Best 4 Automatic Open Heat Press Transfer Machines Reviews
Are you an infamous multitasker?
Do you need more time for yourself without losing productivity?
If that’s the case, and you happen to be looking for a heat press, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll review some of the best auto-open heat press machines. We will go over their strengths and weaknesses and hopefully help you choose the appliance that will be the best fit for your household or business.
Important Factors In Buying An Automatic Heat Press
What Do They Actually Do?
With a manual heat-press, you have to apply pressure during the transfer and open the press when the transfer is over. Automatic heat presses lock into place, usually using magnets, and open up on their own when the transfer is over. The opening tends to be accompanied by an alarm noise, so you know the transfer is over.
Clamshell Exclusive
Auto-open heat press machines tend to be made in the clamshell style. I’m not sure if it’s a rule, but there don’t seem to be any automatic swing-away presses. The automatic opening does make them somewhat safer to use, and they take up less space than swing away-presses.
Expected Price Range
Auto-open heat presses tend to be more expensive than manual ones. This is obvious as they require a lot more engineering to make them safe. The full-sized heating presses can be found from about $600 to well over $1000. Smaller appliances like mug heat presses may be found for a lot less money.
When To Consider An Automatic Heat Press?
These presses are usually available from US companies that make their products locally. That means these presses will likely come with warranties and customer support, but they will cost more. Consider this heat press when your business is already doing well, if you want to support the local economy and can afford it.
Where To Look For An Auto-Open Heat Press?
These presses are a bit trickier to find, as most companies don’t tend to bother with this heat press niche heat press. The best places to look might be articles like this one in which someone compiled the best offers. If you want to look on your own, check the usual places, like Amazon and eBay.
Best 4 Auto-Open Heat Press Models
HIX S650 Auto Open Heat Press
Digital Clamshell Heat Press
A Powerful Clamshell
This powerful auto-open heat press has a power output of 1750 Watts. It weighs 83 pounds. It has a 16×20” heating platen and is made in the clamshell style. It can transfer onto any flat surface that’s up to ½” thick. It comes in a bright blue color.
A Lifetime of Certified Quality
This auto-open 16×20” heat press is made in the USA and comes with a one-year warranty for the machine and a lifetime warranty on the heater. It is also ETL certified, which means it’s made according to standards set for the whole of North America. It also means this heat press isn’t cheap, but I think it’s worth spending some extra money on certified quality. Additional Features
Other than the auto-open feature, this heat press boasts a few other tricks as well. A floating lower platen that helps maintain even pressure on thicker items, and a splitter stand that ensures the image you’re transferring won’t go through the fabric and print on both sides.
A Modern Touch Screen
The HIX auto-open clamshell heat press has a modern touch screen display above the heating platen. The factory default is to show the temperature in Celsius units, but it can also use Fahrenheit. Other than the standard time and temperature, this press also shows you the pressure it’s exerting on the fabric at any moment.
Key Characteristics:
Quite pricey
Powerful
Good warranties
Certified quality
Floating platen
Stahls Hotronix Auto-Open Cap Press
Auto-Open Cap Press
Up To 5 Different Platens
The Hotronix auto-open cap press weighs just 30 pounds and has a power output of 500 Watts. It has a 3.5×6” heating platen and the option to quickly change and fit another 5 different-sized platens. Those interchangeable platens do not come with this machine.
A Warranty For Every Part
It’s a clamshell heat press made of metal that’s all grey with a scratch-resistant coating. The foam around the handle and the inside of the pressing area are light blues. Hotronix is so confident in this American-made heat press that they offer a lifetime warranty on the heating element, 5 years on the framework, 2 on the circuit board and 1 year for other parts. Abundance Of Certificates
With its 5 optional platens, you can move on from caps and decorate any type of headwear. All the heating parts on this press have been covered with Teflon to prevent warping at high temperatures and damaging your items. This auto-open heat press has UL, ULC, CE and ROHS certificates, which explains its hefty price tag.
The One Of A Kind Twin Timer
Twin Timer feature is a feature that can make the entire heat press process much easier. The simple explanation is that it allows you to set the time upfront, no matter if the application consists of one or two steps. This smart heat press offers the Twin Timer™ setting. This innovation allows users to pre-set individual time settings for pre-heating followed by application, or for two-step application. You can track the transfer progress on the front-facing digital display, located above the heating area.
Key Characteristics:
Clamshell cap press
Twin Timer setting
5 optional platens
Abundant warranties
ST-110 Pneumatic Mug Press
Cheap Auto-Open Mug Heat Press
External Power Support
This tiny heat press weighs less than 8 pounds and produces 280 Watts of power. However, if you happen to require more power, it is possible to connect this machine to an external compressor. It works on temperatures up to 200 Celsius and prints on 11 Oz mugs.
Keeping Track Of The Numbers
The ST-110 pneumatic auto-open mug press has one pretty unique trait. It can keep track of the number of mugs you’ve processed and will inform you when you’ve reached a set number. One less thing you have to take care of yourself! Speaking of numbers, this heat press is very affordable and would make for a perfect starter machine.
A Big, Bright Screen
This clamshell heat press features a large LCD display, for your convenience. Underneath it are the control buttons. The screen is bright and well-positioned, meaning you will never have to squint or worry you misread something.
Key Characteristics:
Affordable price
Weak engine
Quantitative counting feature
Stahls Hotronix Auto-Open Clamshell Heat Press
16×20” Auto-Open Clamshell
The Hotronix auto-open clamshell heat press has a 16×20” heating platen. It requires a standard 120 Volt plug and has a power output of 1800 Watts. This heat press’ works on temperatures between 200 and 400 Fahrenheit. It also boasts the option of displaying Celsius units.
Lifetime Guarantee
It’s grey with blue details and looks very metallic and sturdy. Hotronix must be aware of this because this heat press has the extensive warranties like the other models in their offer. One of the reasons for that are the materials used in the heat press. For example, the Teflon-coated platen is easy to clean, durable and it can endure pretty high temperatures.
LightningLatch
One of the most useful features of this auto release heat press is the Lightning Latch. A secure bond that holds the press safely in place, but also enables you to take out the lower platen in just 15 seconds, without using any tools!
Automated Closing
We know this heat press opens on its own, but that’s not all it does. The Hotronix 16×20” auto-open clamshell heat press also closes on its own using a magnetic-assisted locking mechanism. That means you don’t have to hold the press down while the printing is taking place. More Digital Features
I don’t want to repeat myself, but it is worth a mention that this heat press also comes with the Twin Timer feature, explained in the previous Hotronix model review in this article. It also automatically enters sleep mode when left unused for more than a few minutes, saving your worries and your money.
Key Characteristics:
A slew of useful features
Abundant warranties
Quite pricey
Conclusion – Final Word On Automatic Heat Presses
It’s difficult to say which of these heat presses is the best because they’re all made for such different jobs. Auto-open is a very useful feature that not many manufacturers tend to incorporate into their design. This probably has something to do with them trying to keep their heat presses as cheap as possible. If you can spare a couple of hundred dollars extra, you should treat yourself to a quality machine that won’t frustrate you and leave you hanging. You should invest in your future and get a Stahls Hotronix heat press.
