Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Hix is a very good name brand press. I would check what the retail is and compare it to the price it is being offered. If it is a good price you cant go wrong with a hix
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Hix is one of, if not THE, best maker of heat presses. I have 3 of them, and they perform great and they last. You definitely need a timer, so see if you can get it really cheap because of it not having a timer. You can buy a separate timer to stick on it, or beside it, but you will have to start and stop the timer manually, which is kind of a pain. So if you are planning on going into a business where you will be using it a lot, pressing many shirts at a time, I'd say find one with a timer. But it you are just getting started and not sure how much volume you will be doing, I think this would be a very good starter press. It's much better than getting a cheap no-name brand press that has hot and cold spots. The swingman version is almost required if you will be DyeSub'ing shirt, because you need light even pressure all over. The swingman puts more consistent pressure all over your substrate, but the negative is that it takes up more space, because you have to have room for it to swing out. Where as a clamshell just opens straight up. I have a Hix 400D clamshell (15" x 15") and a Swingman ("16 x 20"), and a Hix Cap Press.
The only problem is that it doesn't have a timer. Since I'm new how important is a timer?
Marc
Just to clarify, if you get one with a timer, you set the timer before, say for 20 seconds. When you close the press, the timer automatically starts counting down, and then beeps when it hits zero. Then when you open the press, it stops beeping and resets to 20 seconds again. So while you are pressing, you never have to touch the timer to start or stop it. If it does not have a timer, you will have to get a separate timer and manually start it every time you close the press and then stop it every time you open the press. It just adds a couple extra steps to each shirt pressed, which takes a little more time.
I got my HIx 15x15 swingman from Coastal at the Orlando ISS show. was there demo unit.
Has worked really good.
YES you will need a timer !!!
The timer they give with it is a little handheld timer with a magnetic backside. I stick it to the box on the swing arm.
YOu can go to any store and but a timer. Just get one were you can reset the mins/seconds easily.
For those without a timer I use to work in a factory doing rubber pressing (soles of shoes, seals etc) We used to have small digital (baclight) timers that you could set the time on (in minutes,seconds etc) That beeped when the time was up and automatically reset.. all you had to do was hit the "start" button once the press was closed. They were available from electrical supply stores (Trade style)
they were mounted on the side of steam presses and had no trouble tolerating the heat, hydraulic fluid or moisture (even the ones that had copped steam direct from broken steam lines on occasion) These were big hydraulic presses and they stood up to the vibration as well.
Sounds like a great press. I looked I. EBay and saw one for about $500 including shipping. Is this a good value for a used press? I saw on another site that a vinyl cutter would also be a good idea. Thoughts??
I know that Hix sells a timer that can be set and used with their press' or any press for that matter. It has a magnetic back and it beeps. If you really need a timer a kitchen timer will work too. I think Hix makes the best Heat Press and has the greatest customer service in the industry. ..... JB
Hix SwingMan 15, 15"x15" 
