Impressions - January/February 2023 - 29

Heat pressing (left) is a great way to get started in apparel
decorating, but it's important that you have the right equipment
Looking at the specifi c pros and cons of the
diff erent types, the major advantages of a wellbuilt
clamshell-type press include its portability
(for smaller models, especially), its aff ordability
and the fact its up-and-down movement requires
a minimum of working space.
Harding notes there are also a number of
clamshell models on the market that include
an " auto open " feature, which not only helps
speed up production, but ensures you employ
the correct press times (one of the three parameters
mentioned at the beginning of this
article), no matter how distracted you may be
by whatever else might be going on.
On the downside, the hinge-like movement
of a clamshell press means it can generally
only be used to press thinner items, since
the height range over which the mechanism
can be adjusted is necessarily limited (though
HIX's Coëme notes presses are available with a
" fl oating " lower platen that tilts slightly frontto-back
when closing, allowing the press to
self-align under pressure).
Also problematic, a clamshell press's hinge-like
functionality limits freedom of movement toward
the back of press, increasing the chance of burns
(though one of the marks of a higher-quality
press is a little extra room in which to work
toward the back of the unit). Granted, this
might not be a problem if you're only
pressing a couple of dozen garments
design features you're going to want to keep in
mind in order to purchase the heat press that's
right for you. In Part 2 of this series, we'll look
at some of the accessories and specialty presses
now available for handling the ever-growing
variety of products that can be decorated via
heat pressing.
Basic Confi gurations
Th e fi rst and most obvious question every decorator
must face when selecting a new heat
press is which of the three major types to go
with, i.e., clamshell, swing-away or slide-out
drawer. (A fourth type, multifunction, will be
covered in Part 2 of this series.)
When weighing the pros and cons of these
three heat-press types, it's vital you start out
by considering things like your workspace, the
kinds of pressing you plan (or hope) to do and
production volumes. While it's true there's a
good deal of overlap between, say, a robustly
built clamshell model and a swing-away press,
you still need to be sure and think long and
hard about which will make the best fi t.
" Some good early questions to ask are, 'How
much room do I have to work?' and 'How many
orders will I have to start?' " says Dave Harding
of STAHLS', manufacturer of the Hotronix
line of heat presses. " Looking ahead to
future business goals or desired growth is also
important, as it may impact your
decision to start with a larger,
more capable heat press rather
than a smaller model. "
With respect to size and space issues,
Henri Coëme, global graphics
sales manager at HIX Corporation,
suggests decorators ask
themselves things like, " Do
you need a tool that can fi t
on your kitchen table and
also be easily transported
to outdoor events or
other locations? Or are
you looking to create
all-over prints
on short- and
long-sleeved
textile pieces
or on larger
non-textile
substrates such
substrates such
as aluminum plates
or wooden tabletops? "
or wooden tabletops? "
JAN./FEB. 2023
P.29
Clamshell presses like this autorelease
model from HIX Corporation
take up a minimum of space. Note the
generous work area toward the back
of the platen
Impressions - January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - January/February 2023
