Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I'd go with another swing. It will get the top out of your way. With a clam it's still there. If I was going to buy a new one and had the money, it would be a 16x20 or bigger digital swing.
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Hi, I have a clam currently however the next press will be a swing, I want to do some thick substrates that I cant do now, only draw back I see it adds another step to production.
I have a 16 x 24 swing away and would not settle for less. Mine needs up-grading and I'm looking for the same style, but branded. I prefer keeping my hands away from the heat
I have used a Swing Away Hotronix since 1997. I've also used a clam when going to shows because it was lightweight and it did well. We worked that clam to death and it's still working for my brother.
So i would say it really depends on "what your use will be".
Last week my swing away fell off the rolling cart it was stationed on while hubby was doing some shirts due to the fact hubby never put the machine back together correctly after a part broke so the top heating part of the press fell down while it was swung out and bame machine hit the floor. But press still works.
I immediately ordered a new Pheonix Phire (as we have been feeling we would have to replace it soon. The fact it hit the floor makes us not want to rely on it solely.
I was in the beginning (thinking about the transition to a clam feeling "i would have swing away withdrawals" since i've used a swing away so long but...
WOW... my productivity soared using it.
Hubby turned on the "swing away" to help me press some DTG Shirts and i was pressing them so fast on the "Pheonix Phire" due to the "quick release" he didn't get to use the swing away so much when i was printing chest designs.
I do mainly garments and find that this new clam press is working fine for me (a die hard swing away user). The 1 step (shut the clam) vs swing away which requires you to swing out, swing back and bring down the handle is great.
I love my new clam but will use the swing away when i have "items that will not work in the clam" or for a back up press.
Ok, So by the looks of it... most people like the swing away.
Swing away....advantages
more pressure
no heat on your hands
no pinch of the shirt.
more room to work on shirts
Swing away .........disadvantages
take longer to do lots of shirts
you need extra room for the pad to swing away to
Clamp .........advantages
Faster
Don’t need lots of space for the machine
Clamp ................disadvantages
Working under the heat of the plate
Does not press good on bulky items
I think I will stick with the swing away... it seams to have more advantages, and I am always trying new things to press, and if I get the clamp, the pressure might not be enough.
(I don’t know)
You might want to check out the "draw press" which is essentially "a swing away" but you pull the platen out towards you, put the shirt on and then push it back in.
Swing away or Clamp shell? 
Re: Swing away or Clamp shell? 
