The HTVRONT Auto Heat Press is an excellent tool for both novices and experienced individuals, offering dependable and reproducible outcomes, all at a cost that is considerably lower than that of its competitors.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Brand: HTVRONT
- Color: White or pastel blue
- Weight: 18kg (38lbs)
- Dimensions: D20 x W16 x H12 inches
| PROS | CONS |
| Replicable results, every time | Teflon sheet can sometimes get stuck on the hot iron (through static), and it's tricky to fish out |
| Simple operation with presets or manual mode | Unsettling noises when it heats up |
| No need for you to press anything—it applies the right pressure for you | |
| Pull-out tray means no additional vertical space is needed, so it fits on a deep shelf |
If you have attempted HTV crafting with a household iron or a handheld heat press, you have likely encountered some difficulties. Achieving even coverage can be challenging, and you may need to repeat the process from the opposite side. Additionally, producing a batch of items can be time-consuming and tedious.
An auto press can solve these issues. These large machines offer ideal pressure, even coverage, and some level of automation to simplify and hasten batch production. If you have struggled to obtain satisfactory results with a handheld device, an auto heat press is likely the solution.
Although HTVRONT is a new player in the market, having been established in 2018, it has taken the crafting industry by storm with its range of high-quality heat-transfer vinyl materials at affordable prices. If you have purchased any HTV material in the last few years, it is highly probable that it was manufactured by HTVRONT. The company has applied the same expertise and approach to introduce a reasonably priced handheld heat press, and it has now launched its first automated heat press.
Allow me to confess: I'm completely new to HTV crafting. This is my very first experience using a heat press, which is why I can provide an honest beginner's viewpoint on this machine. I assure you that it's utterly foolproof and produces outstanding results every time. It's user-friendly, dependable, and has made my initial exploration into the world of HTV crafting an absolute breeze. It handled everything beautifully, from simple black-on-off-white canvas bags to sparkly pink-on-delicate clothing, as well as pure white on a thick black bag. Moreover, not only is the machine easy to use, but the HTVRONT-branded heat-transfer vinyls designed to be used with it are exceptional as well.
The good news is that you can now pre-order the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press for an amazing price of $279, and the entire range of HTV materials is also on sale for Black Friday. Several promotions are currently available, such as depositing $1 and receiving a $10 coupon, up to 30% off until November 24th, and up to 50% off on November 25th. So be sure to take advantage of these deals and stock up on your crafting supplies!
Design
The HTVRONT auto heat press is available in two color options: pastel blue or plain white. This robust and weighty machine has some sunken handles on the side, but to accommodate its spacious 15-inch square working area, the actual device measures 20 inches deep, 16 inches wide, and 12 inches tall, with a weight of 38lbs (18kg).
Unlike other machines that have a clamshell design, which necessitates a significant amount of vertical space, the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press uses a unique slide-out ironing board, enabling the overall height required to be no greater than the machine itself. The front-facing buttons allow for easy integration into a large shelving system, fitting smoothly into your existing workflow. This avoids the consumption of additional workspace, which is always appreciated. The pull-out board functions smoothly and easily clicks back into place.
Located on the front of the machine, you'll discover an LCD screen that showcases the current temperature and mode, a power indicator, and an array of buttons. Positioned on the left side are buttons for adjusting the temperature and time. To switch the units, hold down the temperature button. Below the display, there are three buttons for preset modes, manual control, and automatic press mode.
On the right side, there are up and down buttons to increase or decrease the target temperature or time value, in addition to an illuminated button on the far right that features the HTVRONT logo. This button illuminates green when the machine has reached the desired temperature and is ready for pressing, and red when it's not. It couldn't be any easier.
Features
While a heat press is a simple machine, the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press goes above and beyond with its useful features. With manual control over temperature and press time, and the option to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius, this machine has all the boxes ticked. Additionally, it boasts four presets that correspond to the most popular HTV materials.
In Automatic mode, accessible from the third button under the display, the pressing process begins automatically as soon as the drawer is closed, eliminating the need for further button presses. The machine can handle designs up to 15 inches square and materials up to 1 inch thick, making it ideal for projects such as dye-sublimation on wood blocks. It automatically detects the height of the material and adjusts the pressure accordingly. However, it's not suitable for projects on unconventional surfaces, such as hats, for which specialized equipment is necessary.
How to Use The HTVRONT Auto Heat Press
Assuming you have already designed and cut your material, let's get started with the pressing process. The Cricut or Silhouette are popular cutting machines that can be used for this purpose.
Begin by turning on the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press and setting your desired temperature, typically around 310F for 10-15 seconds. The machine may take up to five minutes to reach the desired temperature, so it's best to preheat it beforehand. Once it's ready, it's time to lay out your design.
Open the drawer on the machine and carefully place your object or material on the ironing board. The HTVRONT Auto Heat Press can accommodate materials up to one inch thick without requiring manual adjustments. However, be sure to position your material correctly so that it does not get stuck in the back of the drawer, which can cause the mechanism to jam. If necessary, you may need to rotate your design or complete multi-colored designs in stages.
After laying out your design, make sure to place a Teflon sheet on top to cover any exposed plastic, so it doesn't melt onto the heated plate. Once you have done that, push the drawer back in. If the machine has reached the desired temperature, the main button will light up green. Press it and wait for the machine to do its work.
Once the pressing starts, it's best to keep a safe distance since the top of the machine will apply force to the plate, initially with more pressure and then gradually less. In case of an emergency, you can press the button again to stop the machine, but otherwise, it's best to avoid contact with the hot iron.
After completing the pressing process, take out the drawer and inspect your design. Wait for a couple of minutes and then try to peel off the backing plastic. If the design hasn't adhered properly, you can repeat the process until it does. However, based on my experience using various HTVRONT materials, I never encountered this issue.
To repeat the same item multiple times, simply press the Auto button. This will enable the press to descend automatically every time you slide the drawer back into place.
HTVRONT Auto Heat Press VS Cricut Auto Press
The Cricut, a brand leader in cutting machines, also offers its own large-format heat press, but how does it compare to the HTVRONT heat press? Surprisingly, the HTVRONT is actually 15 pounds lighter and requires less vertical space while providing a maximum temperature of 210 degrees Celsius, compared to the Cricut's 205C. Additionally, the HTVRONT heats up in 6 minutes versus the Cricut's 8 minutes, and offers an automated mode with a pull-out drawer system. Although the time saved might seem small, it can add up significantly when working on batches.
You might assume that the better product would be more expensive, but the HTVRONT auto press can be preordered for $279, with free delivery and shipping in December. This is a surprisingly great deal that makes reliable heat pressing accessible to everyone, and at a significantly cheaper price point than the leading competitor. The Cricut press, which costs around $800, may not be justifiable for the average hobby crafter.
While the HTVRONT heat press doesn't have a smartphone app or computer connectivity, it's worth asking whether those features are really necessary for a heat press. Throughout my use of the machine, I never felt that an app would have improved my workflow. In contrast, other reviewers have criticized the Cricut machine for its complicated dials and USB connectivity. At a significantly cheaper price point, the HTVRONT heat press is arguably a better machine than the Cricut, and it may force Cricut to lower its price point in order to remain competitive in the market.
Is HTVRONT The Auto Heat Press for Everyone?
I've been pleasantly surprised by how effortless it is to achieve impressive output quality. Despite anticipating a challenging learning curve, I've found that everything has turned out exceptionally well with very little effort on my part.
While HTVRONT offers a handheld machine that requires manual pressing, it may be more difficult for beginners to achieve even coverage and avoid applying too much pressure in the wrong areas. Conversely, the Auto Heat Press provides consistent and evenly distributed heat coverage with the appropriate pressure, ensuring dependable and replicable outcomes every time.
Are there any drawbacks associated with using the HTVRONT Auto Heat Press?
There were a few minor observations I made while using the heat press. Initially, our unit emitted a disconcerting cracking sound during the heating process, as though the hot iron were too big for the casing. I am unsure if this issue is unique to our hardware or typical of all heat presses due to the extreme temperatures involved. However, I would like to note that despite being a novice, the functionality of the machine remained unaffected, and there were no discernible physical damages.
Furthermore, there were instances where the Teflon sheet adhered to the hot ironing plate due to static, causing a minor inconvenience. While this occurrence did not cause any harm to the machine or the sheet, it was bothersome as it required either a precarious retrieval or waiting for the plate to cool down. Although not a frequent issue, I discovered that purchasing a larger Teflon sheet than the one provided in our HTV sample pack alleviated this problem, ensuring that it would always extend beyond the edge.
The HTVRONT Auto Press is an ideal choice for both experienced HTV crafters seeking automated workflows and beginners who desire excellent outcomes. With its spacious working area, easy-to-use interface, and consistent and dependable automated results, finding a machine that surpasses the HTVRONT Auto Press's quality is a rarity. Moreover, discovering a device of this caliber at such a reasonable price is even more exceptional.