Why an auto open heatpress

3038 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Amw, Dec 18, 2017

wonkylogoltd

Discussion Starter · Nov 9, 2017

If your just pressing HTV or transfers then what is the benefit of an auto opening heat press? Am I missing something obvious? It takes only half a second to pop the press open so why bother with auto open. Is it only really beneficial if you are operating more then 1 press at a time?

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

tfalk

· #2 · Nov 9, 2017

If you are doing one thing, and ONLY one thing at a time, then yes it makes no sense. Do you do only 1 thing at a time? Are you hovering over the press waiting impatiently for the timer to expire so you can open it and not burn your product?

Most of us are doing other things while waiting for the press to operate and when the timer goes off, dash back to the press to open it. The auto-open saves you from that mad dash, it saves you from ruining products. In the long run, it saves you time by allowing you to do other things instead of standing over the press waiting. For DTG for example, when you have press times that are in minutes instead of seconds, it really becomes obvious...

numbercruncher

· #3 · Nov 9, 2017

why bother with auto open. Is it only really beneficial if you are operating more then 1 press at a time?[/QUOTE]

That is certainly an advantage and depending on the pressure required the operator is likely to be less fatigued if you are heat pressing say 100+ pieces. Which means on bigger jobs you get more production (and if you are doing it - less pain).

wonkylogoltd

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 9, 2017

No I would never stand over the press waiting I am far too impatient for that. I either line up all the logos on the shirts when using HTV and then have a big pile of shirts ready to press then use 2 presses at a time so for a 15 second dwell I end up waiting for 5 seconds or have a helper and ping pong them, we can press 100 shirts in 20 minutes like this plus lining up time. Or for trannies I will be grabbing the next shirt off the shelf while one is cooking for 10 seconds, I find this is a great way to speed you up.
So for this I'm guessing it's not worth getting auto open?

danversatrans

· #5 · Nov 9, 2017

Do a couple thousand shirts or presses and it will make a lot more sense

Reactions: 3

Amw

· #6 · Nov 10, 2017

danversatrans said:
Do a couple thousand shirts or presses and it will make a lot more sense

This right here is one big reason (Above).

All the extra movements of opening the press over years and many shirts your body will thank you for it. Much less fatigue on your body.

Reactions: 1

splathead

· #7 · Nov 10, 2017

I'm with Dan. On large jobs you will be able to work longer with less fatigue with an auto open. Opening a press, especially on higher pressure settings, is like lifting weights. Try doing that for 8 hours.

Reactions: 1

wonkylogoltd

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 10, 2017

Ok, thank you I understand. Is the auto open very loud compared to manually opening the press?

PatWibble

· #9 · Nov 10, 2017

Auto opening makes sense for all the reasons stated above - as long as the mechanism is of good enough quality to last. On a cheaper press you could just be paying for something else that can potentially go wrong.

Personally, I would rather spend the money on a Pressmech. The cam mechanism makes them easy to open, and there is very little to go wrong.

My workflow sounds a lot like Wonky's. I press in batches, with everything at hand. I don't spend much time standing around for a press to open.

proworlded

· #10 · Nov 10, 2017

Depending on the make and model the auto open is not any louder than opening it manually. Also, there is now available a fully automatic electric heat press that opens and closes with a push of a button.

olga1

· #11 · Nov 10, 2017

What is a Pressmech ?

wonkylogoltd

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 10, 2017

PatWibble said:
Auto opening makes sense for all the reasons stated above - as long as the mechanism is of good enough quality to last. On a cheaper press you could just be paying for something else that can potentially go wrong.

Personally, I would rather spend the money on a Pressmech. The cam mechanism makes them easy to open, and there is very little to go wrong.

My workflow sounds a lot like Wonky's. I press in batches, with everything at hand. I don't spend much time standing around for a press to open.

That Pressmech looks nice, have you ever tried one Pat?

tfalk

· #13 · Nov 10, 2017

We used an old hotronix for years. Then we got a knight dk20 for a few years but I developed hearing loss and can't hear the tone... burned a bunch of shirts because of that. We then added the magnetic auto-open setup on the DK20 but my wife hated it because of the effort required to clamp it down.... Wish we had bought our Hix 880 years ago... one finger to close it, pops open when done. Just needs an air compressor but I already have one I use for working on cars.

When you get older and develop health issues and repetitive stress injuries, you will understand why some of us use auto's.

Probably before your time, but there used to be a car repair commercial, I think it was Midas?

"You can pay me now. Or you can pay me later...."

DrivingZiggy

· #14 · Nov 10, 2017

tfalk said:
"You can pay me now. Or you can pay me later...."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij1yDpfZI8Q

Reactions: 1

PatWibble

· #15 · Nov 10, 2017

wonkylogoltd said:
That Pressmech looks nice, have you ever tried one Pat?

Managed to pick up a used one on Ebay.
Very solid, heavy duty piece of kit.
The configuration of the opening mechanism makes it very easy to open, compared to some of the 'knee joint' presses on the market.

splathead

· #16 · Nov 10, 2017

wonkylogoltd said:
Is the auto open very loud compared to manually opening the press?

The higher your pressure setting for a particular job, the louder the noise. It can sometimes sound like small arms fire.

Reactions: 1

PatWibble

· #17 · Nov 10, 2017

splathead said:
It can sometimes sound like small arms fire.

We don't know what that sounds like in the UK.

Don't think my nerves would take the sound of being shot at all day long.

Reactions: 2

splathead

· #18 · Nov 10, 2017

PatWibble said:
Don't think my nerves would take the sound of being shot at all day long.

just don't have your head hovering over the press when it releases. you'll get a concussion.

Amw

· #19 · Dec 18, 2017

BlackBlack said:
Is this called magnetic auto open? Or full automatic? Which one is better?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWhNrPE9C78

This is a magnetic auto opening press....you close it and when the timer runs out it releases the magnetic hold (by turning off the electromagnet) and the press opens.

Which is better depends on what you are doing. If you are pressing more then a few hours a day then you should use a full auto press typically.
A lot of dyesub people like manual presses better, there is a little more control over how it opens and closes. But both work well.

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