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jmcollection · June 28th, 2006

Hello, I am just starting out and I am going to buy a

heat press. I don't have that much money right now to

spend on a press but I have managed to find 2 heat

presses in my price range. They may not be the best

but it will only be temporary until I can make enough

money to buy a better one. They are both on Ebay and I

am torn between the two. Please take a look and let me

know your opinion as to which one I should buy!

Press #1

Press #2

tcrowder · June 28th, 2006

I would not buy either one. I would spend the money upfront to buy a decent press. Don't get anything less than a 15x15. I have the Stahls Might Press 15x15 and am very happy with it.

Just my 2 cents worth

TeeShirtSamurai · June 28th, 2006

I agree with tcrowder on this one. He said two important things that many people here have stressed in the past: 1.) buy a quality press from the get go and 2.) avoid getting anything less than a 15x15.

You may have success with one of the presses you see but often people regret not buying a quality piece of equipment to start.

I know said you don't have the money right now... then wait! What's the rush? Start the right way. Simply save up till you can buy something decent and then start. Don't start the wrong way.

toonsign · June 28th, 2006

Hi,

I agree with everyone. Irregardless of the low price, after your first few weeks of using it, you'll wish you waited until you could get a 15x15" flat heat press.

I started heat transfer printing (sublimation) in August 1987 and spend a whole $295 for a National Screen 15x15" flat heat press. I still use it and it has not given me any problems.

Please remember that the only piece of equipment that will make your investment in is a heat press. The problem with purchasing an inexpensive heat press is, you do not have the large platen area to clamp down onto your products. The larger the surface area (15x15" as an example), will produce a consistently high quality imprint.

A 1/3" height adjustment is wothless (this is my own opinion) as a mousepad can be 1/4 to 3/8 high. Sublimation products such as dry erase boards, jewelry, etc... can be higher. Make sure the lower platen has a heat resistant foam, and the upper platen is teflon coated.

If possible, I would recommend you wait a bit and try to purchase a 15x15" flat heat press - think they call 'en clam shells now. You might want to contact a few local screenprinters to see if they may have one lying around in the back of their shop that they don't use or put a small ad in local newspapers.

Hope this helps.

Toonsign

badalou · June 28th, 2006

No No No No.. you will be sorry for throwing away your money. Please believe all of us here. We know for what we speak. I know it is hard. You want to get in the business but you'll turn out crappy work. The time it takes you do the work will really upset you. It is all about heating aliments, pressure, timers and ease of use and reliability. You want warranty with your press.

jmcollection · June 28th, 2006

Thank you all for your advice. I am looking into finding a 15'' by 15'' .

Buechee · June 28th, 2006

I'm in the same boat as most may already know. I want a good heat press to start out with. I know 15x15, but I just want to know a good brand to buy. I only looked at geo knight and hix. Is there any others?

tcrowder · June 28th, 2006

http://cgi.ebay.com/STAHLS-MIGHTY-15...QQcmdZViewItem

This is the press I bought. I'm very happy with it. When I bought mine I just used the buy it now, I was tired of chasing auctions.

badalou · June 28th, 2006

you paid more than I did for the same unit. I paid 632 and that included shipping. great unit. From coastal

jdr8271 · June 28th, 2006

I reccomend mighty press as well. I got mine from imprintables warehouse. The machine actually burned out after 1 year of use, but it was covered under the one year warranty that it came with, so they sent me the replacement part no problem.

MotoskinGraphix · June 29th, 2006

http://www.boo-zwearhouse.com is selling a 15x15 press with 100 stock transfers for $599.00 if that helps you. Press is labeled Black Max but I think it may just be a rebranded Stahls. Has the same lifetime element warranty.

onceuponashirt · June 29th, 2006

I recently had a buy a new press when my National 15x15 would no longer turn on.

I bought a Hix 15x15 Swing Away. So far I love it.

It ran $635 locally.

StitchShoppe · June 30th, 2006

I bought a HIX back in 1979. It still works great and makes me money every day. All origional parts never a breakdown.

Scrap-Boy · June 30th, 2006

"I bought a HIX back in 1979. It still works great"

funny... may be you can get a good buck for it on ebay... " Vintage Heat Press " LOL.

I agree, HIX is all you need.

you dont really need all the digital stuff with some heat presses... the clam style is cool too because it takes up less space than the what you-ma-call-it... you know the ones that swing from side to side.

You can always get the fully automatic presses when you have a bunch of turkeys working for you.... just kiddin'!!

yeah... spend the mula and make it a life time investment with a HIX.

StitchShoppe · June 30th, 2006

The only way you'd see this press on E-bay would be if you pried it from my cold dead hands. Tees are like cookies, you can smell when their done. Who needs all that Hi tech crap to break down?

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