One of the best investments to consider if you have a t-shirt business is the purchase of a heat press machine. It is used by art lovers to imprint graphics, words, pictures, and designs on surfaces. Heat presses can be used on clothes, mugs, nylons, etc.
A heat press machine is a machine that is made to imprint graphics on substrates. A heat press machine is used in a printing shop by art lovers, and in gift shops by t-shirt makers, among others. While it is majorly an art equipment, some people make money using it to make goods and providing heat presses as a service to others.
In this article, we will be examining a substitute for heat press machines and what should be considered when buying them. We will consider the advantages and disadvantages of the substitute for a heat press machine.
What Can Be Used To Substitute A Heat Press Machine?
Not many people can afford machines with the best heat presses from the beginning of their business. Also, some people may need a way to do a heat press quickly without being able to get their heat press machine. It has thereby led to people looking for other ways that they can do heat press without having the machine.
An electric iron is the best substitute for a heat press machine. It uses electricity to draw energy from the coil inside, convert the energy to heat, and then give you the heat you need to do the vinyl transfer. A dry iron is best for doing heat transfer compared to a steam iron. It gives more pressure and is easier. Since iron is probably already something that you have in your home, trying it for heat presses is not a bad idea.
Advantages of Using Iron For Heat Transfer, Compared to Heat Press Machine
Even though iron is not the traditional equipment for doing heat presses, it still has some superiority over the heat press machine. Some of the advantages that an iron has over a heat press machine include:
1. Portability
An iron is very portable compared to a heat press machine. It is smaller in size and weight. It makes it easier to take out and put back. It also makes it easier to store and carry around.
2. It is Cheaper
An electric iron is cheaper to purchase compared to a heat press machine. It costs an average of $38 for the best-rated ones. You can even get an electric iron for less than $25. This is quite cheap compared to the heat press machine. You need about $300 to $3000 to get one.
An electric iron is also cheaper to maintain. In addition, it uses less electricity, which makes the utility bills cheaper compared to when using a heat press machine.
3. It heats up Quickly
If you want to do a heat press very quickly, an iron is probably your go-to instead of a heat press machine. It takes approximately two minutes for an electric iron to heat up. It doesn’t take much time to cool down either. However, it takes a heat press machine an average of 15 to 20 minutes to heat up. This is a lot of time compared to the time you need for an electric iron.
4. It Saves You From Extra Cost
If you are just starting a heat press business and do not have much money for equipment, an electric iron is your best bet. You probably already have one at home and may not need to buy another one, saving you from extra costs.
Disadvantages of Using Iron For Heat Transfer Compared to Heat Press
Just like it has some advantages over heat press machines, an electric iron also has some disadvantages. Some of the downsides of using an electric iron for a heat press include:
1. It doesn’t apply Even Pressure
Unlike the heat press, the electric iron cannot apply even pressure. This is because it depends on the person applying the pressure. Humans cannot guarantee even pressure when transferring heat. It makes heat presses a better option in this scenario.
2. It is Not Good for Large Designs
An electric iron has a relatively smaller surface area. This makes it impossible for it to cover a large design at once. You may need to do a large design in bits to cover all the surface area for a large design.
3. You Cannot Control its Temperature Accurately
Another disadvantage of using an electric iron for a heat press is that you cannot control its temperature. Unlike a heat press machine, where you can set its temperature to what you want, an electric iron regulates its own temperature to a good extent.
4. It is Not As Credible and Durable as a Heat Press Machine
A heat press job done with an electric iron can work, but it doesn’t have as much credibility as one that is done with a heat press machine. This is due to uneven pressure and temperatures. It is advisable for you to get a heat press machine for a durable job.
5. It Takes More Time
Doing a heat press with an electric iron can take more time. After heating, a heat press machine can transfer designs in an average of a minute. However, an electric iron can take more time depending on the size of the design and the type of iron.
Things To Consider When Buying a Heat Press Machine
There are some things to consider when you want to buy a heat press machine. Adequate consideration will make you buy a great machine that not only gives you the best value for your money but also helps you achieve good work. Some of the things that you should consider before buying a heat press machine are:
1. How Well Does it Distribute Heat Across Platen
One of the most important things to consider when buying a heat press machine is how well the machine distributes heat along the platen. An even distribution of heat is necessary to get an even result in the design.
2. How Accurate is Its Temperature?
Another important factor to be considered when buying a heat press machine is how accurate its temperature is. Knowing the exact temperature of your machine can help you decide how long it will take for a heat press job to get done. Also, knowing the precise temperature can help you avoid making mistakes.
3. How Easy it is to Open and Close
A heat press machine needs to be opened to put things in it, and then closed for it to work. To be able to do your job quickly without errors, you need a machine that opens and closes easily.
4. Does It Provide An Even Temperature?
Even if the machine provides accurate temperature, the even distribution of the temperature across all surfaces is also important. This will make sure that the design is evenly done.
5. Size
Another thing to consider when getting a heat press machine is the size. Get a machine that is big enough for the type of job you have. You should also consider getting one that is portable enough for you to easily store away.
6. Give More Consideration to One with Digital Time and Temperature
Digital temperature and time measurements are more accurate than analog ones. Getting a heat press machine with a digital time and temperature is a great way to make sure you are well-informed about the time and temperature measurement.
7. Warranty
One of the things that you should consider when getting a heat press machine is the warranty and technical support that comes with it. It is advisable that you buy a heat press machine that has a great warranty and technical support for your business. This will prevent you from having to wait a long time for a part or fixing it when it develops a fault.
Conclusion
The need for customized things has made heat presses popular. People want to print words and pictures on surfaces, thereby necessitating a business in that line. Heat press is profitable and simple to do. However, its machines can be quite expensive. This has made it necessary to seek an alternative, especially for small businesses.
An iron is a great substitute for a heat press machine. It is less costly, more sized-friendly, and you probably already have it at home, so you do not need to spend extra money. However, it is impractical for large projects and cannot ensure even pressure. Therefore, it cannot be used as a total substitute for a heat press machine.
You can, however, use it if you are just starting out, do not do many heat press projects presently, or if you are doing a small job. However, it is advisable for you to invest in a heat press machine as your business is growing. It is an important investment that will yield a return, help you cut down on production costs, and give your work more credibility.
