T-Shirt - Heat Press - Which one should I get?

Geo Knight - buy one and be done.

 

how serious are you about this?
* Main focus of the business
* An added services to keep customers happy / shopping one location
* side hobby

Geo--Knight is the premier,
but there are plenty of others that can fill the need also.

 

I'd recommend a swing away rather than a clamshell design. It'll save your knuckles touching the top platen and let's you get a proper top down view for alignment/positioning.

 

I jave a geo knoght love it but would prob opt fkr awing away hot tronix over it

Swing away is so much more convenient

 

Id probably suggest spending a bit extra and getting an auto open one at least. Especially for sublimation it’s great to just press it down then wander off without having to worry

 

It's easy to say buy a more expensive press. All of the presses above a great, but that comes at a cost. I think it depends on what type of shirt printing you plan to do. For years I have done Heat transfer vinyl, printed vinyl from my roland versacamm, plastisol transfers and digital transfers printed on our copier with a low end cheap heat press(ProWorld). I just ordered a white toner cmyk printer to try and expand the business. This needs a better heat press. I have ordered a Hotronix Fusion Heat press. Another press that a lot of people like from a t-shirt group I'm part of is the InstaPress 256. Send me a PM if you have otehr questions about my T-Shirt business.

 

Heat press is one of those under appreciated tools.

We use ours from everything from heat transfer vinyl, did at one time do sublimation, bling transfers, apart of patch production (depends on if the customer wants adhesive backing or not in most instances) and applique production if I have to use the plotter to cut out the pieces, if it's hand cutting the applique pieces, then I don't need the heat press.

While I'm a huge, huge fan of Geo Knight, the biggest thing here is getting quality. "You" want constant and accurate heat across the platen(s) (if you have a bottom heated platen as well). That is going to be the biggest thing and as those no name presses age, that's harder and harder to get.

I would suggest swing away versus clam shell. Auto open is nice, but not a necessity. I do like having a digital readout on mine, including timer, but again that isn't necessary.

 

We use the Stahls Hotronix. We have the dual air fusion and 2 of the standard fusion presses. The air versions are nice as you dont have to set the pressure manually.

 

We have two very old Insta presses, model 715, and they are great. We picked them up used from a Hallmark store that was discontinuing the heat press t-shirt part of their business. I can't imagine a better heat press than these.

 

Hotronix drawer style here. Bought it used from a guy that was retiring. He had eight of them. Works great and I like it better than the clamshell style.

 

Geo Knight - I purchased about 2 years ago. I love the swing away arm. It's well built and paid for itself within the first couple orders. I have the manual one which keeps my arms in shape during long runs LOL
https://www.signwarehouse.com/p/geo-knight-digital-combo-swing-away-heat-press-machine-14-in-x-16-in

 

Don't buy anything from Heat Press Nation.

 

We use a Hotronix Fusion. I do wish I had an auto open on those long runs though.