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Text, photos and video by Tom Hintz
Posted – 9-27-2019
While looking for ways to personalize or otherwise “spiff up” my FlyingRC.net Protectors I came across sublimation printing. The more I learned about this process the more convinced I was that it, along with my existing vinyl capabilities, could help keep my web sites growing. The Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press appeared to have many thoughtful “Reviews” on Amazon so I clutched my “saint hope it works” medal and clicked the “Buy” button. Sometimes you must have faith, even on the frequently undependable Internet.
The Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press includes a flat, 15 by 15-inch pressing platen, a mug press, hat press pieces, and two dish press attachments. The frame appears surprisingly heavy-duty for this price point and features a simple height adjustment designed to be used with all the included attachments. The multi-capability idea proved to be problematic with the hat press attachment as we will see a bit later in this Review. The mug press is a stand-alone mechanism that connects to and is controlled by the main power unit.
The power unit has a two-level LED screen that displays the user-programmed temperature and pressing time. Each attachment connects to the control unit through cables with keyed plugs secured with finger-tightened, threaded rings. The heat and time connectors have different numbers of pins so they cannot be installed to the wrong ports.
The upper portion of the attachments are mounted with two screws to a spring-loaded flange. The bottom part of the attachments slips into metal channels on the base. There is nothing complicated or difficult in changing out attachments.
The instructions accompanying the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press are poor, something that should surprise exactly no one these days. The constant pressure for lower prices has manufacturers refusing to pay for translations of product instructions that their customers might be able to understand. The good news is that once you figure out the power unit programming, using the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press is very simple. Plus, most of the needed time and temperature parameters are provided by the manufacturers of the inks, paper and other supplies used with the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press.
Soon after I began using the Mophorn Heat Press the mug press attachment stopped heating up. I contacted the manufacturer through Amazon where I bought it and they sent a replacement heating element which cured the issue. Everybody is going to have a dud now and then, so I don’t see this one failure as significant.
The Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press is a “swing away” machine, a common design, especially with multi-purpose outfits. The base is wide and substantial enough that the unit won’t tip over on its own. However, when the upper platen is swung to the rear, it doesn’t take a bunch of pressure to tip the whole machine backwards. Not a huge issue but one the operator needs to keep in mind. I bolted mine to a cart through the holes where the included rubber feet are screwed in. That made this unit super stable in all positions.
The heated elements are not in a hurry to reach operating temperature. I suspect this is to prevent such large heated surfaces trying to get hot quickly and sucking enough current to trip mere mortal household circuit breakers. Once up to temperature it seems to hold that well. I make it a point to start the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press first, then work on the stuff to be pressed while it heats up.
All the upper elements are mounted to a spring-loaded flange that helps distribute the pressure more evenly over their surface. The amount of pressure is regulated by a hand wheel that raises or lowers the upper assembly, giving the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press its vertical capacity.
A major benefit in using the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press is the pressure that can be applied consistently throughout the press time. On the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press all my heat-applied vinyl comes out firmly set in the fabric, better than I have been able to achieve with my Cricut Easy Press. The Cricut Easy Press works well, but for me the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pcs Heat Press is easier, more efficient and more consistent overall. I believe much of that comes from the amount of pressure and the consistency with which it is applied because it is not dependent on me leaning on it for the entire cycle.
The mug press attachment intrigued me with its ease of use and the spectacular results it creates. You must use sublimation-ready ceramic mugs and like the heat press, proper temperatures and press times are critical. This mug press attachment is designed for straight-sided mugs which is fine for most people. I have seen some folks cranking up the pressure and forcing a straight mug press to pressure tapered mugs but that seems riskier than it is beneficial.
A comfortable handle is used to apply pressure to the mug. When it nears full travel it “goes over center” so you don’t have to hold it through the pressure cycle. A finger-operated wheel (adjusted while the press is open) regulates the amount of pressure applied. This is a simple but effective system that needs little adjusting once you find the pressure that works best for your work.
The mug press attachment is connected to the main power unit with the same keyed, screw-lock connectors used by the square platen. Setting the temperature and press time is done exactly as with the square platen.
If you bought the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press intending to make lots of hats, disappointment looms large. The hat press attachment is shaped like others, including dedicated hat press machines but being part of a “multi-use” system makes using this attachment difficult to outright frustrating.
Being part of a multi-purpose machine limits the vertical range. That puts the lower hat platen too low to incorporate a stretcher mechanism as found on most dedicated hat presses. That height limitation makes it very difficult for the upper concave heated pad to be set at a height that allows applying enough pressure and still be able to swing out of the way to change out the hat being pressed.
The only way I could get enough pressure was to adjust the operating arm lower and try to slide the hat, already on the lower platen under the upper portion from the front. Doing all that and getting a finished hat without major wrinkles or other pressing-related problems was not worth the trouble for me.
I bought an HPN™ Black Series™ Cap & Label Combo Heat Press Transfer Machine and set the hat pressing attachment from the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press aside, where I could not accidentally see it. A review on the new HPN™ Black Series™ Cap & Label Combo Heat Press is coming.
The Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press cost $249.95 (7-23-2019) and though the hat press attachment is a bust, the rest of this outfit works well, including the Mug attachment since the element was replaced. The Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press has given me new ways to help support the web sites I pay for out of my pocket.
My experience here shows that buying individual, better quality machines is probably a better idea. Of course, those costs compared to the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press will be an issue for many, myself included. Apart from the hat press attachments that I regard as useless, the components of the Mophorn 15x15 Inch 5pc Heat Press kit work well and can be good backups later as I buy better-quality stand-along equipment in the future.
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