Impressions - January/February 2023 - 32

Resources
Geo Knight & Co. - heatpress.com
HeatPressNation.com - heatpressnation.com
HIX Corporation - hixcorp.com
Insta Graphic Systems - instagraph.com
STAHLS'/Hotronix - stahls.com
Insta Graphic Systems -
With its twin platens and slide mechanism, the
air-operated Hotronix Dual Air Fusion IQ has been
confi gured for ease-of-use and high production volumes
format platens measuring anywhere from 26-by-32 to 44-by-65 inches
(and more!) are available.
As a practical matter, platens in the " standard " range are considered
standard for a reason: because they provide a heating element suffi ciently
large for the vast majority of applications most professional shops
encounter, at a reasonable cost and without being too cumbersome or
requiring an overly large work area.
Th at said, if you've got the room (and the budget) you might want
to consider something a little larger in order to expand your options.
" A larger 20-inch-by-25-inch [platen] can nearly simulate an all-over
print on a garment, " HIX's Coëme explains. " Th is over-size is also ideal
to 'gang up' a number of smaller projects that can all be sublimated at
the same time...such as tiles, ceramic ornaments, smaller plates, sublimatable
bottle openers and other small, fl at substrates. "
As always, the key is to think long and hard about where exactly you
think your business is going to take you before making the fi nal decision
in terms of the heat press that's right for you.
Quality
Of course, all this talk of basic confi gurations and platen sizes means
nothing if you end up with a cheaply made heat press that isn't up to
doing the job of actual pressing.
First and foremost, no matter what kind of decorating you have in
mind, you want to go with a top-notch cast-aluminum heating plate to
ensure you get the kind of heat you need. Th e goal here is even, predictable
heat across the entire surface, no matter how long the press run, as
opposed being stuck with a cheaper platen plagued by " cold spots " across
its heating surface and inconsistent temperatures overall.
" Many cheap or import models have a 'Z' pattern for the heating
coils, " Harding says. " Instead, look for a heat press with heat coils that
zigzag across the entire surface of the upper platen. Th is feature ensures
even distribution of heat and zero cold spots that can lead to peeling
transfers or failed attempts. "
HIX Corporation's Coëme agrees, emphasizing a professional-grade
heat press needs to be able to reach and sustain an " even " temperature
of up to 400°F across its entire surface.
" Th e best heat presses will have heating rods embedded into (rather
than attached to the surface of) the heat casting, " he says. " Embedding
the heating rod needs to happen in a foundry whereby aluminum is
poured in a cast that already contains the heating rod. As such, once the
aluminum cools, the heating element is permanently and fi rmly embedded,
and can provide consistent heat over the entire platen surface. "
" Once your heat press breaks the 30- to 40-hours-per-week threshold,
that's when you'll want to consider a more heavy-duty commercial maP.32
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JAN./FEB. 2023
chine, " HeatPressNation.com's Barbosa says. " For that, I'd recommend
a solid U.S.A.-made brand like Geo Knight, STAHLS' Hotronix, HIX
or Insta [Graphic Systems]. "
In addition, Barbosa says, " If a press has a 30-day warranty or none
at all. Steer clear! Can you call the manufacturer and get technical support?
Do they even have a phone number listed? If you can't get a hold
of a live human on the phone, I would avoid that company at all costs.
Good heat press manufacturers and retailers back up their products. Bad
ones make a quick sale and then avoid their customers. "
Finally, complementing platen quality, no matter what the exact type
of heat press, you're going to want to go with robust construction overall,
which in turn means a well-built base, linkage and controls. More
often than not, you get what you pay for, but not always. Take a close
look at whatever press you're considering. Better still, check it out fi rsthand,
either by visiting your nearest distributor or seeing what's on
hand at a trade show.
" An inexpensive press can be robust. An expensive press can be fl imsy.
Th e price of the press tells some but not the entire story, " Coëme says.
" A good quality, robust press is made of steel, not plastic...the handle
and leverage mechanisms have little to no idle movement and 'feel'
right when opening and closing. Th e closing mechanism works with
ease, even if fully manual. "
Along these same lines, Knights says, " Th e overall weight of the press
is a great indicator of whether it is of plastic or sheet-metal constitution,
fl imsy and light, or a heavily built and heavily welded structure that will
stand the test of time. Reputation and online comments and reviews
will also indicate quite colorfully whether a press is 'made like a tank'
or made like a 'paper tiger.' " 
Ed Note: Next up, in Part 2 of this series we'll examine the many diff erent
control features available on today's presses as well the various pressing
accessories and specialty presses on the market these days.
To ensure you get the kind of quality
press you need, look for " Made-in-theU.S.A. "
Note the all-steel components
going into this HIX model
http://www.heatpress.com http://www.HeatPressNation.com http://www.heatpressnation.com http://www.hixcorp.com http://www.instagraph.com http://www.stahls.com http://www.IMPRESSIONSMAG.COM
Impressions - January/February 2023

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