After designing, manufacturing and pressing heat transfers for more than three years, I feel like I am finally qualified to provide useful information to those interested in starting or expanding their use of heat transfers.
For the first two years of our business we pressed most of the transfers that we produced. However, due to how fast our transfer production business was expanding we decided to discontinue applying the transfers. Because there are several tricks to the trade that are absolutely essential in successful pressing, we will still provide tips and answer your questions. If you don’t see your question answered down below then post your question and we will do our best to answer it.
FAQ:
What type of heat press do I need?
It completely depends on what you are going to be pressing and whether or not you are going to be moving the press to trade shows, arts shows, events, etc.
If you are going to be moving the heat press frequently then we strongly suggest you buy the smallest and lightest weight press you can. If you must use one that is larger then either purchase or have a custom cart that is made specifically for the weight of your press and the heat that will be generated from it. For this reason we do not suggest a plastic cart and we do suggest you use one that is on lockable caster wheels, for easy and safe mobility.
What size heat press do I need?
The top part of the press is where the heat comes from, the bottom is the platen and it is not hot. So even though you can by platens of different sizes, the size of the heat plate matters most. It should be approximately two inches wider and taller than the maximum size you plan to press. The heat at the outside edges is often times not as hot as the rest of the plate so this sizing will make sure that you only have to press the item once.
Do I need an auto release heat press?
If you are going to do production for entire days at a time then an auto release heat press will prevent worker fatigue. We have not found that they press better or worse than manual presses but they do improve production time and they are a nice to have, but they are quite a bit more expensive.
Do I need a heat press with a timer and temperature setting?
Even the most basic of heat press usually has a simple timer to make sure you press each transfer for the right amount of time. This feature is very useful when you are multi tasking because it keeps you from accidentally damaging the item you are pressing. You absolutely have to have a good thermostat and temperature reading because some transfers press better at just 5-10 degrees cooler or hotter. This aspect is very important.
What is tephlon and why do I need it?Tephlon sheets are what keeps the heat plate from damaging the goods being pressed. You can sometimes find these reusable sheets in a hobby or craft shop but they are not nearly the same quality as what you buy from the manufacturers suppliers. The professional sheets cost around $7 or $50 for 15 sheets and should be a few inches bigger than the largest heat plate you are working with. They will last about 2000 presses before needing to be replaced. The hobby shop ones will only last about 50 presses but they will work, in the interim, if you forget or lose your professional one. Also, be sure you get the right type of tephlon, they should be flexible like the first one pictured. DO NOT BUY ONE LIKE THE SECOND PICTURE
Wrong Tephlon Sheet
I see some much less expensive heat presses advertised through http://www.myortown.com can I buy one of those?
They work very similar to US models but they are set up very differently from an electrical respect. They are set up to run on 220, rather than 110 electrical and you can not simply put them on a convertor. You will need to have an electrician rewire the equipment for you and many models have an internal breaker that will need to be replaced. We have tried to manage this and we found that it did not save us much money and it was a huge pain!
http://www.myortown.com/products/heat-press/c-4/
Is a clamshell opening or side swing opening heat press best?
This depends on several factors, primarily the space you have to work in. Clamshells take the less space but there are two downsides. They allow the heat to be directed into the operators face when it is open and your hands will be right under the heat plate when you are getting your item ready to press. On the other hand a side swing heat press will take up room to the right of the press, as well as to the back of the press so it can not be place up against a wall. We used both successfully and there are considerations for both but I think most people end up using a clamshell heat press. We found that you really need a space of about 8′ wide x 3′ deep to adequately provide you with room for efficient production.
There may be more questions that you have and we are happy to try to answer them, just send us a comment and we will do what we can.