# How Much Does a T-Shirt Screen Printing Machine Cost, and Where Do I Get One? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-a-t-shirt-screen-printing-machine-cost-and-where-do-i-get-one/285537 "2005-01-19T14:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-a-t-shirt-screen-printing-machine-cost-and-where-do-i-get-one/285537/1 "2005-01-19T14:41:10Z")
A local outfit (All-American T-Shirt Company) custom makes T-shirts in batches of at least ten, for sports teams and such. Presumably they’re using a machine that puts ink (or vinyl or whatever they use) to fabric according to some design that’s inputted into a computer. How much does such a machine cost, and where would you buy one anyway? My googling skills are sorely lacking, as I was able to find several companies similar to the local one I mentioned, but no factories that actually make the presses. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-a-t-shirt-screen-printing-machine-cost-and-where-do-i-get-one/285537/2 "2005-01-19T15:10:00Z")
[Ryan Screen Supply](http://www.ryanrss.com/FrameSetStartUp.html) Beginner packages start at $1,495 ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-a-t-shirt-screen-printing-machine-cost-and-where-do-i-get-one/285537/3 "2005-01-19T16:24:33Z")
Unless the technology has really leapt forward since I last dealt with screenprinters on a regular basis, nobody’s printing direct to fabric. You still have to make separations (film, possibly vellum), expose and process the screen, and then apply ink one color at a time. That’s why the link that **Fear** provided shows ‘printers’ with multiple stations. You mount the t-shirt and rotate it from one station to the next, applying a different color at each. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-a-t-shirt-screen-printing-machine-cost-and-where-do-i-get-one/285537/4 "2005-01-19T18:38:42Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > [Ryan Screen Supply](http://www.ryanrss.com/FrameSetStartUp.html) > > Beginner packages start at $1,495 Thanks. Are you familiar with the Scren Printing biz, or just a good googler? ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-a-t-shirt-screen-printing-machine-cost-and-where-do-i-get-one/285537/5 "2005-01-19T19:35:14Z")
Back in 9th grade art class, we made our own screen printing equipment from scratch. All you need is a wood frame with silk stretched over it. You cut the patterns out from thin paper like blank newspaper paper. Apply the ink with any kind of wood-and-rubber squeegie that is cut to fit the frame. Our T-shirts turned out great. The paper patterns lasted for about 10 shirts; if you wanted them to last longer you could make them out of plastic film.