How to calibrate your new Heat Press:
Instructions from manufacturers of heat transfer vinyls and transfer papers will instruct
you to use Low, Medium or High Pressure during the application process. Here’s how to
calibrate your machine and identify those settings. (Do this while the platens are cold.)
1. Turn the pressure knob counterclockwise a few times to lower pressure on the platens.
2. Place a piece of paper onto bottom of the platen
3. Close the clamshell press using the handle.
4. Pull on the paper.
5. If the paper moves at all, turn the knob clockwise and try again.
6. Try again and repeat until the paper doesn’t move at all. This is your “Medium” pressure.
From the “Medium” setting, High pressure will be clockwise one to two turns. Low pressure
will be counterclockwise one to two turns. (The number of turns will depend the thickness
of the garment.
Note that using Medium and High pressure will make it just a bit difficult to close the heat
press. During the pressing process, the goal is to press the heated material into the fibers
of the garment.
How to Calibrate the temperature of your new Heat Press:
On a new heat press, it is not unusual for the temperature settings to be off by 18 to 20
degrees. To fix this, follow these simple steps:
1. Set the Heat Press temperature settings to 380F on the control panel. (See info
on this below)
2. When the press heats to about 100F, press the down arrow on the control panel
for 5 seconds.
The heat press will go into Calibration Mode. It may take as long as 20 minutes to finish
this process. Do not turn off or unplug the press during this time. To ensure total accuracy,
you might also want to test the heat press using an Infrared Thermometer Gun. (available
at most hardware stores.)
Setting the Time and Temperature on your new Heat Press:
1. Using the control panel screen, press the “Set” button then the up or down arrow
to the desired temperature.
2. Press the Set button again and set the timer using the up and down arrows.
3. Press the Set button and arrows again to choose Fahrenheit or Celsius.
4. Press the Set button again to confirm these settings.
5. Press the Set button and use arrows one more time to set an alarm that will
notify you in advance when it is time to open the press.
