Personalization of products is the key to a successful print business today.
One such personalized product is personalized t-shirts that are in great demand today. Whether it is to promote a brand, show love for your favorite TV series, or raise environmental concerns, a personalized t-shirt always comes in handy.
So, if you are looking to set up a new business or grow your current printing business, personalization of t-shirts can be a good idea.
Here, we have the ultimate guide on how you can start your own t-shirt printing business.
Choosing a t-shirt printing machine can be a tricky step. The availability of a variety of options in the market may cause a great deal of confusion. So, to help you buy the right printing machine, here is the list of the top recommended t-shirt printing machines for you.
Top 5 Recommended Heat Press T-Shirt Heat Press Printing Machines
1. Fancierstudio Swing Away 9” x 12” Heat Press
It’s a digital printing machine. Due to its swing away feature, it is possible to rotate the upper heating platen 360° around. This makes it possible to move the heating element aside preventing any accidental contact. Thus, it is completely safe for its users.
Here are some highlight features of this machine:
- Operating Voltage: 1100 V, Power: 1100 W
- Adjustable temperature range 0 – 500°F and time range 0 – 999 seconds useful for optimal results
- High durability and longevity due to an additional coating or baseplate
- Silicone gel baseboard to provide a soft base to place the substrate
- Easy-to-use with thicker garments
- Even and level pressure ideal for prints on large surfaces also
- Selection between Fahrenheit and Celsius scale possible
2. Fancierstudio DG Heat Press Digital Sublimation T-Shirt Heat Press
Suitable for both commercial and domestic print needs, this machine is pocket-friendly for your business. This clamshell model has a large heating surface area of 15” x 15”. This machine also comes in handy for transferring prints to license plates, ceramic, wood, and other materials. The upward opening makes it possible to operate it in a smaller workspace. It heats up uniformly and makes printing work quite smooth.
Here are some specs of this machine for you to consider.
- Operating voltage: 110 V, Power: 1200 W
- Adjustable temperature between 0 and 500°F and heating time between 0 and 999 seconds
- A silicone gel baseboard and Teflon coating for extra protection and smooth operation
- Adjustable pressure knobs for variable pressures across a range of items
- Digital temperature and timer control
- Fast heating up within 5-10 minutes of switching on the power supply
- A feasible and better replacement of irons due to the capability of reaching and sustaining high temperature and pressure.
- Low maintenance due to fewer moving parts
3. ePhotonic Swing Away Sublimation Transfer Heat Press Machine
This heat press machine is suitable for large projects due to the size of the heat platen being 9” x 12”. It has a non-stick Teflon heating platen that makes it fully safe for clothes. The latest digital timer and temperature controller help precise programming for consistent results.
The timer on reaching 0 seconds produces an alarm to prevent overheating of the substrate. The swing away feature makes it easy to move aside the heating element making it safe for users.
Here are some specs of this machine for you to consider.
- Operating voltage: 110 V, Power: 1200 W
- Compact design ideal for both industrial and domestic purposes
- Pressure knobs on the top for easy adjustment of pressure as per cloth thickness
- Fully assembled and ready-to-use straight out of the box
- Comparatively lighter and easy-to-transport if necessary
- High temperature range from room temperature to 500°F and timer range of 0 to 999 seconds
- Cut out for transferring prints on a variety of materials besides T-shirts like ceramics, mouse pads, jigsaw puzzles, plates, etc.
4. PowerPress Industrial-Quality Digital Sublimation T-Shirt Heat Press
This clamshell print machine comes with a large printing area of 15 x 15 inches. This makes it easy to work on large-sized projects. It is one of the most suitable heat press machines for professional and semi-professional print work.
With a high temperature range of 500°F and even heat distribution, it is suitable for artwork on various flat surfaces besides t-shirts. Moreover, it is cost-effective and easy-to-use. With a few steps to operate, you can easily get it up and running in a short while. And its compact design makes it fit for small workplaces and easy transportation to different workplaces or factories.
Here are some specs of this machine for you to consider.
- Operating voltage – 110 V, Power – 1400 W
- Adjustable pressure knobs to help you vary pressure as per the thickness and nature of the substrate
- High durability and longevity due to high quality robust steel body
- An LCD control board that provides full digital control of heat transfer time (0-999 sec.) and temperature (32-500°F) handy for almost all print requirements
- Teflon heating platen that is easy to clean and safe for clothes
- An additional layer of silicone gel on the surface of the heat platen to make the operation smoother
- A stopwatch to control exposure of the cloth to heat beyond a safe limit
- Large work area that makes it easy to transfer your artworks to a wide range of surfaces
- Replaceable fuse to protect the machine from overheating and shock
- Low maintenance due to fewer moving parts
5. Mophron Heat Press 5 in 1 Multifunction Sublimation Combo Heat Press Machine
This is a swing away heat press. You can move the heating element aside safely. Adjustable pressure makes it suitable to use for clothes of varying thicknesses. It also has a long arm handle of around 5” with a rubber coating. Which makes it easy to use for long periods. It can transfer prints on various materials like ceramic, polymer, caps, mugs, mouse pads, coasters, jigsaw, etc.
Here are some specs of this machine for you to consider.
- Operating voltage: 110 V, Power: 900 W
- Temperature range: 32 – 500°F
- An LCD showing temperature and timer settings. Digital control of settings possible
- Heavy duty and ideal for mass prints on a continuous basis
- Multifunctional due to the capability to transfer prints on a variety of substrates
- Heat platen size of 12” x 15” makes it suitable for larger prints also
- Additional non-stick coating on the heating platen to ensure safe print transfer
Tips for Use of T-Shirt Printing Machine for Awesome Prints
Buying a good machine for t-shirt printing is not enough. You must also know tips to use this machine effectively for better results. So, here are a few of them.
- Optimize temperature
Proper optimization of temperature as per the type of substrate is important. If you don’t optimize the temperature, it may result in inefficient transfer of artwork. The artwork may also peel off as it may not stick properly due to non-optimal temperature. It is advisable to refer to the temperature guide mentioned in the user manual to decide the right temperature for every substrate.
- Place the garment properly
Make sure that you load the garment flat on the heat press machine properly. The creases or folds can result in crooked prints. So, make sure that there are no cracks in the artwork on your garment.
- Choose the right print substrate
Ensure that the material you choose for prints is not sensitive to heat. Otherwise, they will melt when you apply heat on them. Lycra, spandex, cotton, nylon, etc. are suitable for machine printing.
Maintenance Tips for T-Shirt Printing Machine
Proper maintenance of any machine makes it last longer. And a t-shirt print machine is no exception. So, here are some simple tips given to help you maintain it properly.
- Keep the upper heat platen clean
Ensure that you clean the upper heat platen spick and span before use. This will remove the residual ink that any mistake during the previous heat transfer process may have left.
A neat platen will also ensure an even distribution of pressure and temperature. Also, the cloth you use to clean the Teflon coating should not be rough. Or else it will lead to the scratching of the coating.
- Properly clean the air systems
An automatic heat press uses compressors to pump air from outside into its air system. So, clean them thoroughly or else, the moisture or dirt particles in the air may damage the machine causing air leakage. Replace the air filter regularly. This will retain the ability of the filter to keep blocking air particles out.
- Lubricate the machine regularly
Lubricating moving parts is helpful in reducing the stress on pivot points. So, grease or lubricate the pivot parts of the machine monthly. This will prevent drying out of moving parts resulting in lesser resistance, friction, and wear and tear of machine parts.
- Use the center of the platen for prints
Always make sure that you place the substrate at the center of the platen for transfers. It will ensure even distribution of pressure across all four corners of the heating surface. If you don’t place the substrate at the center, the side of the heat platen receiving more pressure will wear out faster.
This will cause the upper platen to become uneven leading to subsequent poor transfers.
Apart from the heat press printing method, if looking for a different printing method, refer to major types of printing methods for the web-to-print industry.
In a Nutshell
With the right t-shirt printing machine, you will be future proofing your business.
So, which t-shirt printing machine are you ready to pick for your t-shirt print business in 2020?
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