Before You Buy

As with any equipment, there are many factors to take into consideration when choosing a heat press machine. Though all heat presses do the same thing, provide heat under pressure, for a specified time, it is important to put into consideration other factors such as:

Workload:

The heat press you choose depends largely on the volume of work you intend to do with the press. If you are printing long production runs, you need a press that will maintain consistent heat and accurate temperatures. Some machines don’t maintain platen temperature, due to a thin platen that loses heat or has poor insulation. Also to be considered are the substrates to be transferred on like t-shirts, caps, ceramics, tiles, mugs, mouse pads, lettering, tote bags, rhinestones/ crystals, woods/ metals etc.

Platen Heat:

The most important thing to look for in a heat press is its ability to provide consistently even temperatures across the platen. This will prevent cold spots from developing and ensure consistent application of heat transfer materials. Proper application of temperature is also critical in producing quality garments; making accurate temperature controls an essential feature.

Fit your Workspace:

Not only do you want a machine that will print images in the right size, you also need a machine that fits into your workspace. Examine your workspace and purchase a press that will fit into it and still allow space for movement.

Accurate Heat & Even Pressure:

In addition to providing even heat, a heat press must be designed to accurately control the temperature. 

When you apply transfers, proper application temperature is essential to the success of the finished garment. If you apply a transfer with too little heat, the adhesives needed to hold the graphic to the garment may not be activated. If you apply a transfer with too much heat, the adhesives may be pushed out beyond the edges of the image and cause an undesired outline or smearing. The key to even pressure is the way the upper platen is engineered. Look for a press that provides centralized pressure.

Ease of Use:

It is important to buy a machine that is not difficult to open and close. The more transfer you apply, the more important this feature becomes. You also need to ensure you can easily slide garments on and off the press without burning your arms, hands and garments on screws or greasy bolts. For example, while the clamshell press features a simple, easy to use design, swing-away and draw presses may be better for use with thicker items, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Warranty & After Sales Support:

It is important to buy a press that has a warranty policy. With this, you rest assured that if anything happens to the machine within the warranty period, your machine will be repaired or replaced. Also, if for any reason you should experience a problem with your press, or have a question about a particular application, you want to make sure that qualified service representatives are available to help you.