That's a tough one. Sounds like just a frustrating string of bad luck, that you're tired of dealing with, and not necessarily HPN to blame.

I'm a noob, so i have limited hardware experience, but I have 2 pads on my bottom platten 1/4" each, and I can't imagine the plates being so uneven that the mats wouldn't compensate for it. But if your pressure is so uneven that it affects the finished product, then you're doing yourself a disservice to rationalize keeping it. Send it back. The features and price are meaningless if your product is substandard.

 

That's a tough one. Sounds like just a frustrating string of bad luck, that you're tired of dealing with, and not necessarily HPN to blame. I'm a noob, so i have limited hardware experience, but I have 2 pads on my bottom platten 1/4" each, and I can't imagine the plates being so uneven that the mats wouldn't compensate for it. But if your pressure is so uneven that it affects the finished product, then you're doing yourself a disservice to rationalize keeping it. Send it back. The features and price are meaningless if your product is substandard.

Hmmm...sounds like an answer from HPN itself to tell you that it is not HPN's fault. Can't blame repeated faulty machines on "bad luck" because there is no such thing as luck. It can only be bad machines.

 

Would you send it back and move on to another company at this point?

I would call them first. There might be a simple solution or hack. Like adding an extra layer of padding on the lower platen.

Can you look at the upper platen and see where it is not completely flat? If you have a yard stick, that would help detect any unevenness.

But by no means should you settle on not being able to use it for certain tasks that it was built to do.

 

I called them and one of the tech's said "That's weird" lol. Then they had me tighten screws that were already tight. Then they told me to test some prints and see how it goes. I'm not confident they have a good solution. I would love a hack because I don't wanna keep dealing with this. I checked the upper platen and it's a tiny bit wavy, but nothing that extreme in that spot. But then again, I'm not sure what the tolerances should be for something in this price class.

 

There is a small detail most people overlook... The heat press must be tested when hot.
Get a steel ruler and check the heat plate flatness when hot.
If the platen is straight, then the problem is likely to be the pad

 

I tried this -- there were tiny gaps along that side, but also along the other sides that held the pressure just fine. Seems the platen isn't totally perfectly straight anywhere, but I sort of expect that from this level of press. I tried sticking notecards under the silicon pad to see if that helped close the gap -- and it worked in that one weak spot, but then it just shifted the weakness to another spot further back. It's kind of driving me crazy because it seems to get worse each time I try it, so I wonder if something is shifting around that shouldn't be (I tightened all the screws and bolts already)

This press was a free upgrade because they'd sent me a few damaged ones of their CraftPro model (supposedly all FedEx's fault).

I still have the last CraftPro here, and was gonna send it back today, but that one actually held pressure more evenly than this one. The main problem with it was that one of the feet was all bent up and so I had to shim it so it would stand flat, which got annoying since the press jumps a little when opening under high pressure. But even tho the Signature has a much improved platen drawer system, a threadable lower platen, and a better display box, this bent up CraftPro may just be the better option at this point. I just hate the idea of having bought a new product that arrived messed up, even though it functions fine.

I wish I could afford the better press companies at this point, but can't imagine the other companies at this price point are any better. (Tell me if I'm wrong about that -- I've heard mixed things about ProWorld)

 

along the same lines as above,
i would have suggested if it was a really good deal and the temp across the platen seems decent, then invest in a set of teflon pillows to compensate (or another bottom pad)

or htv check this out, it will help 'set' your designs with a slightly uneven platen (it is thermoflex, not thermal flex)

 

along the same lines as above,
i would have suggested if it was a really good deal and the temp across the platen seems decent, then invest in a set of teflon pillows to compensate (or another bottom pad)

or htv check this out, it will help 'set' your designs with a slightly uneven platen (it is thermoflex, not thermal flex)

The temp is fine across the platen. Maybe I should just get another bottom pad to make it all thicker. I don't know.

I use ThermoFlex and love it.

I just worry about if I'm doing a large print or using plastisol and that area might press it weak.

 

Only you know the troubles you've had but multiple samples of defective press's would be a red flag for me. Maybe you can put up with these issues now, but I always think ahead to when I might want to sell & trying to sell something that doesn't perform as advertised is just a pita.

 

Their prince alone indicates that it's probably a piece of junk. That price almost certainly is from using sub-standard components and undersized heat elements. A quality heat press in that size range will run $1000. There are reasons that brand names carry a higher cost. Better materials, better service and parts are available. Odds are that heat press will not work for dye sublimation, if you ever go that way.
I would return it and purchase 1) Geo Knight or 2) Hix from them. Brand names are your friend.

 

Cheap presses often yield cheap results. If you are handy with tools, look for a used press from Geo. Knight, Stahls (Hotronix), Insta. I have used presses from all three, with decades of use on them. Seriously, a Knight can last 20 to 30 years. A good brand name will be worth the money. You should be making shirts, not testing junk presses.

 

Yeah. I'm returning it and I'm pretty much finished with Heat Press Nation for now. I think their quality control is suffering during the pandemic. I got a clamshell from US Cutter. I know it's all the same stuff especially at this price point, but I just can't afford one of the good ones right now. It's my goal though!

At least this one from US Cutter seems a bit better than the HPN presses and doesn't have any of the problems I saw in the other ones.

Now just wondering what an acceptable variation in temperatures is across the platen for HTV and plastisol transfers (I made a separate post asking about this). I have about 12-13 degree variations, so I'm not sure how to compensate for that.

I know that's what I get for buying a "cheap" press, but it's the best I could do right now. It was either this or nothing. Or Amazon...

 

I hope I didn't come off as mean, it's just that I've made that mistake more than once. My Insta 216 is close to 20 years old, I bought it for $500 ($1600+ new) off eBay 10 or more years ago. I recently replaced the analog thermostat with a $17.00 digital one. My Hotronix (Stahls) hat press I got for $250, and I just got a small 6 x 8 Knight for $180 including the freight. 20 years old according to the Knight factory, works perfectly. So, keep your eyes open, and if you see something snag, you can always sell it for the same price. Good luck.

Steve

 

No you didn't come off as mean. Everything you said totally makes sense. I've been looking for used presses near me but it's slim pickings. There was a Geo Knight but it was almost 30 years old and I called the company and they said they don't even have the parts for it anymore, so if something went wrong, I'd have a 100 lb of junk on my hands. I saw a Basix (I guess an old Hix?) for $200 but it's a 4 hour drive away. The US Cutter seems to be doing the job for now at least. But yeah, if an old good press comes up near me, I'm snagging it!

 

my hix swingman is 20+ years old and i picked it up for $150

try to find something like that, as it only has an analog temp controller
no motherboard/electronics to fail and cost you $$$, just a $12 controller
bring paper temp strips to test the plate temp in different areas, it really is just wires and metal

there is a reason some companies offer lifetime warranties on the upper platen