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I am looking to purchase a heat press for a side business I have going. Primarily (for now), it is going to be used for heat pressing patches onto work shirts and knit caps. Can anyone recommend an economical brand and model? Or what to look for in a quality unit. Also, if anyone has a used one they want to part with, even better! Thanks for any info! Tyler
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"Economical" heatpress translates to uneven heating, inconsistency in pressing times, cool spots on the platen, lots of wasted materials. The few dollars you save on initial purchase is quickly thrown in the dumpster with all the ruined products you have to eat.
Do some investigating on the net. Can't remember which but one of the expensive big heat press companies had a wiring issue, they'd catch fire.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Tyler, I have a Hotronix swing away model. It's in very good shape. Top of the line when it was new. If your interested let me know and I'll give you all the particulars about the machine and the price.
I've been doing T-shirts for about 20 years now along with my sign business but this year I dropped an onsite printing contract that I was using this machine for, so I don't need it anymore. I still have 2 others.
As for Kissie's comment about economical heat presses, she's not exactly right. I have one that was a very inexpensive model when I bought it and I've pressed what seems like a million shirts on it and it is my favorite machine. It really depends on what the machine is going to be used for. If you plan on pressing muti-colored heat transfers that are as large as the platten then you might want one that has the digital controls that would help you to control temp and pressure better. But for the most part any decent press will do the job. In my case the cheaper machine was actually the better performer because speed was more critical than preciseness.
Let me know if your interested, or if you just have any other questions I might help you with.
Dan
-------------------- Dan E. Kearfott Gibson City, IL
Success comes in CANS - Failure comes in Can'ts Posts: 53 | From: Gibson City, IL U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2000
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Same as Jason, the Knight swingaway and its been a good machine. I had a cheaper bran prior to the new one and it burned out in no time at all. Pay a little more now and save a lot more later.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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I have had a Might Press I bought in 2000. It has made many shirts with no problems. I have been told the George Knights are the best. If they are the best, I can't wait to get one. The Mighty Press is so good, I can't imagine anythinf being any better. I also like the clamshell because it doesn't take as much room. This of course is just my 2 cents worth.
-------------------- Cynthia Pack 246 Diamondview Loop Galax, Va. 24333 Posts: 659 | From: Galax, Virginia USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Have had My Knight Press for almost 2 years and Not a single problem. Even after my Son Left it on and closed on a tile.. For 8 Hours. Real lucky we didn't have a fire.
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Bob, My favorite press is a Mighty Press. maybe you just got a bad one. I have pressed at the very least 50,000 t-shirts with it and it keeps on ticking. One thing that I really like is the teflon coated upper platen, you can press on film letters without using a teflon sheet to cover them and they never stick. the rubber pad is getting pretty worn but other than that no cold spots or other problems what so ever.
-------------------- Dan E. Kearfott Gibson City, IL
Success comes in CANS - Failure comes in Can'ts Posts: 53 | From: Gibson City, IL U.S.A. | Registered: Jan 2000
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I have the Knight SwingAway- it's been terrific. Last year while it was heaating up the shop had a huge power surge and it ran through the platen connection. I called Knight and this really great guy said pack it up, send it UPS, and we'll fix it. I got it back 4 days later. No bill and they even paid the shipping back. Now that's what I call a great service and a great company.
-------------------- Linda Schmidt Vital D'Signs Greers Ferry, AR signlady@ozarkisp.net Posts: 160 | From: Greers Ferry, AR | Registered: Sep 2001
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