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Screen Printers

Source: buythis.co.za/screen-printers

Screen Printers

  [##### Screen Printing Videos](https://www.youtube.com/c/AchievementMatters/search?query=screen%20printers)

  - [Single-Station](https://buythis.co.za/single-screen-printers#ai)

  - [Multi-Station](https://buythis.co.za/screen-printing-stations#ai)

  - [Curved-Surface](https://buythis.co.za/bottle-screen-printers#ai)

  - [Flash Dryers](https://buythis.co.za/flush-dryers#ai)

  - [Inks & Emulsions](https://buythis.co.za/inks-emulsions#ai)

  - [Frames & Meshes](https://buythis.co.za/frames-meshes#ai)

What this page is

buythis.co.za/screen-printers is the Screen Printers hub of Buythis, AM.CO.ZA's online shop. On the live page it is a heading, a link to screen printing videos and six tiles: Single-Station, Multi-Station, Curved-Surface, Flash Dryers, Inks & Emulsions and Frames & Meshes. This knowledge base page turns that hub into a chooser: how screen printing works, which kind of printer suits which job, the headline machines and supplies with current prices, what a starter setup needs, and where the detailed guide for each section is.

Prices are current Buythis prices including VAT from the product dump dated 2026-10-21. A few prices come from older dump entries (2026-10-18, 2026-10-19); confirm those on the product page. Only headline items are listed; every option is on the deeper pages linked in each section. Check the product page before ordering, since prices change.

The live hub sections

Tile Live Buythis section What it holds Detailed guide in this KB
Single-Station single-screen-printers ScreenMaster desktop one-colour printers and MeshMaster self-tensioning frames Single-Station Screen Printers
Multi-Station screen-printing-stations Four and six station carousel printers for multi-colour T-shirts Screen Printers Multi-Station
Curved-Surface bottle-screen-printers Bottle-PRO and Bottle-Lite printers for bottles, cups and tubes, and a hard hat printer Screen Printing Curved Surface
Flash Dryers flush-dryers ScreenMaster 1600 W flash dryer and its spare element Screen Printers Flush Dryers
Inks & Emulsions inks-emulsions Water-based and plastisol inks, emulsion, cleaners Screen Printing Inks
Frames & Meshes frames-meshes Aluminium frames, mesh rolls, stretcher, glue, tape, squeegees Screen Printing Frames and Meshes

How screen printing works

A screen is fine mesh stretched tight on a frame. Everywhere the design should not print, the mesh is blocked, usually with light-sensitive emulsion that is hardened under UV light, or with a cut vinyl stencil. The screen sits on the item, ink goes on top, and a squeegee pulls the ink across so it passes through the open mesh onto the item. Each colour needs its own screen. Once the ink is down it is dried or cured with heat.

Screen printing gives thick, bright, durable prints at a very low cost per print once the screen is made, so it suits runs of the same design: team and event T-shirts, uniforms, shopping bags, promotional items, bottles and signs. For one-off full-colour prints, a heat press with DTF or sublimation is usually quicker; see the related pages below.

Which kind of printer

Printer type Best for Colours Speed
Single-station desktop Starting out, one-colour T-shirts, bags, flat items One colour per pass (more with careful registration) Manual, one item at a time
Multi-station carousel T-shirt production with two to six colours Four or six screens lined up on one carousel Manual, fast once screens are registered
Automatic flat Repeat prints on flat items such as cards, labels, panels and boards One colour per pass Pneumatic, up to 1000 prints an hour; needs 4 to 6 bar compressed air
Curved-surface Bottles, cups, tumblers, tubes and hard hats One colour per pass Manual, the item rolls under the screen

Single-station printers and frames

The desktop ScreenMaster machines hold one screen in hinged clamps over a platen, so the screen drops back in the same place for every shirt. The MeshMaster self-tensioning frames let you re-stretch or replace mesh yourself without a stretching jig.

SKU What it is Product Sales price incl. VAT
SP-S0 (KB) Desktop single colour T-shirt printer that clamps to your own table ScreenMaster Desktop Single Colour Screen Printer, Mount on Table Required, ZMD (Screen Frame not Included) R 1 840.00
SP-S1 (KB) Desktop single colour T-shirt printer on its own stand ScreenMaster Desktop Single Station Screen Printer on Standalone Station, SPE-11TA (Screen Frame not Included) R 2 116.00
SP-TENSION/3040 (KB) MeshMaster self-tensioning 300 x 400 mm frame with free squeegee and mesh MeshMaster Self-Tensioning Screen Frame Aluminum 300x400mm Inner Size (with ~1sqm 250 Count Mesh) R 1 288.00
SP-TENSION/4050 (KB) MeshMaster self-tensioning 400 x 500 mm frame with free squeegee and mesh MeshMaster Self-Tensioning Screen Frame Aluminum 400x500mm Inner Size (with ~1sqm 250 Count Mesh) R 1 288.00

Multi-station carousel printers

Carousel printers hold four or six screens around a centre post. Each screen is lined up (registered) once, and then every shirt gets all its colours in the same position. On these ScreenMaster models each station spins separately.

SKU What it is Product Sales price incl. VAT
SP-S4 (KB) Four colour, four station carousel, stations spin separately ScreenMaster Four Colour Four Station Carousel Bi-Directional Screen Printer R 11 040.00
SP-S6 (KB) Six colour, six station carousel, stations spin separately ScreenMaster Six Colour Six Station Carousel Bi-Directional Screen Printer R 13 800.00

Automatic flat printers

The automatic flat printers move the squeegee and flood bar with compressed air, so the operator only loads and unloads. Frames are not included, and a compressor is needed (Air Pumps & Compressors).

SKU What it is Product Sales price incl. VAT
SP-2540 (KB) Automatic flat printer, 250 x 400 mm print, 300 x 500 mm table, up to 1000 prints an hour Automatic Flat 250×400mm Silkscreen Printer, 300×500mm Working Table, 220V 50W with Maximum 1000 Prints/Hour Printing Speed. 4-6 Bar Compressed Air Needed (No Frame Included) R 42 320.00
SP-3550 (KB) Automatic flat printer, 350 x 500 mm print, 400 x 600 mm table Automatic Flat 350×500mm Silkscreen Printer, 400×600mm Working Table, 220V 50W with Maximum 1000 Prints/Hour Printing Speed. 4-6 Bar Compressed Air Needed (No Frame Included) R 52 440.00
SP-4560 (KB) Automatic flat printer, 450 x 600 mm print, 500 x 700 mm table Automatic Flat 450×600mm Silkscreen Printer, 500×700mm Working Table, 220V 50W with Maximum 1000 Prints/Hour Printing Speed. 4-6 Bar Compressed Air Needed (No Frame Included) R 119 600.00

Curved-surface printers

Curved-surface printers rotate a round item under the screen as the screen moves, so the print wraps around bottles, wine glasses, cups and tubes. Pick by the largest diameter you print. The hard hat printer is made for logos on safety helmets.

SKU What it is Product Sales price incl. VAT
SP-BOTTLE/80 (KB) Bottle-PRO for round items up to 80 mm diameter ScreenMaster Bottle-PRO Screen Printer max.Φ80mm (H:140mm, L:160mm) QM1012, 006595 R 4 140.00
SP-BOTTLE/150 (KB) Bottle-PRO for round items up to 150 mm diameter ScreenMaster Bottle-PRO Screen Printer max.Φ150mm (H:270mm, L:380mm) QM2430, 006596 R 6 900.00
SP-BOTTLE/170 (KB) Bottle-Lite for round items up to 170 mm diameter ScreenMaster Bottle-Lite Screen Printer max.Φ170mm (H:200mm, L:250mm) QMH170, 006593 R 3 772.00
SP-HAT/HARD (KB) Printer made for hard hats (safety helmets) ScreenMaster Hard Hat Screen Printer R 4 968.00

Flash dryers

A flash dryer sits over the platen to set plastisol ink between colours and to cure the final print. It is the main extra a T-shirt printer needs after the press itself.

SKU What it is Product Sales price incl. VAT
SP-DRY (KB) 1600 W flash dryer on a wheeled, height-adjustable stand with temperature sensor ScreenMaster 1600W Flush Dryer with Stand on Wheels, ND604 R 4 048.00
SP-DRY/ELEMENT (KB) Replacement 1600 W heating element 1600W Heating Element Replacement for Flush Dryer R 4 048.00

Making screens: exposure, emulsion, mesh and frames

SKU What it is Product Sales price incl. VAT
SP-EXPOSURE/2 (KB) Dual-UV exposure unit to harden emulsion on the screen Dual-UV Exposure Unit for Silkscreen Screen Emulsion Curing on Screen Mesh, SPE-220 R 2 576.00
SP-EMULSION/SOLVENT (KB) 900 g UV-cure solvent emulsion with diazo sensitiser, for plastisol on 250 mesh 900g Bottle Solvent Emulsion (+1 Bag of Diazo Sensitizer) for Water-Based and Plastisol Ink 250 Mesh, DM-I R 386.40
SP-COAT/350 (KB) 350 mm aluminium scoop coater for spreading emulsion Full Aluminium 350mm Wide V-Shape Emulsion Scoop Coater with Rubber Edge R 285.20
SP-FILM/A4 (KB) 100 A4 sheets of clear film to print positives on an inkjet or laser printer 100 Sheets of A4 Size Waterproof Transparent Paper for Inkjet/Laser Printer R 524.40
SP-MESH/120/40 (KB) 120 mesh nylon, 127 cm x 40 m roll, for water-based ink 120 White Nylon Mesh, 127cm Wide, 40 Meters Roll for Water-Based Ink Paste R 1 656.00
SP-MESH/250/40 (KB) 250 mesh nylon, 127 cm x 40 m roll, for plastisol ink 250 White Nylon Mesh, 127cm Wide, 40 Meters Roll for Plastisol Ink Paste R 3 496.00
SP-STRETCHER/60 (KB) 60 x 60 cm fast-clip manual mesh stretcher SPE6060 Fast Clip Manual Stretcher for Silkscreen Screen Mesh Making, 006261 R 4 692.00
SP-MESH/GLUE (KB) Glue kit to fix mesh onto aluminium or wood frames Screen Mesh Glue Kit, Glue Screen Mesh onto the Aluminium and Wood Frame R 303.60
SP-SCREEN/4050 (KB) Welded aluminium 400 x 500 mm frame, no mesh Aluminium Screen Frame 400x500mm Inner Size (Blank No Mesh), Frame by 1.4mm Wall Thickness Square Tubes R 266.80
SP-SCREEN/4050M (KB) Welded aluminium 400 x 500 mm frame with 120 mesh 120 Mesh 400x500mm Aluminium Screen Frame Inner Size (with 120 Mesh) by 1.4mm Wall Thickness Square Tubes R 527.85
SP-SCREEN/4050L (KB) Aluminium 400 x 500 mm frame with 250 mesh 250 Mesh 400x500mm Aluminium Screen Frame Inner Size (with 250 Mesh) by 1.4mm Wall Thickness Square Tubes R 414.00
SP-SCREEN/2444L (KB) Aluminium 240 x 440 mm frame with 250 mesh 250 Mesh 240x440mm Aluminium Screen Frame Inner Size (with 250 Mesh) by 1.3mm Wall Thickness Square Tubes R 322.00

Inks, squeegees, tape and cleaning

SKU What it is Product Sales price incl. VAT
SP-INK/COMBO (KB) Seven 1 kg water-based inks: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white, clear Creamy Water-Based Ink Paste Primary Colour Combo, Red / Green / Blue / Yellow / Black / White / Clear Seven Bottle of 1kg Each R 1 950.40
SP-INK/CLEAR (KB) 1 kg clear water-based base for diluting colours, 120 mesh 1kg Bottle Transparent Water-Based Ink Base for 120 Mesh R 248.40
SP-PLASTISOL/COMBO (KB) Plastisol colour combo Plastisol Ink Primary Colour Combo, Red / Green / Blue / Yellow / Black / White Six Bottle of 1kg Each R 1 830.80
SP-PLASTISOL/WHITE (KB) 1 kg white plastisol for 250 mesh 1kg Bottle White Colour Creamy Plastisol Ink for 250 Mesh R 202.40
SP-PLASTISOL/BLACK (KB) 1 kg black plastisol for 250 mesh 1kg Bottle Black Colour Creamy Plastisol Ink for 250 Mesh R 239.20
SP-SQUEEGEE/340 (KB) Four wooden squeegees, 340 mm, 70 durometer polyurethane blade Four of Wood Screen Printing Squeegees 340mm (4x) R 478.40
SP-TAPE/45/60 (KB) Five rolls of 45 mm aluminium blockout tape 5 Rolls of Aluminium Durable Screen Blockout Tape Roll 45mm Wide (5x) R 202.40
SP-MESH/CLEAN (KB) 1 kg water-soluble mesh cleaner and emulsion remover Autohaze Water-Soluble Mesh Cleaner 1kg, Ink Degradant and Emulsion Remover R 349.60

More colours, including gold, silver and every plastisol and water-based shade, are on Screen Printing Inks.

Water-based or plastisol

Mesh count

Lower mesh counts (such as 120) have bigger openings and lay down more ink, for bold designs and thick water-based ink. Higher counts (such as 250) have smaller openings for finer detail and thinner plastisol layers. Buythis sells both as 127 cm wide rolls and as ready-meshed frames.

Making a screen with emulsion

  1. Degrease the mesh and let it dry.
  2. Coat both sides thinly with emulsion using the scoop coater, and dry it in the dark.
  3. Print the design in solid black on clear film.
  4. Lay the film on the screen and expose it on the UV exposure unit.
  5. Wash the screen out with water; the unexposed design area washes open.
  6. Dry it, tape the edges with blockout tape and check for pinholes.
  7. After the run, clean the ink off and remove the emulsion with mesh cleaner so the frame can be reused.

The vinyl stencil shortcut

Many AM.CO.ZA videos show a faster way for short runs: cut the design on a vinyl cutter, weed it, and stick the vinyl onto the mesh as the stencil. There is no emulsion, film or exposure, a screen is ready in minutes, and multi-colour jobs are lined up on the carousel. See Vinyl Cutters and the vinyl stencil videos below.

How to choose

  1. Start from the item. Flat textiles point to single-station or carousel printers; flat rigid items in volume to the automatic printers; bottles and cups to curved-surface printers.
  2. Count the colours. One colour suits a single station; two to six colours on shirts suit a four or six station carousel.
  3. Pick the ink. Water-based for soft prints on light cotton and paper; plastisol for dark garments, which also means a flash dryer.
  4. Budget for the screen room: exposure unit, emulsion, coater, film, mesh or frames, squeegees, tape and cleaner, or a vinyl cutter for the stencil route.
  5. Send questions to AM.CO.ZA support on WhatsApp 060 600 7000, or ask for a demonstration before you buy.

Screen printing videos

The live page links to a YouTube search for screen printers. Setup, demonstration and how-to videos from the AM.CO.ZA YouTube channels:

Related pages in this knowledge base