning the craft instead of spending all your time figuring out the equipment. Plus, a Riley 150 Kit will fit anywhere — a spare bedroom, a basement, or garage.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RILEY HOPKINS 150 PRESS

There are two options with these kits, one that comes with all the equipment and supplies, and another that’s equipment only. Which route you go is completely up to you. Want to be able to pick and choose specific supplies like ink or screens? Grab the equipment only kit. 

With the right equipment, you can print professional garments out of any space without sacrificing quality.

RELATED: WHICH PRESS IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

CURRENTLY A SIDE HUSTLE, GOAL TO MAKE IT A FULL TIME JOB

So you’ve had some experience with screen printing, and are ready to get serious with the trade. You’re ready to take on more multicolor jobs. You want to make screen printing your full-time gig. In order to start cranking out those shirts, you need some good equipment under your belt. For aspiring screen printers with big dreams, check out the Riley 250 Screen Printing Kits. 

Equipped with a Riley Hopkins 250 Press, a flash dryer, and an exposure unit, these kits are built for printers who have a little more space and want to take their print game to the next level. Moved from a spare bedroom to your garage? Have a decent-sized basement you’d like to work out of? The Riley 250 Kits are meant for you.

The press itself is what helps printers get to a new level. Riley Hopkins 250 presses are equipped with tilt micros, locking levers, and XY micros. These features enhance print precision. Plus, the 250 presses have more arms so printers can speed up production by ten folds. 

RELATED: A GUIDE TO REGISTERING MULTICOLOR PRINTS ON THE RILEY HOPKINS 250 PRESS WITH XY MICROS

Now, there are a few options to choose from within the Riley 250 Kits. If you’re looking for a kit with both equipment and supplies, take a look at the 250 Complete or 250 Enhanced kit. Which one you get depends on your budget, space, and needs. The biggest difference between the two kits is the press size. If you’d like to be able to print up to six colors, go with the 250 Complete Kit. If four colors is more than enough, check out the 250 Enhanced Kit.

Just want to upgrade your equipment? Check out the Riley 250 Equipment-Only Kit. This kit features the biggest press configuration in the 250 line — the 6-color 2-station press. You’ll be printing complicated jobs like the pros.

FULL BLOWN PRODUCTION SHOP

Is screen printing your full time job? Are you pumping out large, complex orders on the regular? Do you find yourself turning orders away because of the limitations of your shop? Check out the Riley Hopkins 360 Screen Printing Packages. 

These packages have all the bells and whistles a printer could ask for — a Riley Hopkins 360 Press, an LED exposure unit, ImagePrint RIP software, a conveyor dryer, a flash dryer, a washout booth, and more. But what makes these kits stand out is the press itself.

The Riley Hopkins 360 is a beastly press. The free-standing press has it all: locking levers, two-point roller gates, XYZ micros, anti-flip registration plate, the list goes on. These components dial in registration, speed up processes, and allow flexibility for on-the-fly adjustments. Plus, the 360 is heavy duty. The press is meant to live in your shop forever. 

Since these kits offer not only more equipment, they have bigger equipment. To fit it all, you’ll need to be working in a larger space like a two-car garage, a commercial space, or a warehouse. But you’re probably in a space like that already.

Now, there are many different Riley 360 Kits. Like any other piece of equipment you’re looking at, which kit you select comes down to your budget, needs, and space. Here’s a graph detailing the equipment differences on each package.

RELATED: WHICH SCREEN PRINTING PRESS IS RIGHT FOR ME?

READY FOR AN AUTO

Is getting an automatic press part your plan? Are you not quite ready for it yet, but want to ramp up your shop so it’s ready for an auto? Supercharge your print shop with the Riley Hopkins 360 Screen Printing Auto-Ready Shop. The cutting-edge shop package helps make a seamless transition to expanding your business to an automatic screen printing shop thanks to its ROQ platen compatibility. It’ll be one less thing for you to worry about when you transition to an auto.

The press featured in this kit is the Riley Hopkins 360 8 Color 6 Station Press. With a sturdy, time-tested Riley Hopkins® construction and exclusive compatibility with ROQ's strong but featherweight honeycomb aluminum pallets, the Riley 360 can handle any print job while running at maximum manual speeds. Features like tool-free off-contact adjustments and XYZ micro registration come standard and allow you to quickly set up and adjust your press with the same ease as any ROQ automatic screen printing press.

This kit also includes game changing technology like a RileyCure Forced Air Conveyor Dryer and Baselayr Y3942 Exposure Unit. You’ll be ahead of the game before you even start it.