Are Presses Worth Buying?

I am thinking of purchasing a nice restored press for $2,500 so I can expand my current business. I just don’t know if it is worth the investment though…

For those of you that purchased a press for business use, was it worth it?

Log in to reply   11 replies so far

There are so many variables here, it is difficult to give you a useful answer.
What kind of press?
What kind of business?
What is your business plan?
etc.

Bill Whitley

i plan to use my press for wedding/business cards/prints/packaging/etc. i currently have an online business selling rubber stamps for wedding invites/business cards/etc.

Who is the seller? Do you know them? There could be presses less expensive out there.What is the size etc. as above. There is more than just a press to produce work. What is your experience?

You might be better off to find a printer looking for work to fill an idle press time and broker it.

the press is 6x9. i don’t plan on doing ALOT of work, just small stuff. the seller has sold restored presses before. i was looking for a tabletop press with good impressions.

Is this a Pilot Press? Check out e-bay there is a new style Pilot for $3500, but another one (Kelsey) for just $100. Wide range there.

I have a nice 12x18 Auto Kluge listed in the classified section. If you have space for this press you will be able to do a lot of nice color printing.

I lost my space to put the press so, I need to sell it.

The press comes with rollers and extras.

Check out the classified section. Also, I am only asking $950, that is the price I paid for it.

Minna,
I think you should try to take the ‘Meet The Press’ class at Pyramid Atlantic in Silver Spring, MD before committing. It is on Thursday evening and is pretty close to you. That way you will know what this type of press can do before you spend your money.

http://www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org/art_programs/register/index.html

Daniel Morris (the seller!)
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY

I did see that there was going to be a class, but I can’t make it, darn! I’ve been doing a lot of research though!

Also be aware that at least one person who sells “nice restored presses” sells restored presses that can not be used for printing. I would look first for a press that is in good un-restored condition and capable of good work in the size range you want to do — which means if you want to print 6x9 you need at least a 10x15 press.

Bob

You will get a better return on your investment by buying and learning how to use a floor model platen press. You should also determine how long it will take to recover your investment.

Properly operated, a 12x18 Kluge with a feeder can return your investment in a fraction of the time it would take a hand-fed press - but this is a serious production press, unlike a tabletop press - which would take quite a long time to return your investment of $2500.

i live in a townhome, so i don’t have room for a large floor press, which is why i prefer table to presses. also, i am not planning to print on such large sized papers, so i don’t mind if it’s a bit smaller than normal.