Hello,

I own a wide format Canon ipf800 44" printer, and do a lot of posters, banners, etc. I am very skilled in graphic design, and have kept a succesful side business away from my 9-5 corporate job. I would like to break into the offset business, and am trying to buy an old used offset machine and teach myself how to use it. 've found a couple for the $5k price range that work, and wondering....... can I use the newer technology (burning plates by using reverse image transparancies through a laser printer) with the older presses? (I.E. the Hamada 700cd two color)....

Can anyone give me any advice of how to purchase a 2 color press for around 5k and teach myself the ropes? I would be willing to pay for some instruction, but I live in New Mexico, soon to move to Utah within 12 months.

Thanks,

Voodochile

ill teach you when you come to utah

We use plastic laser imaged plates in my daughters home business on a Ryobi 2800cd. Not sure why you would want to reverse image the plates though? They work fine for single color work although she has run 2 color close register fairly successfully. I have seen them last 15,000 impressions, run about $1.50 a plate. They will stretch so you need to set plate to blanket to a minimum.

What ever press you get, I really stressed safety--no loose clothes, no jewelry, long hair pulled back, aprons tied in the back.
Printing press can be dangerous
http://www.examiner.com/a-1188219%7E...ccident. html

How you could tell someone was a long-time pressman--he's the one missing a thumb
(from licking his thumb and trying to remove a hickey off the plate while the press was still running)


David C. Lopez

If the Hamada 700 series press your looking at has a vaccume pull guide run and hide!!! The 800 series used a pull guide but Hamada never really got it right. 700 and 800 series ran the sheets landscape tho which was nice. The 660 2 color series was a pretty good workhorse. Later ones with the extended plate cyls were nice as you'd avoid the headaches of cyl lines if your image wasn't perfectly postioned. The Hamada 500/600 series was more or less based and built off the Multi 1250 and IMO a better machine than the Multi. If you have any local tech schools they might still offer printing. Most of them around here have switched to design. Our HS still has a printing class now with design. So maybe visit the local HS shop teachers and see if someone can give you some pointers. My first job was running a single color 1250. I had ZERO experience and the PM was a total dick and offered no help. So I learned quickly how to print and repair. Give yourself a good year for a learning curve till your really comfy and can troubleshoot problems yourself. To actually learn the machine you'll pickup the basics in a few weeks with some guidance. Good luck!!

Been there....done that. Still have all my fingers tho. But I've been bit a few times. Guy I was training one time on a 360 with a Kompac.....I told him NOT to clean it RUNNING with a rag using his fingers. It has a inward nip. Well next thing you know it grabbed his index finger and ripped a good 1"+ of skin off. And that's just a little press.