[pjb84]

Hi guy,

I have a chance to buy a used Mighty Press Manual Clam Press 16x20 for $400. The seller is also including some transfers with it. It was manufactured in 1996. The owner tells me the heat element is warrantied for life.

How long do these things last for? Will a 13 yr old press still perform as good as one thats only a couple yrs old?

Does the price seem fair?

What should I look for when I see it in person?

Thanks a lot. Ive been lurking here for a while but I just finally registered. GREAT forum.

 

[Girlzndollz]

Some people have their presses on here for that long or longer and seem happy. Mine is new, so I'll let them elaborate on that so you get first hand info on that.

As for the warranty.... that is what I want to talk to you about. Make sure the warranty is transferrable to you. Sometimes, the warranty is only for the original purchaser, and in the case of Mighty Press, I think that is the case, double check.

If the owner does not have the manual, call Mighty Press (Stahls). The info may be right on Stahls website, but if it changed over the years, you'll need to know that.

If it is a good price or not depends on how much they go for new, with a full warranty... compared to how good of condition this one is in, and if it comes with the warranty or not.

What to check: I would be prepared to go there and spend a good half hour there. Don't let him warm it up before you get there. Time to see how long it takes to heat up to full heat. Mine is about 10 minutes (Mighty Press Lite). Once it reaches the temp, the green light goes off.

Next, bring a cotton tee shirt and transfer paper. Cut the transfer paper into about 9 boxes. Place those boxes spread out on the tee shirt, so you can press them, and see if they all press the same, with the same results. If they do, you know the upper platen is heating evenly across, that is a great sign. If you get varied results, some stick and do not peel, some look bad, etc. then there may be an issue with the heating element. Realize tho, for a hot peel, as the paper cools, it gets harder to peel (usually), so reheating real quick (10 seconds or so) to peel the second half of boxes might not be uncommon.

Then after about 20 minutes, do the test again. See if the results are the same. If they are, it is a good sign the heating element is able to hold *consistant* heat without flucuations. That is important.

Another thing you can do is bring an IR Gun to check the temp on the upper platen to see if the heating element is in sync with the temp control.

Look over the electrical cord and attachments. Check the arm and pressure knobs, make sure they function and are sturdy. That's all I can think of off the top of my head... good luck...

 

[nascarbob]

Kelly covered that topic, just make sure the pad is in good shape, nothing else for me to add.

 

[charles95405]

One thing to add about the warranty..sometimes the warranty is not worth it. I have a name brand press that was having heating problems..it was the heating element, but in order to take advantage of the warranty I had to ship at my expense...both ways...half way across the country...and IF they decided it was not the element...I would have a nice door stop...I opted to just buy the heating element...replaced it and all is fine for less than the cost of one way shipping..

 

[proworlded]

A used press is like a used car. You really don't know what you are getting until you use it. We were selling that press back in 1995 for about $700 so I think that you might be able to do better than $400. All the heating elements are warrantied for life because they very rarely go bad, in fact I have never experienced a heating element that failed in over 25 years of selling transfer machines. Whenever you buy a used piece of equipment you are venturing into the unknown. It can work great today and fail tomorrow. "Let the buyer beware".

 

[JOAT]

Mighty press is a quality piece...the worst thing would be an element an you can replace it as needed

 

[pjb84]

whats the cost of an element? Thank you!

 

[JOAT]

I am not posotive. Im sure its not much. I wouldnt worry about it if you really like it buy it... there is also a company called [removed] theres are 20x16 and a couple more presses to choose from

 

[proworlded]

Mighty press is a quality piece...the worst thing would be an element an you can replace it as needed

That's the wost thing and probably $100+ to replace. Other things that could turn faulty are the timer, thermostat, springs, pressure control unit, wiring system.....even a broken handle from applying too much pressure.

 

[Jay Merc]

I am not posotive. Im sure its not much. I wouldnt worry about it if you really like it buy it... there is also a company called theres are 20x16 and a couple more presses to choose from

I did not see any specific brand names for the heat presses on heatpresswholesale.com.

Are these presses, or is this seller, reputable?

Thanks!

 

[proworlded]

This website sells machines made in China. They are not brand specific.

 

[Girlzndollz]

I did not see any specific brand names for the heat presses on heatpresswholesale.com.

Are these presses, or is this seller, reputable?

Thanks!

What are you seeing when you click that link? I get 5 more links to sites... do you?

Did you click the link or did you type in the name in your post? The name in your post does not match the name in the link... is this causing the disconnect?


When I click the link above, the top link lists Geo Knight, that is a name brand press...

Also, the last link, is a link to ALpha Supply, who is a forum sponsor, and they sell name brand presses.

I didn't run down the rest as the first two I clicked brought me to brand name presses.

What did you find that made you wonder?

 

[Jay Merc]

What are you seeing when you click that link? I get 5 more links to sites... do you?

Did you click the link or did you type in the name in your post? The name in your post does not match the name in the link... is this causing the disconnect?


When I click the link above, the top link lists Geo Knight, that is a name brand press...

Also, the last link, is a link to ALpha Supply, who is a forum sponsor, and they sell name brand presses.

I didn't run down the rest as the first two I clicked brought me to brand name presses.

What did you find that made you wonder?

hi, i typed in this url heatpresswholesale.com

i thought i saw it somewhere in the above link. maybe not. I'm still in la la land with this whole process. I noticed very cheap prices but no brand names.

I'm in the market for one but i'm not looking for the cheapest. But at the same time i dont want to get takem for a ride. Something in between would be nice.

I want to start small but with the capacity to step it up when i have too.

 

[Girlzndollz]

Oh, I just clicked the link someone here posted, but that is different than what you typed.

Maybe the Sunie Press is for you. If you search "sunie" you will find the feedback on it. A good thread with some great feedback is Charles' thread. Search "Charles Sunie" and he talks about a good one. Not all off brand presses are created equal, and not all stink. That model, the one in Charles thread, seems to give consistantly good performance and results for people here. It comes with a warranty and affordable price tag. If you search the model in Charles thread, you can get a wider assortment of feedback. Good luck to you.

 

[pjb84]

Well, the owner says he'll take $275 for the press and about 700 pre made transfers of all kinds.

He saqid it takes about a half hour for the machine to heat up and about 1 hr to cool down. Does this sound right?

He said to call him when Im 30 mins away so he has time to warm it up so its ready for when I get there. Im not gonna call until Im almost there so I can see how long it takes to heat up.

 

[hiGH]

im a proud owner of a 16x20 mighty. had it over a year and still works as good as it did when it came out of the box. haha.

 

[proworlded]

I would say that there is definitely a problem with a machine that takes 30 minutes to heat up. A machine that is operatley properly should reach 375 in about 10-15 minutes. I think Kelly is right. A brand new Sunie is probably a wiser choice.

 

[Girlzndollz]

He said to call him when Im 30 mins away so he has time to warm it up so its ready for when I get there. Im not gonna call until Im almost there so I can see how long it takes to heat up

Listen... just tell the guy you don't want it turned on before you get there. You want it cold.

Then you'll be able to see *if* it takes 30 minutes to heat up. It would surely be toasty by 30 minutes, but that doesn't mean it'll take 30 minutes to reach that temp. He might think you want to see it as it's peak. But tell him "no". Timing how long it takes to heat up from cold is part of your evaluation of the machine.

I am a press owner, and that request makes perfect sense to me.

Ed has stated in other posts, heating elements rarely go bad, in his experience... so give this thing a try.

At the price point you are at, along with the transfers, you are in a *very good* neighborhood, if the press functions well and the transfers are good.

Heck at that price, if the transfers are good, you can sell the transfers themselves for $275 and get the press for fricking FRee!!! haha!

Take your time.. check this press out. It is worth a fair evaluation. Jmo...

 

[pjb84]

Listen... just tell the guy you don't want it turned on before you get there. You want it cold.

Then you'll be able to see *if* it takes 30 minutes to heat up... nothing says it does. It would surely be toasty by 30 minutes, but that doesn't mean it'll take 30 minutes to reach that temp. He might think you want to see it as it's peak. But tell him "no". Timing how long it takes to heat up from cold is part of your evaluation of the machine.

I am a press owner, and that request makes perfect sense to me.

Ed has stated in other posts, heating elements rarely go bad, in his experience... so give this thing a try.

At the price point you are at, along with the transfers, you are in a *very good* neighborhood, if the press functions well and the transfers are good.

Heck at that price, if the transfers are good, you can sell the transfers themselves for $275 and get the press for fricking FRee!!! haha!

Take your time.. check this press out. It is worth a fair evaluation. Jmo...

Thanks, will do that. If this thing takes too long to heat up then I'll go for the Sunie.

 

[Girlzndollz]

I would say that there is definitely a problem with a machine that takes 30 minutes to heat up. A machine that is operatley properly should reach 375 in about 10-15 minutes. I think Kelly is right. A brand new Sunie is probably a wiser choice.

The poster will have to just tell him have it cold so he can test how long it takes to heat up.

After that, then he'll know the answer to that. That's just my opinion on it. He can do what he wants, but $275 includes no extra sales tax that will be tacked onto a retail order, as well as shipping charges.

PS: When I was talking the Sunie, I was talking with the other member, Jay Merc, not PJB84. Sorry, just wanted to get out of that loop there, bc I think the MP is worth checking out.

Edited: Sorry, Ed, I missed that line where he said the owner says it takes about 30 to heat up, and responded to you without that info.