The decision to buy this press turned out to be just what I needed.
Expensive, sure but it is what my business needed badly.
Text, photos, and video by Tom Hintz
Posted - 9-21-2020
When I bought my do-everything, 5 in one heat press for $249 I realized expectations should remain low. However, I did not expect to be replacing the mug and hat press attachments almost immediately because they were wildly erratic in heating and outright difficult to use. Also, the ever-changing temperature of the 15” by 15” platen had me constantly experimenting to find settings that worked with the material manufacturers application instructions.
I use Siser vinyl (adhesive and heat transfer) and EasySubli exclusively which made choosing the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press a no-brainer. In addition to the temperature-related frustration, the capabilities of my shop were seriously constrained by the 15” by 15” capacity of that bargain unit.
When I started looking for a stand-alone heat press with the capacity I needed, I knew this was not going to be a cheap upgrade. None of the better, highly regarded heat presses in the 16 by 20” category were cheap. The more I looked the more sense it made to go with the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press. The fact that I used vinyl materials from Siser exclusively made this choice even more rational, something I do not see all that often when it comes to spending money.
There is nothing light weight about this press. It is built to last
a long time, something my budge requires.
I must lavish exceedingly rare shipping-related praise on Heatpressnation.com and Siser amid the covid-19 era on. I called Heatpressnation.com to order the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press on Thursday, July 16. Since it would be fulfilled through Seiser I thought I would be looking at a 2-week delivery delay. What I did not expect was my outside camera to go off when a FedEx truck pulled up early Tuesday morning, July 21st with my Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press. I should note that this delivery included free ground shipping offered by Heatpressnation.com at the time! Once again Heatpressnation.com (and now Siser) comes through when my business needed it.
The Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press comes in a large box with enough foam surrounding it to withstand some wartime occurrences. The shipping label claims it weighs 100 lbs but after dragging it up the stairs on my dolly, I suspect that was a conservative estimate. Look at the underside of the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press and it is evident that lots of steel and castings were employed so we can have a bulletproof heat press. Ding this machine up and you have done something extraordinary, and equally dumb.
The Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press is a clam-shell unit that opens far enough to allow easy placement of the item to be pressed. However, you must remember the heated platen will not dodge errant hands and will remind such an operator that hot remains hot. I expect a couple accidental touches will help you remember what should be a simple principle.
A single knob at the center up the upper platen adjusts the pressure. There also is another adjustment that controls the angle of the upper platen as pressure is applied. This allows the operator to be sure the pressure is evenly applied. I have used the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press a bunch as of this writing and have not noticed any pressure variance across the platen. The pressure control knob is threaded so that pressure can be maintained when moving to different thickness materials or heat press “pillows”.
The operating handle goes “over center” to lock in the down position. It is important for operators to recognize the amount of leverage afforded by the long operating handle. It will be easy to exceed the necessary pressure, so some restraint is warranted. Setting temperature and press time are as simple as it gets.
One panel, three buttons. Simple but very effective.
The Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press is not going to set realistic speed records for heating up to the desired temperature. Remember, this unit is bringing an exceptionally large surface up to the desired temperature and does so evenly. Too be compatible with the most environments in which it will be used the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press is designed to do this heat up on normal household 110V current. The manual notes that the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press needs a full 110V, 15-amp supply. That will accommodate nearly all up to code homes and offices.
Setting temperature and pressing time is easy using three buttons and read out panel. For those who skipped reading the small instruction manual, the display initially appears to be stuck on 205 degrees. Since there is no reason to use temperatures under 250-degrtees or so the readout only starts moving as the platen temperature surpasses 205 degrees which is the lowest temperature that can be set on the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press. The maximum temperature is 430-degrees, so all my (and your) pressing needs are supported.
The Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press “remembers” the last temperature you set even after it is turned it off. Not an earth-shaking feature but a nice one considering there are basically two temperature/time settings most of us use in sublimation printing on fabric.
I also like that the timer is automatic. It starts when you lower the platen. Then after the prescribed time has elapsed, signal sounds until you open the press. Another small but nice feature that I wish some other manufacturers would embrace.
The more I use the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press the more I realize how inconsistent my other press was. The capacity and consistency of the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press instantly stepped up the quality of the printing I do. I often added 30 to 50-degrees to what my old press showed on its screen but still was getting inconsistent results. Now I dial in the ink and vinyl manufacturers recommendations for temperature and time and the finished printing is perfect every time. This also eliminated having to consider what color combinations worked best with the old press. Now with the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press design is limited only by my imagination.
Being a clam shell press I do have to watch where I am putting my hands. I have burned myself once early on which was totally my fault as I knew the upper platen was hot and where it was but put my hand there anyway. A drawer type press might be a little easier but costs more. It is cheaper for me to learn not to be stupid when operating the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press.
Like most of you, my operating budget demands that large expenditures directly benefit the bottom line from the time I open the box. The Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press has all the features we need and none we do not. Siser designed this machine to be a work horse with the durability all shops need to extract the benefits of this kind of investment.
I paid $798.00 (July 16, 2020) with only state tax added. Not a cheap machine but now after using it for a few weeks in my shop, I think it is worth every penny paid. The larger pressing size gives me more design freedom which makes my products more appealing to my customers. I had always suspected the temperatures developed by my cheap machine varied greatly from what I programmed into it. After using the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press and programming in the same, recommended temperatures, the results are brighter colors with no fading anywhere on the largest of images I press.
I realize this level of expenditure will not fit every budget and I questioned if my budget could survive the purchase. Now a few months post-purchase I can say the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press was one of the best equipment choices I have made. My work is faster, frustration free and my customers like the product they get. Aside from me developing brain fade now and then and burning my hand on a platen I know to be hot; I can find no downside to owning the Siser Digital 16" x 20" High Pressure Heat Press.
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