Choosing your Heat Press
A heat press is the main piece of equipment for any garment decoration or heat printing business. It allows you to add custom decoration, whether that be Custom Heat Transfers or Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV), to t-shirts, sweatshirts, and a range of accessories. The application process is quick and easy, and if you're using a high-quality heat press, will produce a long-lasting product for your customers.
If you're producing low to average-quality garments because your heat press is not up to the task of outputting high-quality prints, the likelihood of your decoration only lasting a few washes is high. This is not good for your business as you'll lose customers, referrals and repeat business. Most new businesses fail within the first year. Don't let your heat press buying decision be the reason your business fails.
By choosing a Hotronix Heat Press you are choosing quality, reliability, and the ultimate ease when decorating. These machines are your ultimate business partner, built to perform and grow as your business does. The lifetime warranty on the heating element, 5 years on the steel framework, and many innovative features that allow your business to expand guarantee you are making the right decision.
The Main Elements to Consider
Consistent Heat Top Platen
This is probably the most important feature to look for when buying a heat press. If you do not have even heat across the top platen, you will struggle to fuse your garment. With inconsistent heat your vinyl or graphics are in danger of being under or overpressed.
Multiple Heat Settings
Not all heat press materials have the same finish. 10°C could make all the difference to a successful press, depending on the type of vinyl or graphic finish you are using. Make sure you can set an exact temperature on your press. Also, having dual timers makes the fusing process much more seamless, allowing you to do a 5 second pre-press before applying your transfer without having to change the timer on the heat press every time.
Variable Pressure
One of the most common mistakes made by first time users is to get the pressure of the press wrong. If you are pressing a t-shirt, a hoody or any other garment, they all require different pressures. Look for a press that will allow you to adjust the pressure of the top platen. Hotronix leads the way with pressure, having patented over-centre adjustment on presses.
Another element key to accurate pressure is digital readout, so you can see the amount of pressure being used with each fuse, and threadability, ensuring there is a flat surface to press onto and no seams or zips are affecting the pressure.
Accuracy
One way of guaranteeing this is to get a press with a threadable bottom platen. This will allow you to get more of the garment over the lower platen. Giving you a more consistent and accurate surface area to press onto. You can also have different size and shape lower heat press platens, allowing you to change the surface area of the fuse for a particular garment or print area.
Staff considerations
When choosing a press, make sure you consider how it will be operated. If the press is running all day or even longer, you need to think about how the opening and closing of a press affects your team. For a press operated for prolonged periods of time, an auto-open press or an air assisted press is recommended. These styles ensure the physical impact of all-day pressing is minimal.
Warranty
A good way to measure the longevity of a potential heat press is too look at its warranty. Most manufacturers should offer you at least a 30 year warranty on the heating element of the press. This way you are guaranteed a press that can handle anything. From all day use through to occasional pressing, and will stand the test of time.
Shop All Heat Presses
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Hotronix Air Fusion IQ Heat Press (Pedestal/ Table Top)Price from £4,150.00 Excl. 20% Vat -
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Hotronix Auto Open Clam Heat PressPrice from £1,130.00 Excl. 20% Vat -
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