Need to Register?

lorena · June 26th, 2007

What do you have and what do you perfer?

I'm in the process of getting a new one... bigger one..
I currently have the swing away... and was wondering about hte clamp shell one.

thoughts??

LORENA

Buechee · June 26th, 2007

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.

DMS · June 26th, 2007

I think swingaway is great. Some say clamp has a shorter cycle so it might be great for larger series.

plan b · June 26th, 2007

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.

R.

COEDS · June 26th, 2007

I have both and I prefer the clam.I think,I can turn out more product with the clam in the same amount of time.... JB

D.Evo. · June 26th, 2007

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

Rodney · June 26th, 2007

Also check out the tips here: swing away or clam shell?

And the video here: Heat Press - Selecting a Style - Video Demo

mazinger · June 26th, 2007

hi

i have a clamp heat press so far so good i believe at the end you have to pick

one depends on you...

good luck

printchic · June 26th, 2007

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.

fat_miao · June 26th, 2007

For thick items .. coated plagues and stufffs... better get those swing away with adjustable heights or else will surely damage the press ...

lorena · June 27th, 2007

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)

Lorena

printchic · June 27th, 2007

Hey Lorna,

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.

Vinyl Cutters, heat presses, heat transfer material, transfer papers and heat printing supplies all at affordable prices.

It was made "after" i got my swing away but if it was available i would have went with the draw press version instead.

lorena · June 27th, 2007

That one looks nice... but a bit over my budget..

$1500.00

My budget is more like under $1000

thank you .

LORENA

Need to Register?

Resources

T-Shirt Sites

Swing away or Clamp shell?