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'm hoping and praying we will have a heat press in our hands within a couple of weeks.
We attended the ISS Atlanta this past thu/fri and I hope we made some good decisions (still have time to change our mind).
We're moving from ourtsourcing our screenprinting to switching to transfers because we need three versions each of some of our designs and we: a) don't want to carry the inventory that would be required, b) don't want to have the wait associated with restocking screenprinting if we run out of something unexpectedly and c) don't want the expense with making so many new screens...
So... Our decision is this:
1) stahl's hotronix auto open clam press 16 x 20 (there was a show special with either free shipping or $75 worth of stuff, PLUS you get I think six or some number of free platens)
2) order our digital transfers also through stahls. I was looking at getting screened transfers, but I run into the same issue as with our regular screenprinting as far as color changes, plus I need PMS type matching and it was just adding up.
>>> How long will it take us to master these transfers? It seems easy enough? We're going to do our own tagless and then print shirts to order (we have a brand and will offer the prints in three varities each). I think this is our best choice for now as we're growing.
But I also don't want to print off a bunch of cockeyed screwed up shirts!! It looks easy enough to do a good job and I operated a hat press at a plant when I was college...
Learning curve for a heat press should be about 3 minutes. Read the instructions from Stahls, set the temp and pressure and go. Only real tricky part is getting image positioned properly. Many folks will use a t-square to ensure the image is straight. I believe you were planning to press the images on site at a show so eyeball it and press down. When the bell sounds raise the lid and say "Wow, that one is perfect" and hand it to your customer warm to the touch (assuming you have a hot peel transfer) You can tell them earlier you made one upside down.
Everyone is shaped a little different so no placement no matter how precise isn't going to fit everyone the same. Do it long enough and you will figure out that T-shirts aren't very exact either. Tag is off center, seams aren't straigth, sleeves are uneven etc...
Learning curve for a heat press should be about 3 minutes.
LOL, that's what I was hoping for... I just don't want to set up at the show and end up trashing half our shirt inventory because we can't get it right!!!!
The Stahls rep also mentioned getting the laser levels (Home Depot/Lowes) that can attach to the side of the press. I thought that was a great idea...
I would get some cheap t-shirts and try before you go to the show it will help and you can take notes depends on the type of transfer there are hot and cold peel,vinyl transfer,and then the type you can make your self ink jet transfer..
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Does the fabric make any difference in our effort? We'll have some basic cotton t's and then some performance "dry technology" type stuff. Thanks so much for your help.
The fabric can make a big difference in adhesion of the transfer. Let the folks no when you order from Sthalls what fabrics/colors you will be using and they should help get you the right stuff. Be carefull with the performance fabrics as some transfers require the temp of the press to be hotter than the fabrics can handle and you will end up burning your garment. I would see if you can get a garment or two in the performance fabric to try with your tranfer prior to ordering up a bunch of transfers and high end shirts that aren't compatable. I know a couple folks who have lost jobs/customers trying to heat press onto Under Armour and other specialy fabrics without the right products.
(snip) I know a couple folks who have lost jobs/customers trying to heat press onto Under Armour and other specialy fabrics without the right products.
Great, thanks. The company that makes the performance stuff may also have some insight...
We got our heat press a few days ago and played for about 10 mins with several different types of transfers. NO PROBLEM!!! Followed the instructions for each. The only one we had some issue with was a glitter one, but I don't think we'll be doing any glitter, so not worried about it. Other than that, it went SUPER. Very easy to set up and use. Thanks for the help!
one thing i do for alignment is have a mirror by my press.
after pre-heat and sticking the transfer on your shirt i quickly lift it up and reflect it in the mirror.
from 6-8 feet or so you can easily tell if the transfer is crooked, too high, low, left, right etc.
i quickly do that for my shirts as my final check before pressing.
good luck,
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What's the learning curve? 
