Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I suggest you check out the HIX and Stahls brand press', I have heard lots of bad things about Geo Knight. Theyu seem to have a problem with their on/off switch and their heating elements. When I was looking for a new press,I found this out on a dye sub forum. ..... JB
I'ma newbie too, just researching all of the facets before launching my business.
It seems like everyone uses these pressing devices whether heat or silk screen, etc...
Is it imperative to make your own stuff or do some established people still use an established vendor to make their products?
I'm researching some vendors in the Boston area b/c it never occured to me to make my own stuff (plus I want help with graphics from their artist).
i'm not exactly a techincal/mechanical person so I'm wonderingif I could operate a press anyway...
Thoughts?
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Last edited by Rodney; July 7th, 2008 at 09:27 AM.
Operating a press is as easy as eating a piece of pie, it doesn't take any tech now how, you just set the desired temp, adjust the pressure and go to town. Very easy!
Hello,
I am a Newbie, ready to buy a press. I have been reading away. I was going to buy the Geo Knight DK16, but you have had problems with yours? Which one did you end up buying?
I'ma newbie too, just researching all of the facets before launching my business.
It seems like everyone uses these pressing devices whether heat or silk screen, etc...
Is it imperative to make your own stuff or do some established people still use an established vendor to make their products?
I'm researching some vendors in the Boston area b/c it never occured to me to make my own stuff (plus I want help with graphics from their artist).
i'm not exactly a techincal/mechanical person so I'm wonderingif I could operate a press anyway...
Thoughts?
Hi Paragonx,
I am fairly new to this forum. I am wondering if you bought a press? I am new to this whole idea of heat pressing. I have been trying to do business with local screen printers, and also with companies that print
directly on the shirt. I will tell you if you want to do small volume shirts through someone else, it is very costly. Some charge for Art and set up fees and for shipping. That leaves me barely able to make 2-4 bucks a shirt, not enough to pay the bills of my business. I have found people do not want the small jobs. They end up getting my art work and not returning phone calls. I am wondering if you decided to try the heat press route? I feel I have to at this point. Good luck!
Traceyt
Hi Tracey,
No, I have not bought a heat press or silk screen and it's been hard to make a profit. My 3 color shirt has averaged about $6.40/each and I've been selling for $11-12. I've sold about 30 out of the 80.
I'm going to see if someone in the Boston area will let me observe the heat press or silk screening process because I think it's very difficult if you're having the shirts printed up.
I think the other big thing has been marketing. I have not had time to set-up my website yet and I got layed off from my 9-5 job so that has been tough. I have had some missed connections with some retailers. I'm grabbing space for $15 at an outside market in 2 weeks so hopefully that will be fruitful in terms of sales. (although there's probably only about 1 month of t-shirt wearing up here in New England).
I have to be much more aggressive on things like facebook, cafepress, and myspace. I've learned a lot in a short amount of time and hoprefully I can <mostly> reload for next season with my unsolds.
I really think you do need to produce your own stuff though so as to not cut into your profit margin. I've found that out quickly.
Right should call around and see if anyone will show you the process. You aren't putting the image on the teflon sheet, the teflon sheet is just for protection against getting your shirt too hot and scorching it. I also think it kind of helps with getting a soft hand on the design.
You put the image on transfer paper, which can either be inkjet transfer paper, laser transfer paper, or plastisol transfer paper. With inkjet and laser, you just print straight from your computer to the printer, and print onto the transfer paper. For plastisol transfers (which seem to be higher quality), you would have to have a screen printer print the image onto the transfer with ink and a screen printing press. Hope this helps~
The plastisol route is by far the best quality, and there's a vendor's list here some where on the forum sorry (can't find the link) to the list. And is the same processs as if your looking for a screen printer, just give them the design and they print it for you using plastisol inks on transfer paper. Goodluck.
Help!! Why not buy the 16 X 20 right away! I am a newbie and was trying not to make a mistake. Most people in this forum said they were sorry they didn't get the 16 X 20, and had to upgrade. I just ordered my first press 16 X 20 and it's on my porch. I am also bummed because there was one for sale in the classified here, which I wasn't aware of and I was going to get the 15X15 until I read how many people upgraded.
Also thank for the information about the plastisol I wasn't sure what that was.
Hi Tracey,
No, I have not bought a heat press or silk screen and it's been hard to make a profit. My 3 color shirt has averaged about $6.40/each and I've been selling for $11-12. I've sold about 30 out of the 80.
I'm going to see if someone in the Boston area will let me observe the heat press or silk screening process because I think it's very difficult if you're having the shirts printed up.
I think the other big thing has been marketing. I have not had time to set-up my website yet and I got layed off from my 9-5 job so that has been tough. I have had some missed connections with some retailers. I'm grabbing space for $15 at an outside market in 2 weeks so hopefully that will be fruitful in terms of sales. (although there's probably only about 1 month of t-shirt wearing up here in New England).
I have to be much more aggressive on things like facebook, cafepress, and myspace. I've learned a lot in a short amount of time and hoprefully I can <mostly> reload for next season with my unsolds.
I really think you do need to produce your own stuff though so as to not cut into your profit margin. I've found that out quickly.
I will let you know how easy or hard this process is for me-maybe that will give you and idea. I didn't print out my transfers yet. I didn't open the press yet even though I am very excited, it is really heavy.
Re: Newbie - which heat press to buy? 
Re: Newbie - which heat press to buy? 
