[d_p_yan]

Hi,

Well I've finally sorted out my vinyl cutter - now I need a reasonably priced (cheap) but feature packed heat press.

Mainly to be used for kids t's and tote bags.

I don't have the finances for a high end digital/magnetic press just yet so i'm looking for something to prove the idea and then hopefully upgrade in a 6 months to a year.

I've got my eye on the following three on ebay:
Commercial use Sublimation HEAT Press TRANSFER rrp £450 on eBay, also, Heat Presses, Printing Graphic Arts, Business, Office Industrial (end time 20-Oct-08 22:15:02 BST)
DIGITAL SWING-AWAY HEAT PRESS HEAT TRANSFER on eBay, also, Heat Presses, Printing Graphic Arts, Business, Office Industrial (end time 24-Oct-08 10:33:07 BST)
40 x 50cm DIGITAL SWING-AWAY HEAT PRESS HEAT TRANSFER on eBay, also, Heat Presses, Printing Graphic Arts, Business, Office Industrial (end time 27-Oct-08 20:47:32 GMT)

I guess my first question is has anyone bought one of these presses from everest-team and how was the service and product?

My second question is whether it is better to get a swing-away or clam shell as a starter press?

And my last question is whether it is better to get a big press (40cm x 50cm in this case) or will a smaller press (38cm x 38cm in this case) do for now given I am only dealing with small garments and bags. Is bigger the better way to go?

Any help, feedback or alternatives would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TVS]

Hi derik
On a personal view, and going on what you have mentioned what you will be doing, i think the 38 x 38 is plenty big enough for you to do what you need.
I have a very larg press and a 38 x 38 and if i`m honest i use that more.
For what the 38 x 38 clam presses are going for you will save a lot instead of going for the swing away, and in the savengs you make i would say put that towards a good vinyl cutter.
Then you would have all that you would need to do everything in what you have said you`ll be doing.
Thats my own personal view
One the suppler i bought my 38 x 38 from them but i`ve never had to get in touch with them in regards to the press system.

Start small and go for the 38 x 38 press and in what you save buy a cutter, and then you can do a lot more.
If and when your small business grows, you can then buy bigger like i done
Hope this helps m8, but in this game its not (in my own personal view) always best to go large from the start if you are going to be doing small things.
Also you can go for a 24" cutter, but for what you have said you`ll be doing i`de say go for a A3 cutter they are quite cheap now.

 

[CUSTOM UK]

Hi Derek. I have dealt with Everest in the past. They had their account and shop closed down by EBay in the summer, as being a former customer, I had a formal notice from eBay advising me of this fact. They started up a couple of weeks later under the slightly different user name they have now. You will find their previous feedback under everest-teams.

I have seen quite a few presses sold on there, that for some reason have never been left any feedback? There are two lots of recent negative feedback for heat presses they sell.

Hope this helps.

 

[d_p_yan]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I think a smaller press might be the way to go initially.

I'm still thinking about the everest press - their feedback recently is not 'too' bad and i'm covered by Paypal as well - even though paypal takes ages to refund.

I'll let everyone know how I get on with everest - hopefully it's positive comments.

Once again thanks for the valuable feedback.

 

[CUSTOM UK]

Hi Derek, even though it has only been small consumables I have bought from Everest in the past, the items have always been as described and delivered ok.

Using PayPal is the sensible option for buying the more expensive items off EBay.

 

[Badgers]

Hi Derek,

As a distributor, we've been selling heat presses for years and the vast majority of customers go for a 38x38 press. Unless you're looking at producing massive designs, this will be more than adequate.

With regards to the Clam Vs Swing-Away question, unless you were looking at spending 7-8 hours a day just printing, a Clam press is much less expensive and should be just as good.

Finally, you could look at getting a Chinese heat press, but the build quality has been questioned by everyone we've dealt with that's bought one - Personally, I would say that buying from within the UK would be your best bet, as you can get any advice and support that you require quickly and easily.


Regards,

Alan

 

[d_p_yan]

A quick update.

I ended up getting a 38x38 everest 'commercial' press off eBay.

It is your standard chinese press, aren't they all, but works well. Has a temp and timer setting (dual timer for two stage pressing) with alarm.

Is fairly well built and has a floating top platten also comes with a thick heat proof rubber like base cover and pressure adjustment via large knob on top.

Overall I am fairly happy with it and everest - no problems at all really - arrived 3 days after purchase by courier, well packed and sealed.

The instructions are the normal chinese to english translation but to be honest it is fairly easy to use so the instructions aren't really needed.

Like most cheaper chinese presses I'm hoping to get a years use out of it any more than that would be a bonus.

Hope this helps someone else looking for a cheap press.

 

[hotwheels]

Derek,
thanks for the update
Myself and many other people on here are looking to buy a heatpress, I had many of the questions as you, and after a couple of weeks decided I also wanted a 38x38 press, however I'll be going for a clamshell due to space restrictions in my place.

Please let everyone know how you get on in the next couple of months.

p.s. I would advise you to test how even the heat is across the upper plate ASAP, if i have heard of one common complaint about 'cheap' presses its that they dont have even temperature which can cause major problems. You can test yours with an infared heat gun (check ebay). If its not even send it back, if its even, then I think you will get more than your moneys worth.

Good luck