Discuss the different brands and sizes of heat presses available on the market, including Hix, GeoKnight, Hotronix, and other smaller manufacturers. Topics include maintenance, selection, styles and more.
I've just purchased silk screening equipment and now I'm looking to buy a vinyl cutter and a heat press. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to buy the Roland cutter but I need help finding a good heat press. Any suggestions?
I own 2 Mighty presses and a Geo Knight. They all work perfect. Buy a brand name and you won't have any problems. I will say that the beeper part of the timer on my Geo Knight goes out from time to time. must be a loose wire or something.
One thing I will say, Swing away models are nice. I have never burned myself on my swing away. I cant say the same for my clamshells.
I don't use my swingaway for sublimation because I get occasional shifting if the platon shifts sideways. Many people do not have this problem with the swingaway model so I took mine back and got another one and I still cannot trust it. The last thing I need is to be pressing a $30 biking shirt and have a ghosting problem. I do all soft substrate sublimation on a clamshell and never have problems.
I use the swing aways for all my plastisol and ink transfers. It is my favorite press.
Also go with the bigger 16X20. Even for smaller prints it is easier to get the shirt lined up.
You might also look into the Hotronix Draw Press. Rather than it swinging away, the bottom pulls out towards you. It takes up less room not having to keep an area clear for swinging.
I have been Very happy with mine.
I have the 16 x 20 hotronics with auto open and love it. I don't know how I lived without the auto open before It makes it much easier then having to stand there and wait for my pressing to finish, and I can do other things at the same time without worrying if I am standing right there to open it.
__________________
Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest. ~~~Mark Twain BobbieLee www.brightlittlebeginnings.com
Auto open is a great way to go. That was not an option for me because one of the processes I offer is sublimation and auto open models supposedly cause itherwise I probably would have one.
suggestions on which heat press to buy 
It makes it much easier then having to stand there and wait for my pressing to finish, and I can do other things at the same time without worrying if I am standing right there to open it.
