Here is a short video demonstration of three different styles of heat press machines. I know this has been discussed before, but a visual never hurts I didn't mention every...
Speaking of 16 x 20 presses:
Clamshell $900-1300
Swinger $1500 range
Draw $1500 range
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How much work is above a 15x15 area, and is that full area applicable for the pressing?
That really depends upon your application. For instance, you might find the larger size press valuable for full bleed 11 x 17" transfer paper prints, larger name and number combinations, XXL+ t-shirts, wrap around prints, leg prints etc.
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Is one particular press better for Plastisol than others?
It is still a matter of preference, but I'd say the clamshell. With plastisol transfers there isn;t a great deal of layout work, so the actual time that you'll be underneath the heating area of the press will be minimal. Also, a plastisol transfer is typically geared towards volume printing so a clamshell press that involves less steps to complete an application could be a nice benefit to the user.
Helped relieve the existing stigma I had on clamshells; when I was first learning about presses a few years ago, everyone prefered swing-aways (clamshells were known to press unevenly). We might now go with a
clam when we get around to purchasing a new press, since everything else (esp. print quality) being equal, they take up less space and are faster to work with.
Yeah, that stigma is kind of what I've been battling for the last 5 years in sales It's not until we started exhibiting a swing away and draw style press that I could effectively show the differences to an end user. I would buy the clamshell in a heartbeat, but it does still depend a lot on primary application.
How do you feel about buying from ebay.com. I always see heat press machines but I'm not sure about the quality. Should I just invest the extra $ for a more reputable machine?
How do you feel about buying from ebay.com. I always see heat press machines but I'm not sure about the quality. Should I just invest the extra $ for a more reputable machine?
I say invest the extra in a more reputable machine, however you can sometimes find these machines used from other users on ebay. This can be a great value sometimes, but it is also a bit more of a risk than buying from an authorized distributor.
If you're looking to buy used, I'd recommend checking locally. This way you can see the press in person first and save on shipping costs. This is how we found ours - specifically, I called up several local t-shirt shops and screen printers and asked around until I found someone with a used press for sale. Plan to pay 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a comparable new model.
If you're looking for a new press, I'd avoid eBay and go with a reputable dealer like Imprintables or Best Blanks.
Heat Press - Selecting a Style - Video Demo 
I didn't mention every...
Re: Heat Press - Selecting a Style - Video Demo 
Re: Heat Press - Selecting a Style - Video Demo 
