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.
Very new to transfers. Making tshirts for my 9 year old son. I'd love to have a heat press, but can't see spending huge amounts for home use only. Any idea of a decent machine that doesn't take a huge amount of space? Searched this site for a few weeks and haven't found this answer... even though it could be out there. 16x20 seems a popular size. Any that would work better than a home iron for maybe $200?
Hi Jan
My business doesn't do transfers, but a good press is a foundation for this line of business. It allows you to do other things as well. If you can afford it, the bigger the better. You will wish you had if you don't. I can't say which are the best, as we've had our hotronix auto swinger for at least 7-8 years, and haven't needed to look for another. But, as I said, this is an important piece of equipment to have. Good luck. Family members make great first customers.
i would rather buy a good used name brand over anything else if I were looking for inexpensive. I have a 15x15 and never needed bigger but would of been out of luck on some jobs with a smaller press.
I appreciate the responses. Any help is appreciated!
I guess it sounds like it'd be worth it to get a nice press even though I don't think I will really ever do anything other than shirts for my son and maybe some gifts for family members. He LOVES the shirts we've done so far w/ just an iron. From lurking here I got the epsom c88 printer and ordered some transfer paper and w/ trial and error we are getting fairly good results.
Will a press make the shirt last longer? These feel fairly stiff and I wonder how long they will last on hanes beefy cotton tees and some anvil baseball type t's. This could get addictive.
I have a GeoKnight JP14 (12X14) press that I've been using for about 3 years now in my business. It's served me just fine. Would I like to have a bigger press? Well sure, but money is tight.
If the press is going to get light use, there is really no reason to go big or expensive (although I would not go smaller than the (12X14).
When I was researching how to do t-shirts, I started out with a home iron. I got a dry iron (not really easy to find...I got mine at Vermontcountrystore.com), and pressed on a large breadboard that I covered with a pillow case. It takes a bit of "elbow grease", and some practice, but it can be done.
My musician/guitar teacher husband is quick to point out that an expensive instrument is not going to make you a better musician. I think it's the same theory here.
I appreciate the responses. Any help is appreciated!
I guess it sounds like it'd be worth it to get a nice press even though I don't think I will really ever do anything other than shirts for my son and maybe some gifts for family members. He LOVES the shirts we've done so far w/ just an iron. From lurking here I got the epsom c88 printer and ordered some transfer paper and w/ trial and error we are getting fairly good results.
Will a press make the shirt last longer? These feel fairly stiff and I wonder how long they will last on hanes beefy cotton tees and some anvil baseball type t's. This could get addictive.
The paper is what's really going to determine the feel and durability of your pressed design. If you use a retail paper (say from Michaels or Joann), it's going to produce a stiff hand, that will crack and peel. If you use a commercial paper (I love JPSS), it will produce a much softer hand, it won't crack or peel, and your shirts will last a good long time.
Thanks! I found a used on craigslist- think it was geo knight- I know it was a recommended brand anyway, but it was $350 and that was very close to the price for the same one new. I think we are getting pretty good results w/ the iron for now. I got some ss paper and bet we will like that even more. It takes a few times to figure out how to get the best result. I will end up w/ a press in the next year though.
Been lurking awhile: First post: 
Re: Been lurking awhile: First post: 
Re: Been lurking awhile: First post: 
Re: Been lurking awhile: First post: 
