Hey there! If you’re looking to elevate your direct-to-garment (DTG) printing side hustle, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re diving into our experience with the Vastex Little Red X1D Conveyor Dryer—a tool we recently added to our DTG arsenal at Side Hustle Playbook. Spoiler alert: it’s a productivity booster, but there’s definitely a learning curve. Let’s break it all down!
Why We Invested in a Conveyor Dryer
For DTG printing, we had been relying on a heat press, which works well but left visible “box marks” around designs after curing. On certain shirt colors, like red or olive green, the heat press sometimes altered the shirt’s color, leaving a slightly discolored imprint. While these marks often fade after cooling, they can be distracting and diminish the final product’s quality.
To address these issues and create a smoother, more professional finish, we decided to try out the Vastex Little Red X1D, a conveyor dryer tailored for DTG printing. This machine features dual heat zones: one to quickly raise the temperature and the other to maintain consistent curing conditions. It’s designed to efficiently reach the necessary 320°F for ink curing—a must for durable, long-lasting prints.
The Learning Curve: Dialing It In
Installing and using the conveyor dryer wasn’t plug-and-play, at least not at first. Vastex provides recommended starting settings, but we found that adjustments were necessary to suit our specific environment. Here’s how we tackled the process:
- Testing Temperatures:
We invested in a donut probe thermometer, which measures the exact temperature of the ink on the shirt. This was critical for dialing in the machine’s settings. - Wash Testing:
After curing shirts with the new setup, we ran extensive wash tests. We adjusted settings to avoid overcooking the ink (which can cause rough textures and cracking) or undercooking it (which leads to ink flaking off after washes). - Fine-Tuning for Colors and Pretreat:
Some colors, like olive green, still show slight discoloration from pretreat solutions. To address this, we reduced the amount of pretreat applied, following recommendations from Firebird Ink’s online resources.
Key Insights for New Conveyor Dryer Users
- Start Slow and Test Often:
Be prepared for trial and error. Every environment and setup is different, so test extensively before going into full production. - Monitor Image Quality:
Ensure the designs you receive from clients are high-resolution. Low-quality images can result in pixelation after printing, especially when scaled up. We learned this the hard way and had to recreate a client’s design to improve the output. - Beware of Overheating:
Cooking the ink too much can result in a dried-out, flaky finish. Strike a balance by testing different speeds and temperatures for each design.
The Results: Better Quality, Smoother Workflow
After several adjustments, we’re happy with the Vastex Little Red X1D. The shirts now have a smoother, more professional finish, free of the heat press box marks. Plus, the curing process feels more streamlined and production-ready.
Challenges We Overcame:
- Learning the settings and temperature controls took time.
- Some colors and designs still require extra care (e.g., reduced pretreat for olive green).
- Understanding how to properly test ink curing with tools like the donut probe was critical.
Should You Get a Conveyor Dryer?
If you’re serious about scaling your DTG business, a conveyor dryer like the Vastex Little Red X1D can be a worthwhile investment. It reduces visible curing marks, handles production runs efficiently, and helps deliver a more polished product to your clients.
That said, this isn’t a plug-and-play solution. Be ready to spend time testing, tweaking, and learning. But once you get it dialed in, you’ll wonder how you ever operated without one.
Final Thoughts
Adding the Vastex Little Red X1D has been a game-changer for us, but it didn’t come without challenges. With testing and patience, we’ve reached a setup that delivers high-quality results while saving us time and headaches.
If you’re considering this upgrade for your side hustle, hopefully, our experience helps you hit the ground running. Got questions? Drop them in the comments or check back soon for our upcoming post about pretreat solutions for DTG printing!
Until next time, keep hustling!
