Used equipment buying guides

Written by the Buckets of Ink equipment team. What to look at, what to ask and how to avoid surprises, for every kind of machine we list.

Buying used screen printing equipment
How to inspect a used automatic or manual screen printing press, conveyor dryer, flash cure unit, exposure unit and screen room equipment before you buy.
Buying a used embroidery machine
How to check a used single-head or multi-head embroidery machine: stitch count, test sew-outs, hook timing, frames, cap drivers and software.
Buying a used DTF printer
How to inspect a used DTF printer, powder shaker and curing equipment: nozzle checks, printheads, white ink circulation, RIP licences and film feed.
Buying a used DTG printer
How to check a used direct-to-garment (DTG) printer, pretreat machine and curing equipment before you buy.
Buying a used UV printer
What to check on a used flatbed, roll-to-roll or desktop UV printer: heads, lamps, inks, bed and jigs.
Buying a used heat press
How to check a used clamshell, swing-away, draw, pneumatic or automatic heat press for even heat and pressure.
Buying used wide-format, print-and-cut and vinyl equipment
How to check a used eco-solvent, latex or print-and-cut printer, vinyl cutter or laminator before you buy.
Buying used sublimation equipment
How to check a used sublimation printer, calender press, flatbed press or mug press before you buy.
Buying used parts, supplies and whole-shop packages
How to buy used printheads, platens, frames and supplies, and how to evaluate a whole-shop package of equipment.