Hat Press Comparisons?

[mimosatexas]

While I do love the wooden grip that unscrews itself, brittle plastic body, 50 degree temperature fluctuations, needing a wrench to adjust pressure, uneven platens (I could go on and on), my ancient National Hat Press is on it's last legs and I am literally getting better results using a hand iron.  I am finding absolutely JACK on the used market right now for hat presses, so I am probably going to just buy new (I hate that ).  I am pretty much looking at the following:

http://www.stahls.com/cap-heat-press or http://www.stahls.com/maxx-cap-heat-press (Is auto open worth 150 bucks?)

or

http://www.heatpress.com/product.php?pn=10 or http://www.heatpress.com/product.php?pn=11 (Leaning toward this as all my other heat presses are 20+ year old GeoKnight's and they all work flawlessly still.  I don't think the second station is worth $305 to me right now though honestly)

Thoughts?

[ericheartsu]

While I do love the wooden grip that unscrews itself, brittle plastic body, 50 degree temperature fluctuations, needing a wrench to adjust pressure, uneven platens (I could go on and on), my ancient National Hat Press is on it's last legs and I am literally getting better results using a hand iron.  I am finding absolutely JACK on the used market right now for hat presses, so I am probably going to just buy new (I hate that ).  I am pretty much looking at the following:

http://www.stahls.com/cap-heat-press or http://www.stahls.com/maxx-cap-heat-press (Is auto open worth 150 bucks?)

or

http://www.heatpress.com/product.php?pn=10 or http://www.heatpress.com/product.php?pn=11 (Leaning toward this as all my other heat presses are 20+ year old GeoKnight's and they all work flawlessly still.  I don't think the second station is worth $305 to me right now though honestly)

Thoughts?

I love the auto open function, and i really like that stahls one. that's what we've had, and it's pretty great!

you can also buy a kit for different size plattens, which allows you to do bigger images.

[KevWilso]

I know we sell them, and I am tooting one of my vendors horns right now.  But I have sold many brands of heat presses over the years, and I can say I love selling the Geo Knight presses.  I hate problems more than I love sales, and GeoKnight are just built very well, and I rarely have issues with them after the sale.

[mimosatexas]

How long have you had yours eric?  How many hats do you do or have you done on it?  ANY complaints?

I agree Kevin!  Both of my Geo Knights are seriously ancient presses, but while the National Hat Press I have is a literal hunk of junk, the others are seriously in perfect condition.  They are also built like tanks.  I had to screw the National down so it wouldn't move all over the place.  The Geo Knights are a pain to move even when I want to

[mimosatexas]

Found this monster.  Not interested, just thought I'd post http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161552580333?item=161552580333&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true

[royster13]

That is a great set-up.....I saw one in Edmonton a few years back and they could sure pump out the production....

[ericheartsu]

How long have you had yours eric?  How many hats do you do or have you done on it?  ANY complaints?

I agree Kevin!  Both of my Geo Knights are seriously ancient presses, but while the National Hat Press I have is a literal hunk of junk, the others are seriously in perfect condition.  They are also built like tanks.  I had to screw the National down so it wouldn't move all over the place.  The Geo Knights are a pain to move even when I want to

We've had it for around 8 months. We don't really do a ton of hats with, mostly tags. But the hats we have done with it, they've been awesome!

[Frog]

If you're feeling thrifty...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Geo-Knight-Model-178-Heat-Transfer-Press-For-Custom-Hats/301529580862?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3D690337ef30874ee086adecf03ef488e3%26pid%3D100204%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D161552580333

[mimosatexas]

I should finance that for $17 a month just because...

Not sure I'm, feeling THAT thrifty at the moment.  There is another one that is in much better shape for only a bit more though that I am considering.

[Shanarchy]

After having auto open, I'd never go back.

[mooseman]

We have 2 Knight press' like them both .
The hat press we have is very nice but in my opinion the handle is upside down, picture it attached such that it angles up not down.
It would be much more efficient and comfortable to operate with the grip angling up. I will get mine modified one day or another otherwise for my $ Knight press' kicks butt. Well worth the bucks
http://www.heatpress.com/product.php?pn=10
mooseman

[Frog]

We have 2 Knight press' like them both .
The hat press we have is very nice but in my opinion the handle is upside down, picture it attached such that it angles up not down.
It would be much more efficient and comfortable to operate with the grip angling up. I will get mine modified one day or another otherwise for my $ Knight press' kicks butt. Well worth the bucks
http://www.heatpress.com/product.php?pn=10
mooseman

As you can see on the old Knght link I posted, they played middle of the road and it has its handle just about level, not angled either up or down

[mooseman]

Hey Frog, That in my opinion would be an improvement over the down slanted handle on the current design.
I am actually thinking about cutting the handle at the first angle inside of the grip bar simply turning it upside down and welding back on to slant the handle up.
While this would require a greater reach over the press to access the handle when the press is open it would be much easier to lock and especially  unlock the press.
the older version you show Frog,  might actually be the best compromise. I do not use the press that much but it is a PITA (for me) with the current handle design.
Thanks for the enlightenment.
mooseman

[Sbrem]

Found this monster.  Not interested, just thought I'd post http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/161552580333?item=161552580333&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&rmvSB=true

just below that on the eBay page, they show one similar to my back up, except mine has 2 hat mounts, and the head swivels, so, while one is heating, you can unload and load the other. It has to be at least 25 years old, still works fine. Geo Knight is good stuff. I still go to my Hotronix first though, it's just smoother, if you know what I mean...

Steve