Iron vs Heat Press, Which is better for applying HTV?

HTV can be applied with an iron however the quality of the application and the longevity of the transfer will not be to the standards that you or your customer will expect.

WHY SHOULD YOU NOT USE AN IRON?

An Iron or handheld heat press (such as a Cricut) will never be able to achieve an accurate, high-quality application. It's technically impossible.

TEMPERATURE

If you apply your HTV with an iron, it will apply to a certain extent as the heat from the iron will activate the adhesive on the back of the HTV and cause it to apply to the garment. However, there is no way of accurately measuring the Temperature of which you are applying, which is one of the vital elements for achieving a high quality and long-lasting fuse.

PRESSURE

Another vital element you need to achieve an accurate application is PRESSURE. When using an iron or a handheld heat press it is impossible to measure how much pressure you are applying and if it is even across the entire transfer.

TIME

Yes, you can count or set timers if you're applying HTV with an iron or handheld heat-press, however that will never be as accurate. For consistency and quality, having a heat press that is 100% accurate and opens upon the finish of the fuse means you can be confident that all of your products are applied in the same way, with the same settings and there will be no lesser quality items that slip through the cracks.

WHY CHOOSE A HOTRONIX HEAT PRESS?

There are many reasons why you should opt for a Hotronix Heat Press when using HTV, especially if you are producing and selling products to customers.

ACHIEVE AN ACCURATE APPLICATION

Being able to achieve accurate TIME, TEMPERATURE, and PRESSURE. Hotronix Heat Presses feature digital readout which allows you to set and measure all three of those elements before during and after the fuse.

PRESSURE

Hotronix also invented Over Centre Pressure for their Heat Presses, which means the pressure will not only be set to the correct setting but it's guaranteed to be completely even across the entire platen. Resulting in the entire transfer being applied with the same settings and no areas of the transfer will lift or last less time, unlike with an iron or handheld heat press.

TEMPERATURE

You can set exact temperatures with a Heat Press which will stay at that exact temperature (within a few degrees) throughout the entire production process. This is very difficult to A. achieve with an iron or handheld heat press and B. measure the temperature. Both of which you need to be able to do for a consistent application. Hotronix Heat Presses take care of all of that for you.

TIME

Be confident that you have a consistent production process. With a Heat Press, you're fusing each and every garment with the exact same settings. Pre-Press Settings are included with Hotronix Heat Presses, so you do not have to keep changing the time settings between prepping a blank garment and applying your HTV.

EVERY HTV IS DIFFERENT

Depending on which HTV you are applying, the settings will change slightly. Some Heat Transfer Vinyl requires a higher temperature than others and some a longer or shorter fuse. By using a Heat Press, you can simply enter the settings you need and let the heat press work its magic!

Not only does a Heat Press result in a better product it also saves you time and money throughout the process, it's a win-win!

In Conclusion...

There's really no comparison. If you want to produce high-quality and long-lasting products for your business, you need a Hotronix Heat Press.

For more information on Hotronix Heat Presses, CLICK HERE.

Everyone wants the best HTV for their business, which is why you need Stahls', the world's leading HTV.

To Shop Stahls CAD-CUT Heat Transfer Vinyl, CLICK HERE.