Should You Buy or Convert a DTF Printer? A Day Making Direct to Film Transfers Home T-shirt Business

[@tashalodge1340]

Totally been considering dtf but I struggle enough with what I have going on 😂I want to level up but dang lol, glad you are honest and I feel you on them 3 hours a night!! New subscriber 😎

[@dawnyelltoy4274]

Great video....love that you was honest...I never heard anyone talk about the smell...so thanks 😊

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Thank you, ya that gas/smoke that comes off of the powdering when curing is straight up poison. Got to stay healthy so you can be in business for a long time.

[@veritagwallace1956]

Red, can you do a step-by-step of the DTF process? I’m curious about what all you would need to make the designs. I’m only familiar with using a Melco, but now my husband is really keen on embroidering things! I need something else to do while he takes over (lol!) my Melco! It’s pretty cool that he’s into it. We’re both retired and have lots of time on our hands. When he was in the Navy, we lived first in San Diego, then, at Camp Pendleton. Love that California weather and all the locations we took our four children to…never a dull or boring day! ❤️

[@Red.E.Hustle]

I can do that! Sounds like you need another melco soon. We another machine as well!!

[@mncustom-made-barblafond6825]

Thanks for sharing your process and the tip about print head rubbing plus how to fix it!

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Youre welcome!! Always here to answer any questions

[@wendyb2939]

Do you have a video/s on making a converting Epson 4700 to dtf, making a decal, printing, curing it, and applying it on a shirt? I would like to begin with dtf after 1st wanting to do sublimation but didn't want worry about polyester stuff. Also can silhouette design be used to make dtf decals? If not what program can be used? Sorry so many questions! Thank you so much!

[@HelmetVanga]

when you print your DTF transfer do you have to coat the powder right away?

[@Jroni16]

Do you wish youd of just bought one ready to go or do you find youre happy this way. I know its a huge price difference. Yours look great.

[@Red.E.Hustle]

I'm happy with the route I went. I've seen people struggle with the ready to go ones as well. It might just be the person. But the convert yourself route, you can have a fleet of printers going for a very minimal cost. If money wasn't a problem, I'd get a DTG. You can still print transfers with a dtg.

[@graciemizell8626]

well the design looked great learning process. be careful with the powder dont want anything happing to u. Hugs be safe

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Thank you, I will! I keep it outside in fresh air now

[@lovinthebling]

I am wanting to convert my epson 1430 to DTF... what printer did you convert? How was involved? what supplies did you have to purchase to convert it?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

I converted a 3880, but the 143ó will work. It's pretty easy, just need ink, refillable cartridges and removing the front rollers. There are lots of guides for that printer as well.

[@tisprintcraftstv]

I would love to do dtf but most of the news I have heard about converted dtf printer is so threatening. Kindly advise.

[@leviteapparel]

I love DTF amazing man keep it up

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Thanks man, it's definitely opened a lot of doors for us

[@juanaguilarorozco4424]

Brother greetings from Guadalajara Mexico i just purchased a 3880 myself and i was wondering after taking the cover off how did you manage to make the front panel stay erect and stable much thanks in advance

[@sarahwhitehead8524]

I just converted a 3880, I'm using the same rip software, same settings and my prints are so dull! Even if I bump up the resolution, they are dull... What do you think it could be?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Bump up the color. Is it dull after the press? Join our face book group we can help more there.

[@margaritaruiz5718]

Hi, can you convert an used epson printer to DTF?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Yes you can, thats what i did.

[@margaritaruiz5718]

@@Red.E.Hustle do you have a video how to?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

@@margaritaruiz5718 no I don't, but there are a lot of resources on KZbin and Facebook groups

[@felixhofschneider3276]

By the way how’s the BAI embroidery machine holding up. I’m thinking of getting one. The price is pretty reasonable. Any advice before I get one. Any help is really appreciated

[@Red.E.Hustle]

I love it! Brings in a lot of orders. You cant go wrong with the price. Im goin to do a extended use review soon.

[@felixhofschneider3276]

@@Red.E.Hustle looking forward to it

[@chriswheeler5150]

How do you get orders?

[@kristymabe8477]

Thanks for the video Eric! BTW, the one you showed with the 5 characters looks like a knock off. I recognized it because my daughter is a fan of the real people/characters.

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Never heard of them, thank you tho!

[@1unsafer]

Hey Red, I bought a dtg machine from DTG pro. They recommended I switch to dtf since I had huge problems using it as dtg. So far the prints are pretty good. Sometimes my designs have hairline areas that are not inked. For some reason the hot melt sticks to these areas as well as the inked area. After pressing the film you can see the excess hot melt. Any tips on this issue?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

I hold my film face down, and I snap it like a belt. Gets a lot of the extra powder off. Sometimes some powder is still left over after curing and will transfer to the shirt when pressed. But when I use a butcher paper on the second press it usually will come off on that.

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Also I wait 10 minutes or so after it prints to powder. This will also help.

[@1unsafer]

@@Red.E.Hustle Thank you for the tips. I’ll give it a try. I agree on DTG still being king but DTF is good in some instances.

[@Red.E.Hustle]

@@1unsafer absolutely, just depends on the design, material, and of course the person it's going to.

[@stauniqueprintwear2705]

Great video! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@NeitaFajita]

Great video ❤

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Thank you!!

[@rockulikeahurricane]

Can an Epson WF7710 be converted to dtf?

[@thelacosteboys]

Best attitude ! #Changes

[@sherylherr]

Do you feel like using a converted printer compromises the finished product vs using a regular DTF printer?

[@sherylherr]

Also, how long can you go between printing without issue?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

All Dtf printers are technically converts. They all use basic Epson heads. The finished product was just as good as any big print shops I’ve ordered transfers from.

[@kimsmith6368]

Great Video.

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jemstudio]

I have a et4800 using sublimation ink and paper. my prints come out just fine. when using dtf film my prints come out with lines through the image. does anybody know what can be causing this to happen?

[@magalycastro9114]

It can be the roller

[@SheWritesHerJourney_]

Great explanation video Would you be able to use any design site to create the image, like photoshop or can’t think of another site Does the powder help to seal in the image?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Yup, as long as it's a high quality image, preferably a png at 300 dpi. The powder is like the glue, it's what makes it a transfer. And it's highly toxic to breathe. So I cure it outside.

[@SheWritesHerJourney_]

@@Red.E.Hustle ohh thanks for the info, how long does it take usually to cure?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

@@SheWritesHerJourney_ about 90 seconds in my oven at 250

[@jessiegibson9023]

Good video thanks

[@natasha3894]

Hi great video xx

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Hey, thanks!

[@olaola3467]

Wow 👏

[@bridgetgainous3196]

Thank you for your honesty!

[@bigboiprints5726]

Sup fam! Nice video

[@valhazlife]

Thank you!!!

[@omanitoo]

There's way too much excess powder left on your film and that looks terrible after heat pressing on the shirt, the best way to remove it is to grab the film with two fingers and with your other hand hit the non printed side using your middle finger. That way there'll be enough force for the powder to come off

[@Red.E.Hustle]

I don't shake my film in a bedroom. It goes outside for that. Done thousands of prints. If you snap your film indoors you will have a huge mess.

[@latrice5810]

Fajita! 🫑🧅

[@Red.E.Hustle]

You're the winner winner 🐔 dinner, send us an email and we'll get you a transfer to try out

[@Red.E.Hustle]

If you are in our fb group, send me a dm

[@madmedia3380]

I had a terrible experience with DTF and apparently the issues that come with DTF printing are not uncommon. In short, DTF printing is unreliable and plagued with problems and thats not a good thing especially if your printing to fulfill orders for paying customers. Id say the problems are due to the fact that the printer components are not designed to work with DTF ink and films.

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Ya of course, most people are using l1800 and crappy ink. With a really cheap entry point, you would be shocked at the lack of research people do before they run out and get a printer. No consistency with film and ink is a bigger issue than converted printers. But with that said, if you are in any dtg groups on Facebook, look how many struggle with printing dtg with a 20k printer. A lot of them are discovering dtf and only printing on film now. I think it's insane. Each have their place, I'd roll with dtf over white toner any day.

[@303hilo]

do you think the l1800 is a good choice with good ink?

[@MrGWood]

@@303hilo i guess it depends because what is considered “good ink”? L1800 just means the model of the printhead from what I understand. these printheads are epson printheads, just like the dx5, dx7, etc. from what ive noticed, the vast majority of dtf, dtg printers use epson printheads. The printhead mostly determines the quality and speed of printing. The printheads that are faster,have more nozzles, produce high quality prints and so on are naturally more expensive. Remember though, your not making photo studio photographics prints or commerical posters on photo paper, your making dtf transfers so the l800 is ok id say. The l800 is used alot cause its relatively cheap, couple hundred bucks or less if you need to replace it and not too complicated a printhead. It was used on Epsons desktop photo printers, more top end consumer grade than commercial grade. Now, if you get a printhead that was used on say a large format epson printer, its gonna be a more commercial grade printhead, usually translating to better quality/performance. Keep in mind Epson never designed any of their printheads for use with dtf inks. Its why epson doesnt make a dtf printer, not yet anyway. Ink will always be a challenge becuase the chemical make up of dtf inks is almost like a latex, if it dries up due to lack of use or build up from lots of printing, it can clogg up the lines and or dry up around the printhead, requiring frequent maitnence. A more commercial grade printhead (dx5 or dx7 is what i see often as a step up) may hold up a little better but they are not immune to issues if you neglect to take care of them and they are costlier, $1000 or more if you need to replace.

[@EHSUNATARIM]

Hello, how much time does it take to produce one tshirt with dtf proccess. ?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

As fast as you can print, with my printer, I can do 8 to 10 an hour full size 12x16 prints. But i batch my prints out. Then press.

[@EHSUNATARIM]

​@@Red.E.Hustle + melting the powder 8 min + press right? it is around 10 min. so in total + - 20 minutes for 1 tshirt.Thanks!

[@Red.E.Hustle]

@@EHSUNATARIM print, powder, cure, and press on shirt. Cure takes 90 seconds, press takes 20 seconds. If you take out the time between. 12 min a shirt. Depending on the design you can fit more than 1 per print. Left chest, I can fit a bunch on sheet. Probably can do 30 an hour

[@juniorgang]

i got the epson 1430 i love it

[@Red.E.Hustle]

the quality is great, i just wish they printed faster

[@juniorgang]

@@Red.E.Hustle it’s fast enough for me for now

[@Red.E.Hustle]

@@juniorgang that's all that matters, and it's super easy to double the speed just by adding another printer

[@veritagwallace1956]

From the sounds of it, both a DTF a& a DTG have their ‘pros & cons’. Do you prefer the DTF?

[@Red.E.Hustle]

I prefer the feel of DTG, but dtf does some things better or in some cases, things that dtg cant do. I will be doing a comparison of White Toner, DTF, and DTG soon. I dont have a white toner, but I did lots of research on it.

[@veritagwallace1956]

@@Red.E.Hustle Super! I’ll look forward to seeing your next video. I’m not sure, after you were explaining about the powder step, if I could use the DTF, since I have asthma. Will have to give it some thought. Thx for responding, appreciate it! 🌸

[@Red.E.Hustle]

@@veritagwallace1956 just make sure you are in a well ventilated area, I would even wear a mask. Luckily we should all have a bunch of those around these days lol.. But if it's a big concern, I would consider just buying transfers or possibly look into white toner. Not my favorite method, but it's an option.

[@rsbyrd929929]

Helloooo

[@Red.E.Hustle]

Hello

[@Despised1Gaming]

I'm always DTF!

[@Red.E.Hustle]

thats why i like you