Best Heat Press Machine: Reviews Of 2020 For T-shirt Printing

Don't know how to choose the best heat press machine?

Well, you are not alone to blame either yourself or the market. Congrats! as you decided to start a t-shirt printing business. Success will depend on not only the plan you have, but also your working process. You will deliver the artworks not the plan to your customers.

So, let the accessories of your printing business be the most important part to pay head. And here an high quality heat press owns the most importance!

If you don't have time to read the whole article, check our top 5 picks below in short!

I take it that you are ready for the ride where we take you through the features and benefits of some of the astounding products currently up for grabs on the market. Let’s dive into our individual product reviews where we discussed features and benefits in brief. We got them from our research, practical experience and available on the market.

1. PowerPress Industrial-Quality Digital 15-by-15-Inch Sublimation T-Shirt Heat Press Review:

To get started with our list, the PowerPress industrial quality digital heat press 15-by-15 inch comes with its incredible feature of use. You can use easily without encountering any problems. It is a solid and durable heat press machine that can stand the test of time.

It is a reliable device that will not fail you. This machine is qualified to be used for professional and semi-professional jobs due to its temperature range of 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has an adjustable pressure which will help you to choose the suitable pressure for each item you want to print on to prevent burnt items.

This specific product comes with a Stopwatch which is used to control the time and temperature of the machine to prevent overexposure to heat by the items printed upon.

There is also a large work surface area to enable you to transfer your artworks to different ranges of flat surfaces. It has a Silicone gel base which you can find at its rear end. This helps to increase the stability smooth working of the heat press machine.

Highlighted Features:

2. The F2C Pro 5 in 1 Digital Transfer Sublimation Heat Press Machine

The F2C Pro 5 in 1 Digital Transfer Sublimation Heat Press helps you to print your attractive designs on different surfaces. It is specially made to print on assorted surfaces like mouse pads, tiles, puzzles, Ceramic plates, Mugs, Coasters and T- shirts respectively.

The F2C Pro is solid and can last for a very long time. The body is made up of powerful steel frames, welded to resists wear and tear.

The working area has a large surface of 12 x 15 inches which is enough to hold a large number of the items you want to print on. This particular product comes together with a heat press printer machine and also assembled together for your ease of use.

You can also find a digital time and temperature control in the system of this heat press to ensure your perfect end result.

Again, the swing-away design of this brand ensures your safety while you are using it to do your transfer.

Highlighted Features:

3. Mophorn Heat Press 5 in 1 Multifunction Sublimation Heat Press Machine Review:

Mophorn Heat Press 5 in 1 Multifunction Sublimation Heat Press is affordable and yet delivers the best quality end result which will blow your mind.

This machine is a solid transfer instrument that is surrounded with heavy steel mechanism. This fabricated steel construction is welded by professionals to promote ease of use.

In fact, you can use at home due to its small working surface of 12 x 10 inches. The heat platen has powerful heating coils to ensure a constant and even heat distribution for the entire transfer.

The heating elements are also coated with Teflon sheet to prevent sticking and to protect your transfer paper from encountering damages.

The swing away design of this brand ensures that the upper platen will rotate 360 degrees around thereby providing safety.

Do you know why? You can now shift the heating element without working nearer the heat distribution area. At least there will be no accidental burning of your hands while working on your project.

To be specific, if you are using the Mophorn Heat Press Machine for your transfers, you are assured of direct top to bottom pressure.

Highlighted Features:

Fancierstudio PowerPress Heat Press Swing Away is specifically designed with a swing-away feature. With this feature, its upper heat platen is able to rotate 360 degrees around so as to keep users safe.

A base plate is added in the makeup of this machine to ensure your easy transfers. The heating element of this great heat transfering machine is moved aside to prevent the accidental contact with the heating element during the heat distribution.

The Fancierstudio Powerpress has an industrial strength which made it possible for you to use for a very long time.

There is an additional coating to the heat platen of this machine to prevent tear and wear. Also, the Silicone rubber base is glued down for your safety purposes.

The machine has a compact design which makes it space efficient.

In fact, you can use to print letters, numbers or graphic designs on T-shirts, bags, mouse mats, jigsaw puzzles, id badges, ceramic tiles and other items.

Highlighted Features:

5. DG Heat Press Digital Sublimation T-Shirt Heat Press, 15-by-15-Inch- Black

7. ShareProfit 5 in 1 Multifunctional Transfer Sublimation Heat Press Machine

The ShareProfit Heat Press Machine is a newly released brand that has risen to the top ranks due to its authenticity.

In fact, it is the best t-shirt printing machine to use if you want to transfer your colorful graphic designs onto any material of your choice in no time at all.

You can use the ShareProfit 5 in 1 Multifunctional Transfer Sublimation Heat Press on any number of items ranging from mugs, hats, coasters, ceramic plates, jigsaw puzzles, caps, lettering to fabrics.

The 5 in 1 design will enable you to use the machine to carry out different kinds of jobs without looking for any other attachment. It comes together with an additional mug press, hat press, and two other plate presses respectively.

To be precise, thismachine is the best fit for a small scale business or home usage due to a heating board of 12 x 15 inches.

The ShareProfit heat press is fully assembled and ready to use for the benefit of people who doesn’t have the experience of how it works.

There is also an instructional manual that will guide you through the process. The system of this is built with cotton and Silicone pad which are replaceable.

It also has the swing-away design which enables it to fully rotate 360 degrees when in use. To prevent burning of transfers, there is a high-quality aluminum Teflon coated platen press element.

Highlighted Features:

The BestEquip Swing Away is a compact transferring machine that can transfer pictures and letters on cotton materials, fiber, metals, ceramics, glass and other items of your choice.

You can also use it to print letters, numbers, and images on T-shirts, garments, bags, mouse mats, jigsaw puzzles, ceramic tiles, plates and other flat surfaces. The temperature of the BestEquip Heat Press ranges from 0- 480 degrees Fahrenheit.

This machine comes with a digital time and temperature control which ensures that the settings are precise and suitable for the particular material you want to transfer on.

If you are looking for the best heat press machine for home use, this machine can be recommended as it comes with an LCD screen which enables you to view and read the workings of the machine. There is also an audible alarm which signifies the time up of the transfer to prevent overexposure to heat.

The swing away design enables you to see the whole work area while the transfer is in the process. It also ensures the safety of your hands hence you don’t have to work directly with the heating elements.

In fact, the BestEquip Swing Away Heat Press makes sure that there is even heat distribution throughout the whole working area.

Highlighted Features:

Are you in need of a flexible and easy to operate heat press machine for your transfer business? Then this particular machine is for you.

Gecko Heat Transfer Press Machine has made a name for itself among other brands as well. It is reliable and also lasts for a very long time. It heats up in just 20 minutes time and reaches up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are additional Teflon sheet and an instructional manual to guide you through the process.

It comes with an installed non-stick 16 x 20-inch heat platen and a complete set of heating coils for constant heat distribution.

With this press machine, you will have the opportunity to carry out assorted types of transfer on materials that reach 5/8 inches. It does not need too much effort when using because of the newly featured lifting mechanism.

Gecko press machine is also surrounded by steel frame construction and adjustable pressure knobs at the bottom of this t-shirt printing machine.

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Okay then, when you have everything ready to use, you may find the process tough to handle. Here's our later guideline of starting to get into the process of printing to taking care of your machine. 
Keep reading!

Things To Consider Before Buying The Best Heat Press Machine

It is not advisable to buy any heat press machine that you like in the market. You have to check and weigh your options thoroughly to be sure that your final choice will suit your printing needs.

Before purchasing a heat press machine, there are certain factors which you should look out for in order to pick the best. They are as follows:

1. Capital

This is a very important factor you should consider before you embark on your buying spree. Consider your budget and go for the machine that is affordable for you. There are many affordable heat press machines in the market that perform wonderfully.

2. Quality

If you want to invest your money, there is no doubt that you will want it to be a long lasting asset. This is why you should carefully check the quality of the heat press you are about to buy. One secret of getting a high-quality heat press is the weight.

Due to the fact that they are usually designed with heavy materials, weigh the machine you want to buy with your hands. If it is heavy, go for it but if it is light, run away.

3. Warranty

It is important to purchase a heat press that comes with a warranty provision. At least it shows that the company trusts their product and can vouch for it. Again, it means that they are ready to take responsibility in case of a breakdown.

4. The heat Platen

It is imperative that you check the heating element of any heat transfer press you want to buy. You should check how well the heat platen distributes heat and how consistent it is. You can do this by moving your hands over the heat platen to feel its heat distribution when it’s on.

5. Digital Timer

This is also an important feature to look out for in the heat press machine you are purchasing. It helps to have a heat press that you can regulate and control. Well, if you don’t want burnt T-shirts or other items because of over exposure to heat, take this factor seriously.

6. Temperature and Time Range

Be sure to purchase the best t-shirt printing machine that is designed to a standard but controllable temperature and time range. You should also educate yourself on the ranges in the temperature so that you can select the suitable one for any material you want to print.

7. Pressure Knobs and Adjustable Force

When buying a heat press machine, make sure that it is not the type that has poor pressure knobs. You should purchase a machine that is designed with adjustable pressure knobs to get an efficient end result. It will also protect your back from stress and ache which is the resultant effect of continuous pressure.

8. The Heat Press Size

The heat transfer machine comes in different sizes of 15 x 15 or 16 x 20 even 9 x 12 inches respectively. So it is advisable to purchase the size that will best suit your printing requirements. You should also consider your available space for the storing the machine.

9. The Intended User

You need to consider the person who will operate the machine. Is he/she a layman or a professional?

Whichever the case, it is always better to purchase the models that come with an instructional manual or from sellers that conduct product training for their customers like after sales service/support

Now that you have understood the important factors to consider before buying any heat press machine, check out these brands.

How To Use Your Heat Press Machine for Awesome Prints

1. Set the machine on a high temperature:

If the temperature of your heat press  is high, it will enable a successful transfer of your artwork on a garment. Using a low-temperature level on your heat press machine will surely end in an inefficient transfer of designs.

This is bad because your artwork will not stick properly and will also peel off when the garment is washed. Therefore, it is advisable to follow the temperature guide on your heat press manual.

2. Get the best material for your prints:

This is another important thing you should do if you want to get awesome prints. Make sure that the garment you are going to use for your heat press is not the type that will melt when heat is applied to it.

Materials that are not sensitive to hot surfaces like Lycra, polyester, spandex, nylon, and cotton will give you the efficient result when used.

3. Properly load your garment on the heat press machine:

Loading the garments you want to heat press straight on the machine will prevent crooked print. Always check the tag of the garment to ensure that it is aligned properly to the back of you printing machine.

Again, you can use a method that will direct the laser straight on the garment you are heat pressing. This method will produce a fast and efficient result. Another method is to properly stretch the garment before you put it on the machine to prevent cracking prints.

4. Always run a test print before printing proper:

If you are afraid of wasting money due to the cost of transfer paper, you can always use a regular paper. Just make sure you run a test print to have a preview of your designs.

You can now get the idea of how your design is imprinted. Whether it is within the margin and how the colors are registered.

5. Select the best transfer paper:

Making use of the best transfer paper that perfectly suits your printer is a sure way to get awesome prints. Make sure that you did not use the transfer paper made for white garments to print colored garments or vice versa.

6. Properly load your garment on the heat press machine when printing Tshirts:

Loading the garments, you want to heat press straight on the machine will prevent crooked print. Always check the tag of the garment to ensure that it is aligned properly to the back of you printing machine.

Again, you can use a method that will direct the laser straight on the garment you are heat pressing. This method will produce a fast and efficient result. Another method is to properly stretch the garment before you put it on the machine to prevent cracking prints.

Making use of the best transfer paper that perfectly suits your printer is a sure way to get awesome prints. Make sure that you did not use the transfer paper made for white garments to print colored garments or vice versa.

7. Take proper care of printed garments:

Another factor that can help you to get awesome prints with your heat press is when you take proper care of the already printed materials. If you turn the already heat pressed garments inside out before washing, it will prevent the friction that can cause damages to your artwork.

Try to hang the materials to dry naturally than to use a blow dryer on them. Make sure that when you are washing the garments, it is not done with harsh detergents that can wash off the design.

Again it is advisable to make sure that the garments are dry and not damp when stored to prevent molds.

If you follow the above measures when you are heat pressing your garments, be assured of getting your desired end result which is awesome prints.

What are the Different Uses of Heat Press Machine?

We’ve learned what these beasts can do. But are they good for “Heat Transferring” only? Or are there other uses for these tools? Let’s discuss.

First of all,

Heat Transferring

This is a process through which you can produce multiple-color printing in one go. The film and your transfer machine will ensure that your design is printed in high-quality, permanent and low cost results.

Heat transfer is the name for direct printing of your artwork or graphic design onto your t-shirt, caps, hats, or any other object of your choice.

After you finish the computer design, you can use the heat and pressure from the printer to imprint the designs on your object of choice. This process is eco-friendly and does not need that much manpower to be completed.

Take note that the heat transfer process works well if you use substrate materials like fabrics, ceramics, a paper of assorted textures, and hardness etc.

Image Transfer: this procedure is used when you want to imprint a particular image that will be permanent on an object. Mostly, this process is used when you want to print items for publicity purposes.

For instance, during marathon races, religious events, rallies, identifications like company logos, printing of creative abstract arts, words or cartoon characters.

You can even use image transfer to print on items you want to sell to tourists, wedding souvenirs, umbrellas, spandex, mouse pads, tiles and jigsaw puzzles.

Sublimation: ​

This is another important thing that one can use. Sublimation is one of the simplest and innovative processes of imprinting your designs on your apparel or objects.

It is a digital process that you can use to turn the form of a digitally printed image into a gas state with the help of the heat, pressure, and timing from your heat press machine.

The heat press will enable the ink (which has turned into a gaseous state by now) to penetrate into the linings of the objects you want to sublimate like glass, ceramic, metal or any brand of polyester substrate you want to sublimate.

Through the heat transfer press, you can use the ink meant for sublimation to transfer any of your designs onto your desired polyester material or any polymer-coated substrates.

Sublimation transfer is your best answer to:

Laser Toner: This is one of the different things that a heat transfering machine does. It is a process of creating soft color printing on light and dark materials. You can also use laser toner to print designs on soft-foils, metallic transfers with the vinyl cutter.

The laser toner is the best way to create quick and self-weeding printing on a dry production setup.

You can use the laser toner to decorate garments, fabrics and all kinds of gift or promotional items with polyester, cotton, leather, and paper, cardboard, felt and wood surfaces.

Check this video from below to get more ideas on heat press machine uses: 

Heat Press Maintenance Tips: That Make Your Machine Long Lasting

For those who are in the printing business, it's a headache to proper maintenance of their printing equipments. Let me get into this now.

Below are some maintenance tips that will help your t-shirt printing machine last longer?

1. Always clean the upper heat platen:

Make sure that the smooth surface of your upper heat platen is always neat. This is to ensure that there is no residual ink or buildup of ink that is caused by mistakes during the heat transfer process.

If your heat platen is neat, the pressure and temperature of you heat press will remain even and at the same time produce clean garments. To take care of your upper heat platen, first of all, switch off your heat press.

Wet a soft fabric with a mineral solution like spirit, then wipe down the upper platen gently to remove any remaining ink. Do not forget spirit is highly inflammable. Therefore exercise caution when making use of it.

Again, make sure that the material you are using to clean is not rough to avoid scratch off the Teflon coating.

2. Take care of the Teflon Coating:

The Teflon coating on the upper heat platen serves as a protective measure that prevents ink from sticking permanently on the surface of the heat platen. If the Teflon coating suffers any damages, the temperature and pressure of the platen will become uneven.

This condition can lead to some of the machine parts unable to release their carrier paper. The consequences being improper laying of ink on your garment. If you want your upper platen Teflon coating damage-free, do not place rough substances like zippers, sharp-edged instruments or buttons on it.

Peradventure, your heat press machine's upper platen is not covered with Teflon paper, just acquire a Teflon paper to cover your press with. As you are using this cover, make sure that the temperature during transfer is increased more than the usual degree so that the heat can absorb the Teflon.

3. Always clean up the air systems:

The air systems are commonly found on automatic heat press. This is due to the fact that automatic heat presses use air compressors to pump air from the surrounding environment into the air system of the machine.

Therefore if you do not care for it properly, dirty air particles and present moisture in the air can damage the heat press causing air leakage. Always replace the dirty air filter when it's dirty.

This will prevent the inability of the machine to filter out air particles that can block the air system.

4. Make sure that you operate from the center of the platen:

Adhering to this policy is important if you want to avoid expensive repair costs and your machine to last longer. Always place the substrates at the center of the heat platen whenever you are making transfers.

This will ensure the successful force and pressure to all the four corners of the heat platen. If you do not start from the center, the side of the platen that receives more pressure will suffer unnecessary wear causing the guide post to bend.

This will make the upper platen to become uneven thereby causing improper pressure application and the subsequent poor transfer. Read more about the best vinyl cutting machine from our blog.

5. Constant Lubrication is Critical:

To ensure the efficiency of your machine, always grease the tool to prevent stress on the pivot points.

It is advisable to grease all the pivot points at least once in a month if the heat press is used constantly. This will prevent the drying out of the pivot points which will lead to friction, resistance to movement of the machine and wear on the linkages.

6. Take care of the Rubber Pad:

It is important to protect the rubber pad that is situated at the lower heat platen. The rubber pad at the lower heat platen serves as the even pressure provider.

Therefore you should be careful when you are loading or unloading garments on the heat press to prevent wearing down the edges of the rubber pad. If you want to protect it, avoid using sharp-edged substances.

Also, use a Teflon paper to cover the lower platen as this will enable the garments to glide on and off easily without causing denture on the rubber.

What To Do And What Not To Do With A Heat Press Machine

Who the else don't want his heat press machine to be long lasting?
Yeah, everyone does! And if you do the same, I suggest you to know what you can do with your heat press and what you can't.

There are certain things that you should do and shouldn't do with your heat press machine if you want to run a successful business. They are as follows;

i. Do not use the wrong material:

Always make sure that the material you are using for your heat transfer is of the quality that will be susceptible to hot surfaces. If you use fabrics that can melt during transfer, it will surely cause damages to your heat transfer press in the long run.

ii. Make sure that you use the machine according to its specified usage:

Heat press machines are generally designed to carry out specific tasks that are unique to each of them. For instance, they are specially made for sublimation, laser toner or other heat transfer processes.

Therefore it will be an error to use a heat press that should be used for sublimation for the other processes.

iii. Again, a heat press is not made for screen printing, silk printing or lamination:

Therefore if you are trying to use it for any of the above-mentioned processes, you are wasting your time.

iv. Do not neglect your heat press

Make sure that you always take proper care of your heat transfering machine. Thoroughly clean out your heat press, check regularly the parts that have worn off and replace them.

Make sure that your heat press is thoroughly lubricated. Do not allow your machine to dry out as this will make the machine incapable of doing its work.

v. Another thing you shouldn't do is to use the wrong transfer paper

The best heat transfer vinyls are not created equally. There are all kinds and brands of transfer paper in the market today that if you are not careful, you might get the wrong one.

Always keep track of the company you are purchasing your transfer paper from and their area of specialization. Make sure that you use the best tools on your machine so that you can get a better result.

vi. Always use in the proper way

When carrying out the transfer process on your garments, make sure that everything you need is ready. Make sure that the temperature for the transfer is to the right degree.

Check the heat press for any residual dust particles that can cause problems during the transfer. Always position the transfer paper correctly.

Do not press down when the machine has not reached the appropriate heat for the transfer.

vii. Do not use it on wet or damp materials

 The materials that you are transferring on should be dry at all times. Applying wet substances to your heat press is a dangerous and life-threatening venture. Dampness on materials may be caused by water, ink particles, paper fibers, paper fillers or so many other factors.

Therefore carefully check the materials you want to transfer on to make sure that none of the above-mentioned substance is on it.

Why Should You Use Heat Press Machine For T-shirt Printing?

Many well-known t-shirt designing companies are using the heat transfer machine for their work because of the following factors.

a) The operational value of the heat press

The use of heat pressing machine to print your t-shirts will enable you to bring out mass production. With the machine, you can collect large quantities of orders from your clients and be able to finish it in a short time.

Also,it uses a specially made paper called the transfer paper that has a smooth surface and ensures the efficient embedding of your design.

b) Simple:

if you are using it for your t-shirt printing business, you are assured of a stress-free procedure. Even if you have not used it before, you can learn it quickly because it is easy to operate.

Also, it will allow you to easily print all kinds of designs like wraparound prints with it.

c) It does not leave spots

When designing your t-shirts with the best t-shirt printing machine, you are assured of a neat result. You don't have to fear that your garments will be messed up with ink or spills from the transfer.

d) High quality: 

It produces efficient t-shirt without compromising the quality of the products. No matter how complicated your design, the image you want to print or the color you want to print it with, it is capable of doing it all.

e) It is affordable:

Using a heat press machine to print your t-shirts is inexpensive. The heat press is made to be affordable when you want to acquire one. It produces both small quantities and a lot of t-shirts very fast.

In fact, in no due time, you will be able to cover your initial investment and start to turn out profits.

f) Durability: 

The use of a heat press printing machine to print designs ensures long lasting and professional looking designs. As far as you follow the printing procedure accurately, the design on your t-shirt will last for a long time even after washing.

g) To make money: 

It will help you to make money and have a flourishing business in no due time. Hence using the heat press makes printing your t-shirt faster, your reputation will grow.

With this, many people will be sending you jobs because they know that you are capable. As you are working, money will keep on pulling for you.

Conclusion:

If you have gone through this write-up, you will agree with me that the above-mentioned heat presses are among the best of the market now. They have been tested and proven by professionals in the industry.

They will create assorted types of designs on many items that will build your reputation as an efficient designer. We took our time to select these ten for you. Not just for anything but because we want your efforts to be fruitful.

So, if you need to make a quick decision on the best heat press machine for your small business or home use, take your pick from amongst these selected 10. They will give you good value for your money and you will not regret making the investment.