digital dye sublimation printing,sublimation printer machine cost,wide format color inkjet printer

Heat press machines are the best way to print designs on coffee mugs, caps, t-shirts, and all sorts of garments. However, if you need a heat press only to print on t-shirts, you will likely look for very specific features that make these machines perfect for this purpose.

But, finding the perfect heat press machine for t shirts can be hard with so many things to consider, such as temperature range, size, and heat distribution. To help you navigate through different models and types of heat presses, we created this buying guide.

Keep reading to learn more about the different types of heat presses and find out what features make a heat press perfect for t shirt printing.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEAT PRESSES

There are three main types of heat presses, all of which have their own advantages and shortcomings.

✔️CLAM SHELL

Like their name suggests, these heat presses use a mechanism with top and bottom plates that resemble a clam shell or jaws. They are usually cheaper, sturdier, and require less space.

✔️SWING AWAY

These presses work in the same way as the clam shell type (the top plate that provides heat is movable), but they have one key difference. The top plate can rotate 360 degrees and be moved completely out of the way. The swing away presses are safer but sacrifice some sturdiness and require more clearance room.

✔️DRAW

Unlike the previous two types which have a movable top plate, draw style heat presses have a movable bottom plate. This plate can be pulled out in a similar way to a cupboard drawer. People who use this type of heat presses have to be particularly careful when making the transfer to avoid the bottom plate moving.

In our opinion, clam shell models are the best choice for printing t-shirts, as they are time efficient and usually sturdier than the other types. The garment layout also usually doesn’t need as much attention to detail.

SIZE AND SHAPE

The size of the heat press you need depends on two key factors – the garments you will be printing on and the space you have at your disposal. If you don’t have a lot of clearance space, you’ll be better off with a clam shell model. That would also allow you to get a model with larger plates, as swing away presses with large plates require a lot of space.

You should also consider the shape of your heat press. For t shirt printing you will need a press with a flat surface. If you want to work with other objects in the future (caps or mugs), you might be better off with a 5-in-1 or an 8-in-1 press.

If you want to use your press solely for t shirt printing, our recommendation is to go for either a 15" x 15" or 16" x 20" model. Their plates are just the perfect size for most t-shirts.

SAFETY

Safety is something that often gets overlooked when talking about the best heat presses. People love to talk about pressure, temperature, and versatility, but safety is one of the most important things you should keep in mind when buying a heat press machine.

This is especially a concern for clam shell models, as they require you to put your hands under the heating plate. This is another reason why you should go for larger models – the spacing between the top and bottom plates is usually bigger. If safety is a big concern, then you’re probably better off with a swing away heat press.

For more information about digital dye sublimation printing,sublimation printer machine cost,wide format color inkjet printer, we are glad to serve you.