View Single Post
Old February 8th, 2006 -   #1 (permalink)
suzieh
T-Shirt Lover
T-Shirt Aficionado

suzieh's Avatar
 
You can call me: Susan
Member Since: Feb 2006
Location: Altadena, California
Posts: 274
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts


Default Newbie - which heat press to buy?

Great forum Rodney and I've learned a lot so far!
Other newbies...take a few hours to read all the old posts.
Thanks in advance. Susan

We are looking to make our own t-shirts
to test the market So it will be short runs
of one of each design.

The budget for a new heat press is under $1,000.


1st QUESTION
Seems as if the preferred press is HIX (which I understand
used to be National from local supplier).


2nd QUESTION
Why jump from small-sized press (e.g., 15 x 15)
to larger 16 x 20 inch?

My reasoning for going larger is I'll have more options
for XXL shirts, tote bags and using larger images. And
I read easier placement of garment/item.

3rd QUESTION
Analog or Digital? Pros/Cons?


Here's what I'm looking at


HIX SWINGMAN 20 - 16 -X 20 $865.00

---------------------------------------------------------
Advised by McLogan Supply Co. in Los Angeles (www.mclogan.com)
this is reliable. Was told the OLD 15x15 Swingman
had problems with wire getting in way, but Hix supposedly
fixed this problem on 15 x 15 new models.

QUESTION - is "swing away" better? Pros/cons?


HIX HT-600 D clam shell 16 X 20
---------------------------------------------------------
Apparently this is THE "tried and true" heat press.
Pros/Cons?


Other heatpress brands I've discovered.....

INSTAPRESS
Costs a lot more - least expensive is $1,035

JET PRESS
They are less expensive than the other brands.
Is this because they are barebones? Or not well made
and full of problems?

George Knight Clamshell DK20 - 16" x 20" $976.00
Anyone happy or unhappy with theirs?

MIGHTY PRESS
I know nothing, except seems inexpensive.

Going to the McLogan showroom on Friday
to check out the Hix and InstaPress heat presses.
Will be cool to see the $20,000 Brother Garment Printer.
Too bad I didn't know about the Long Beach trade show
a few weeks ago.