Best 5 Clamshell Heat Press Machine For Sale In 2022 Reviews

Are you looking for the best clamshell heat press in your desired price range?

In this article, you can read about the top 5 most popular clamshell heat press models available now. We will disclose their strengths and weaknesses so you can make a more educated choice. We will touch on topics like power, looks, durability, and functionality. I hope you will find this review helpful.

Things To Consider When Purchasing A Clamshell Heat Press

When To Consider A Clamshell Press

Clamshell is one of the two most popular styles of the heat press. The other type is swing-away. Clamshell heat presses are great for space-conservation because they open vertically. They also tend to be cheaper as they require less engineering and logistics. Therefore, clamshell presses are a great choice for beginners, and those working in small spaces.

Size Matters

Heat presses come with heating platens of different sizes. Before purchase, you need to consider what you will be printing on. If your main focus is mouse pads and baby clothes, you don’t need a 16×20” heat press. However, if you will be printing on banners or large t-shirts, you don’t want to get stuck with a 9×9” press. If you’re unsure or will be using your press for a wide variety of work, consider a clamshell heat press with attachments or changeable platens.

Key Things To Look Out For

One of the most important things to look for when considering a clamshell heat press is parts quality. You can check the weight of the press to see if it’s made mostly of metal or plastic or look into the warranty section to see how much the manufacturer trusts what they made. Safety features like alarms and auto-open are also important. Of course, this comes after you’ve determined the size you require and the budget you have.

Where To Look For Clamshell Heat Presses

The best press to look for heat presses is online sites. Massive retailers like Amazon, eBay and Alibaba have the biggest offers. Because heat presses are not a very popular product, physical stores usually don’t carry them. Since you will most likely be buying your heat-press online, make sure you are well-informed before making a purchase, as you won’t be able to see the product in real life before it arrives at your address.

Expected Price Range

As with almost any product, clamshell heat presses come in different quality tiers. Most brands manufacture heat presses in China, and those that don’t are proud to point it out. A generic clamshell heat press will cost from about $150 to $350, while an industrial quality, sturdy, US-made machine will set you back over $1000. In this article, we will focus more on the cheaper side, but will also mention a high-quality model.

5 Best Clamshell Heat Press Models

16×20” Clamshell Heat Press

ePhotoInc 16×20” Clamshell Heat Press ZP1620

Large And Light
The ePhotoInc ZP1620 clamshell heat press has a 16×20” heating platen that works on temperatures up to 500 Fahrenheit. It weighs just 55 pounds and it has an average price. It arrives at your address fully assembled and ready for use.

Easy To Use
This all-black 16×20” clamshell heat press boasts loud end-of-cycle alarms and a front-mounted LCD display. You can choose whether you want it to use Fahrenheit or Celsius units for temperature. It’s also very easy to control, with 6 color-coded buttons.

Reliable Teflon-Coated Platens
This clamshell heat press’s best feature is its platens. They’re 16×20” which means they can handle even the biggest projects. The platens are also coated with Teflon, which makes them safe to use on almost any material, and easy to clean.

15×15” Clamshell Heat Press

USCutter 15×15” Volcano Heat Press

Machine Specifications
This USCutter 15×15” heat press weighs around 50 pounds. It has a sturdy steel body and a handle with an ergonomic foam cover. Its working temperature is up to 450 Fahrenheit.The color of the heat press is white, which is not the best choice because it will get dirty easily, but you can also easily clean it up.

A Different Screen
This 15×15” clamshell heat press has an LCD display for timer and temperature. The screen is located on top of the machine facing up, which seems more convenient than having it on the side. Since this is a clamshell press, having the screen on top means it can be clearly visible even while the press is open. Something most clamshell heat presses struggle with.

Sophisticated Clamshell
The USCutter 15×15” heat press’ sophisticated look comes from its white color. Unfortunately, that also means this press is more likely to get dirtied or scratched. However, as long as you mind where you put it, you should be fine. The USCutter volcano heat press is also the only clamshell heat press in its class that can accept a mug printing attachment, sold separately on USCutter’s online site.

Digital Clamshell Heat Press

Stahls Hotronix Maxx Digital Heat Press

Standard And Neat
The Stahls Hotronix Maxx heat press weighs just under 90 pounds and its shipping dimensions are 36x25x21”. It requires a standard 120 Volt plug and has a power output of 1800 Watts. It’s a clamshell press with a 16×20” heating platen.

Quality Control
The Stahls Hotronix Maxx heat press got its name because it delivers the industry’s maximum value. In short, it’s the best heat press in its price and purpose groups. It has a lifetime warranty on the heating element and 1-year warranty on other parts.

All The Benefits
This digital clamshell heat press has a working temperature of 200 to 400 Fahrenheit. Its patented Over-the-Center Adjustment system ensures optimal edge to edge heat and pressure distribution no matter which item you decide to transfer on with it. The machine boasts a smooth-shock opening mechanism and has a coated non-stick heat platen, to ensure a minimal mess. This 16×20” digital heat press can support different-sized platens.

At A Cost
This slick, black machine is made of solid steel and will not let you down. It’s made for decades of continued use, and its price reflects this. Stahls Hotronix Maxx heat press will set you back $1250. It is pretty steep, but on the upside, it does come with a lifetime warranty.

Industrial Clamshell Heat Press

Fancierstudio Power Heat Press

Industrial Strength In A Home Setting
The Fancierstudio Power heat press boasts industrial strength, with a power output of 1400 Watts. It has 15×15” heating platens and a temperature range of 32 to 500 Fahrenheit. It weighs less than 50 pounds, making it quite portable.

Dubious Build
This 15×15” clamshell heat press is dark blue with a white handle. It has a small screen above the heating area that might be difficult to see from certain angles. Next to it is a small guide to converting Fahrenheit units to Celsius. The press doesn’t look as sturdy as it ought to be to handle the pressure it requires.

Silicone Gel Pad
The baseboard of this 15×15” heat press is made of silicone gel. That means it’s strong and durable, yet soft and flexible. The silicon pad is lightly glued so you’d be able to easily replace it if you need to. That also means it might move, so be mindful of that while using the press.

The Whole Package
If you purchase this heat press, you will receive a complimentary Teflon sheet to get you started. You will also get a user manual, which you should read before using your Fancierstudio heat press machine. All of this will cost you $169.99.

Cheap Clamshell Heat Press

F2C Digital Heat Press

The Cheapest Of The Bunch
This heat press has 15×15” an aluminum heat plate with a silicon pad that can handle up to 400 Fahrenheit without distortion. It has a power output of 1200 Watts and weighs 52 pounds. It’s the cheapest among the popular heat presses.

Usable With Many Different Materials
The F2C 15×15” clamshell heat press works well with a wide array of materials. Some of them are wood, ceramics, and fabric. That makes it suitable for transferring on plates, clothes, mouse mats and many other flat-surfaced objects.

Easy-To-Use Digital Controls
This 15×15” heat press has a fully digital timer and temperature display that’s easily controlled with just 3 buttons. The screen is located above the pressing area and might be difficult to read from certain angles.  The F2C digital heat press has a buzzer that will notify you when the transfer is over.

Conclusion – Best Value Clamshell Heat Press

Out of these 5 clamshell heat presses, the USCutter Volcano heat press seems to be the best bargain. It is sturdy and well-made, and also accepts attachments. If you can afford it, however, I think you should definitely go for the Hotronix Maxx digital heat press. It comes with a great warranty and it’s a completely different quality level than the other heat presses reviewed here, as evident by the price difference.

If you haven’t found what you’re looking for in this article, consider this one about the best heat press models available right now. If what you need is a more versatile heat press, read this review of the best combo presses. For all future hat business owners, here is a list of the best hat presses for sale now.