and I'll have a chance to see and road test this mug press, that a friend of mine just sent away for.

http://www.ink-express.net/

With average prices of mug presses ranging from $600-$1,000, could a heat press, costing less than $150 be taken seriously?

I mean, even with UPS shipping, of $100, the overall cost will be less than $300!

That's for the heavy-duty model. There's another for $109!

Oh, and in case your heating blanket takes a dive, you can order spares for $20!

I've got to see this one, and I'll offer feeback once I see what's up. :-) 

The $109 press worries me. It has no temp setting, just says 180C-200C. 200C may be 392F, just enough for sublimation, but will it hold there with a mug inside it. Also the timer looks like it is just stuck on it.

It may work well once you get your dwell times down. Advertising a spare heating blanket for $20 with the unit makes me worry about how often it needs to be replaced. It appears to be an always on unit without being overpowered with a temp control. There does seem to be a dial under the mug area. It could be a stop or a dial indicator of temp.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Harvey's Tips Page When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

:-(  Wet blanket time: Any idea what customs or other duties will be due when it gets to port of entry? Any idea who to check with?

But, here's a smilieface to make up for the grumpyface: :P 

David,
Another merchant in the mall tells me that while he was in Hong Kong recently he saw what he described as a complete Yag laser system for about 30,000.00.

I don't know if he was correct but he certainly used all the right words in his description. He says he saw it producing crystal blocks with images lasered in them.

I wonder if it is a cousin to the mug press.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

The reality factor for a lot of machinery manufacturers world wide is the asian nations now are producing equivalent or better technologies for anything up to an 1/8 of the cost.
Forget the old , but they do it for peanuts routine..havent heard anyone complain about the $ 2.00 import shops everywhere.

Korean ship building labourers are being paid....$ 70,000 US for a 40 hour week, then theres over time...these countries are using the technologies and systems to THEIR advantage..

As for engraving machinery and lasers etc..I would say it wont be long before the USA is flooded with machinery that cost $ 60-70,000 US by US manufacturers to produce, being sold for $ 10 - 20,000 US made from Taiwanese, Chinese manufacturers, large format flatbed rotary engravers with German and Japanese lead screws, H.F. spindles 8' x 4' tables for as low as $ 16,000 US...yep you read it right !

regards

Peter

I did some more poking around after I posted that question.

Tried the Customs Service web data base that is supposed to provide that kind of information, but after half an hour I realized I had no idea what class/code to input for that type of item...dead end.

Because UPS is one of the shipping options I've sent an email to UPS customer service asking for their input on imports from Hong Kong. UPS also collects import taxes for the government, so should be able to help with information.

The web site for the database is down for maintenance today, but if anyone wants to look at it tomorrow, here's the url: http://dataweb.usitc.gov/.

Oh, almost forgot. Sent an email requesting the same information to the email address on that web site. The response was timely and states that import taxes on their products, when shipped individually, are not usually levied by the USA. Sent a reply this morning asking how much tax when the US *does* levy a tax.

Yeah, I saw the shipping rates, but they don't look outlandish at when you consider the origin, and, $260 total for a mug press compared to $600, $700 for similar models either made or sold here is...impressive.

And, as silly as the thought might be, shipments into the of single,really inexpensive products into theUS might be a guise to cover other, and much less acceptable, shipments.

Time will tell.

That's good news. :-) 

Maybe I missed it on the web site, but does the equipment have any type of warranty? If so, how does one take advantage of it if it breaks during the thrid mug?

Michael,

According to my friend, the press comes with a 1-year warranty.

I hear the company has been very responsive, so far.

How promptly and efficiently warranty matters are resolved, would be the acid test.

I have a customer who purchased a 28 head Yag laser system from Somewhere in China for 25K. This system was built to do the crystal cubes 28 at a time. He has had it for 8 months now and it has only worked properly for one week.

He is currently waiting for a tech to come here to get it to work properly and he has to foot the bill for the expenses.

There are some instances of you get what you pay for.

Before I would lay out that kind of money for an untried product they would have to guarantee me the world and then some in blood.

The guy who asked me about the YAG asked me if Harv & I would consider some kind of partnership. He wants it to do the cubes which he claims he can bring into this country in crystal for $1.08. He claims he has a friend in the UK (his home country) who is using the machine with great success. I told him I was not interested.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Celsius ...Oh No..will that confuse you all! or what !!! :P  :S 

regards

Peter

Peter,

I'm already confused over Centigrade and Celsius and I haven't even seen the press yet. :-) 

I guess the good news is, once the temp. conversion is made, no further adjustements will be necessary.