this review felt genuine, almost like the old youtube reviews. No marketing or pushing an agenda for the company/products being reviewed. Gave you facts that are crucially needed for heat pressing
I truly appreciate this. With so many Cricut influencers out there, it is hard to trust what is being said. The paper test did it for me as even heat and pressure is so important. I have a pneumatic press that is no longer made but wanted a backup. Between the size of 12x15 being a limiting factor, imho, I think this is a crafters option but even then as you said there is more than htv. Now I am going to look at my press to see if any gaps. LOL
Thanks Darlah, that's why we wanted to test it out- the features make this a really cool heat press, but the pressure does keep it more in the "hobby-grade" range but for a commercial-grade price.
I've watched MANY videos about this press. The people who received them early say nothing but wondering things. Everyone else, who brought the press, has been having problems with theirs not pressing properly on one object or another. Your review is probably the most interesting because no one else has mentioned, or taken, the plate temperature. Thank you for your thorough review.
Thanks Ali! Time, Temperature and Pressure are all important when it comes to heat pressing any type of decoration- from vinyl, to screen printed transfers and even sublimation. Without testing each element, you're never really sure of what the press is actually doing. We figured the temperature would be off- in our testing with the original easy press machines the temperature was also very low compared to what the temperature setting was set to. The pressure though is really the deal breaker on this one. We purchased this press for the review, and were not provided the press, nor any compensation to do the review- we were genuinely interested to see if it would work with our screen printed and digital heat transfers, we really wanted it to work. Any of the "this product was provided for free" reviews are always a little hard to trust.
Thank you for doing this video. This is the best , honest video about the Cricut press on TH-cam. I wouldn’t spend $1000 on any heat press. I have the HTV Ront and it’s Even all the way around for under $300.
Yeah, we've heard similar reviews on the HTVRont press, but have yet to test it ourselves... This press would be much better suited in that price range for sure!
Exactly what I thought! This guy wanted to make everyone think that the machine he sells is the best! The autopress is really good and I bet after testing it he bought one for himself and forgot the one he used to have 😂😂😂
This was one of the best heat press review videos I’ve seen, just based on checking the heat with a heat gun, the pressure test with the paper strips is something I’ve never seen, and pressure is key with heat presses. I also love that you are being thorough with the review. After seeing the pressure test I am embarrassed for Cricut lol. I can’t believe the price tag on this thing and also I don’t understand why you would need a cricut access account for a heat press…I guess for updates? But it seems more like a marketing strategy to rope people into buying more cricut brands, or paying for the cricut access + monthly subscription.
Thanks Bre- We're definitely no strangers to heat presses and you nailed it, time, temperature and pressure are all super important for proper heat transfer application. The features on this press are really cool and we wanted to like it so much... but that pressure is a deal breaker for more than just craft/hobby-level applications. For the price point this almost fits in to the commercial grade presses, but without the reliability and accuracy.
I have a cricut and heatpresses... you don't need subscription to cricut access neither to use it other than to activate or update heatpress. I don't believe you fell for this review! This guy wanted to make everyone think that the machine he sells is the best! The autopress is really good and I bet after testing it he bought one for himself and forgot the one he used to have 😂😂😂
@@patymar80 you’re wild for spending 1k+ on their heat press 😂😂 I couldn’t get past that logic to read the rest of your comment. I’m fully aware you don’t need a subscription to activate the easy presses by cricut as I have them. You do need an account with cricut to activate ANY machine however, and they badger you to subscribe to Cricut Access, so for someone looking for a heat press for a small business, I think this Cricut one is a bad decision solely because you need a cricut account (NOT a subscription in case that wasn’t clear enough for you) to USE this machine. It’s way too much of a hassle for someone who is only looking for a professional heat press. On top of that, even if he didn’t press it correctly with the paper test as you are alleging, the heat gun test showing the uneven heat on the plates is more than enough for me to stay far away from the Cricut machine, regardless of what brand I choose to buy. Settle down Paty, I don’t need you to explain how the Cricut brand works to me as I already owned an Explore 2 and and Easy Press 2 before I ever watched or commented on this video.
I dont usually regard reviews from people who sell their product, because -there you go- HOWEVER I loved this did seem genuine..I most likely will purchase from you.. Thanks
Thanks Anita, we really wanted to like this press and we had no prior use on the press before we filmed this video- so the disappointment was genuine. We have since played around with raising the print area, but still couldn't get the results we can achieve much easier on other heat presses.
Glad we could help Julie! We really wanted to like it and it does have some nice features, but the pressure will lead to some frustration... not something you want in a $1000 heat press.
Hi Rie! We did have one planned but in preliminary testing the "automatic pressure" seems to be a similar issue. You can raise the print area with stacks of additional mouse pads or lower platen pads and it prints ok like here with the Cricut Press, but we haven't been able to reach the full wash testing results without that full, firm pressure.
Thanks nommm, we have not heard of any pressure / temperature fixes- We held on to our autopress to see if any updates came down the line. It seems across the entire line the temperature is lower than displayed. We did get some decent pressure when we load up the lower platen with additional pads, but it's still not ideal.
@@transferexpress i can confirm Cricut *have not* fixed the under-heating or uneven pressure problems on the AutoPress. Furthermore i've had 2 brand new Cricut AutoPresses fail straight out of the box... th-cam.com/video/I0B_iBoqLec/w-d-xo.html
Yeah, seems to be common with both the Easy Presses and the Auto Press. While disappointing for such an expensive piece of equipment, you can compensate on the temperature- Pressure on the other hand makes it almost unusable for anything other than low pressure application.
The only good thing is that beeing operated by an automatic sistem , the problems may be fixed by future software updates ! Thank you for the great and real review !
The automatic system is both good and bad, sure it's easy to use and auto opens and practically closes, but without firm or even adjustable pressure it's just overpriced compared to other heat presses of this price range.
It did help with the pressure the more we raised it up, and we were able to get decent results, it was just a hassle to have to do it every time. For the price of this machine, the pressure should be adjustable- For printing with screen printed transfers or even direct to film transfers it was a deal breaker for us.
We've got our eye one it, but our hopes aren't set too high. From the delays they've consistently had in their timeline to the unclear communications... the things that are too good to be true usually are.
Thank you. Appreciate your comparison review, especially your test showing the temperature was off as much as it was. As the autopress was designed to work with the pad, I wonder if the results would have been different if it had been used. Also, during the pressure check if the strips would have not been able to be removed if the mat were in place to adjust the pressure. I think using the product as designed is important when doing comparisons.
Hey 1Bonvie, for all of the pressure tests and the original pressing, we did use the grey mat that the Autopress comes with. The additional mousepads we added at the end do increase the pressure to firm for much improved application- but that's why we wanted to mention it, because buying any additional supplies to limit your already smaller printing area to get a $1,000 heat press to apply firm pressure seems kind of silly for us when there are other heat press options (that maybe don't have all the bells and whistles as this one) that can work better than this press. That side view without the pressing mat was just to show the uneven nature of the platens range of motion. Don't get us wrong, we really like some of the features this press has, the control and presets are actually really cool. However, the ability to adjust pressure is a deal breaker when Time, Temperature and Pressure are the three key ingredients for heat applied graphics. We would have even looked past the heat as we can compensate for it, but the pressure is really the only (and very important) weak point of this press.
The thing is, everyone always says "oh you can get an auto-open press by such and such a company for way cheaper" but what's appealing to me about the Cricut Autopress is the zero effort closure. I have a disability and as a result only have use of one hand, the zero effort closure is extremely appealing as every other press requires way too much muscle power to close. Can you recommend a press that is easy to close with one hand?
Hey Rachel, there's definitely no press on the market (that we've used) that is easier to open or close with zero effort than this auto press. The design here is great for one-handed operation.
Is it Hotronix Auto Open Clam Press From: £1,130.00 +VAT (£1,356.00 inc VAT) that’s in the back. I was looking at the one you testing. At 800 pounds. But might as well spend the extra and get something amazing
Yup, that's the Hotronix Auto Open Clamshell press in the back. Checkout our friends at Stahls' UK ( www.stahls.co.uk/ )for some great packages and deals on heat presses in the United Kingdom!
👋🏾 can i ask you a Q @transferexpress: i'm new to heatpressing and DTF, but i bought a Cricut AutoPress and am having *heaps of trouble getting the AutoPress to press/transfer DTFs* onto the Hoodies i've bought (and it's destroying my expensive Hoodies in the process 😭). does pressing heavier materials (like Hoodies) require more time, temperature, or pressure than pressing t-shirts? i'm pressing 2 x 20 seconds (as per the instructions of my DTF printer) but even then the DFTs don't transfer from the film to the Hoodie. it's literally taking 4 x 20 seconds to get the DTFs to not peel/lift off (when removing the film backing), but pressing for this long literally burns the Hoodies. i've experimented with different pressures (using your mousepad technique in the above video) but without any significant difference in outcomes. atm i regret buying the Cricut Autopress so much. it's been a nightmare from start to finish... 😭 th-cam.com/video/I0B_iBoqLec/w-d-xo.html
Without knowing the specific type of DTF transfer it's hard to help, but we'll want to ensure an accurate recipe for time, temperature and pressure. Sounds like similar issues to our experience here with the Auto Press: On our unit, the temperature is not accurate to the settings. So, you'll likely have to adjust the settings. Since you already tried to increase the pressure by raising the print area and it didnt work, It's likely the temp here is our issue.
Great question Tracy! The other heat press is the 16 x 20 Hotronix Auto Clam: www.transferexpress.com/heat-presses/hotronix-auto-clam-heat-press The base (Heat Press Caddy Stand) is an additional add on: www.transferexpress.com/heat-press-accessories/heat-press-caddie-stand We also have packages that include everything you see and much more: www.transferexpress.com/heat-press-packages/auto-clam-16x20-package
With comparable printing areas, The Pink Press offers user-adjustable locking pressure, which eliminates the variable pressure issues we faced with this press. It's much more portable and durable and does not require an internet connection to setup- It's ready to go out of the box. Being a lower investment, we'd recommend The Pink Press for more versatile and frustration free printing.
Our pleasure! We definitely wanted to like it, it's got some awesome features and its super easy to use (aside from the whole setup process) but the pressure setting (or lack thereof) is a deal breaker.
What a fantastic review man! Would have wasted my hard earned money on the Cricut. A tonne of fake TH-camrs out there are giving biased reviews. Its shocking!
That was a very interesting and informative review. I appreciated your effort and comparison. I wondered how well that press worked. It seemed too steep a price for what it is but I guess some people are happy with it. HTVRont is apparently starting one of their own as well with a pull out drawer but it's price range is $279. but the concern with that one is the same as to whether the pressure can be adjusted or if it's another one you can not adjust it. Anyway, thank you for the honest review.
Absolutely, we're happy to help! We really did want to like this press for all of the features, but the pressure stops this from being more than just a low-level hobby-grade heat press... and for the price that's unfortunate. We've definitely been keeping tabs on the HTVRont press, however, we're skeptical about the price (you always get what you pay for) and if or when it's actually releasing- All the dates have been pushed back a couple times and now there's a pledge even before a kickstarter but the press is already ready for release? It's all confusing, but for that cheap we'll have to try it.
@@transferexpress yay! Literally just commented about that press. I def agree with you get what you pay for and I actually plan on purchasing one of your heat presses because these reviews also show how much you guys care about your product and how much thought goes into the design.
I ordered a Cricut for less than half the price. I am older 67 years old with arthritis in my arms and hands. I was hoping that the Cricut would allow me to be able to use the press without the pain. I may send it back and check out your websites
You should talk to Cricut about getting a new Autopress, I recently bought one and the pressure is not uneven and the plate comes down perfectly straight…you might have just got a defective one!
You're welcome! It is very well designed, and has some great features, but the pressure is the real deal breaker. For the price, it's nice but you're right: there are better investments for a home-based t-shirt business business.
I have everything Cricut. I'm a cricut fan, however $1,000 is way too expensive for heatpress. I'm getting this heatpress unless cricut lower their price. This is Cricut first auto heatpress. Why would they make it so expensive?
Its got some great features but the "Auto-Pressure" is a deal breaker, with disappointing pressure. With preliminary testing the same issues (and more) seem to be happening with the HTVRont press.
Always happy to help! We really wanted to love this press, but that 'auto' pressure really limits this unit, and for the price you can get a much more reliable heat press.
Been saving to buy cricut autopress and this video....just makes me feel sad.... as I have changed my mind.... it looks sooo sleek ...I wish cricut could rectify d pressure issue
It sure does look cool and the features are super nice, but unfortunately for a heat press in this price range it just doesn't cut it to skimp on the pressure. The Hotronix Maxx clamshell 15 x 15 series is comparable in price range for a made-in-the-usa option with a great warranty (and adjustable pressure).
That's very true Jessica! If the autopress had adjustable (or even firm pressure) it would be more in-line with the features of a professional-grade press. Those pro presses are hard to outgrow, where the auto press isn't enough for more than a hobbyist.
Good thing I saw this. I was about to spend a gram to buy a cricut press. Even the press cricut east press doesn’t even do the job that I have to double the thickness of the letter still blurry around the letter words. I put it on the max of best print. Still not good for easy pressz
Hey Rohroh! We were worried about the pressure when we purchased the machine and... it definitely is an issue. For the same price there are much better heat presses out there.
@@transferexpress thank you so much. There’s a new one I saw automatic heat press. HTV? Heat press? Barely just launch few days ago. Not sure if it’s good. But the original heat press is better. I mean I don’t have one yet. Going to buy on Amazon.
Idk if I would have it on your wishlist, in a few years they will come out with a newer model to replace this and for $1,000 I feel like it should be better…
@@transferexpressyes with the two pads everything comes out perfect… I also as you recommended I put my temperature 20 degrees higher than the recommended setting and I’ve had no issues with autopress.. I’ve grown to love it when I hated it at first because nothing came out correct in the beginning
There's not any heat presses we know of that are designed to press plush animals. We have however seen decorators have success with the specific plushes that have removable clothing or stuffing that allows for flat decoration. With seams and filling, you would not be able to achieve flat and even pressure across the surface of the transfer, which leads to misapplied transfers.
A 35 degree error in temp would be a reason to call Cricut customer support. And why did he not show the indicated and actual temp of the other machine?
Good eye! We did for this video but it didn't make the final cut- We've done some extensive testing and calibrations on the Hotronix Auto Clam in previous videos.
There’s one flaw with your testing method of heat, heat guns are not accurate on reflective surfaces, such as the surface of the heat press. That said, my question about the strips, how long did you have the press down for? Was it truly enough time for the press to heat the strip? Would it register a hotter temperature if it was on a cotton shirt? (Some insulator between the bottom plate) Great video otherwise
Another question, you’re showing that your goof proof needs 60-80PSI of pressure, so, your press is pressing 13,500lbs of pressure? (Assuming 15x15” and 60PSI)
I am willing to let you donate it to this retired lady here! I would like to have one but I cannot afford $1000 it would just be nice for arthritis hands etc. Thank you for the review! You did a great job of showing the issues with it. I think for some of us small crafters that use cricut design space it works but you are correct that if you don't want to actually do all that it isn't really user friendly out of the box.
Looks way better than any hotronix you can get for anywhere close to $1000. I don't like that the car I cut auto press is not metal. I'll probably never buy another hotronix product as my 16x20 which I barely used just quit on me in the middle of my biggest job ever.
Oh no! Did you contact Hotronix Support? (800-727-8520) They're great with diagnosing and fixing any issues. Depending on the age of your press it may still be under warranty too! As for looks, you might have a point, but for functionality... The 11x15 Hotronix Auto Open Clamshell press is $1,125 and the 15 x 15" Maxx press is $1,150.
Yeah I am not surprised. I have had all kinds of Cricut products since they began, and time and time again they do a shoddy job until the customers start screaming at them. Then after months and months (sometimes years) they finally fix the problem. I own the Cricut Maker, the Joy, and an Explore apparently because I am a sucker for pain. But I do not own the latest models of the cutting machines and I won't be buying the auto press.
We REALLY wanted to like this press, on paper the features make it worth it, but in actual use and for the money, you can get a much higher quality press. The pressure will be the main source of frustration with this machine, leading to some spoiled garments and mis-applied transfers. It would seem they have the power to recalibrate the heat and possibly the pressure with software/firmware updates, but we'll see.
Seriously that huge mechanical press, IMO, is a commercial press and I for one would not want that huge equipment in my craftroom; it looks risky to use! My understanding is the Cricut Autopress is for a small business or hobbyists and not for everyone. I for one never do a "hot peel" (burn hazard) and it is recommended not to wash an HTV applied shirt for at least 24-48 hours after applying. Honestly who's going to press 5 mouse pads!
Hey Regine-Ann, we would agree, the Hotronix Auto Clam is definitely geared towards small businesses and more commercial use, it's more than any hobbyist or crafter would ever need. Some t-shirt transfers (including most screen printed ones) require a hot peel for proper application, so we're just following the designated application instructions. We did wait 24-48 hours to wash test these shirts (they were washed over a weekend) and the Goof Proof screen printed transfers washed well, but with the lack of heavy pressure the mousepads were the only way we could get it to apply the correct pressure- we totally agree, nobody should (or even have to) press with all the mousepads, especially when you're dropping $1000 on a heat press. We love the way the auto press looks, although worry about the plastics and all the heat down the road (a benefit to all metal heat presses) and we love the features and the control panel, but the pressure and heat fall short of what you should expect from a heat press in this price range.
Saw this in a Michael's today, had no idea Cricut had a more "enterprise level" heat press. When I saw the price my jaw hit the floor. At that price point you're not catering to the stay at home mom hobbyist crowd anymore. Now after watching this review Im even more flabbergasted. Auto pressure??? 40 degree heat difference?!?. lmao this thing is absolutely useless. Can get a press at half the price and it would do a better job (I have one, along with a Geo Knight). The "Auto Press" looks like a complete fraud...baiting people with the Cricut brand. Thank you for your review, hopefully this will prevent some casual heat pressers some serious buyers remorse.
Exactly our thoughts too! On paper the features look incredible, but unfortunately, the press just doesn't stack up to anything in this price range. Of course the whole requiring internet/creating an account/ etc just to set the thing up is a little frustrating too.
We can see the online registration and connectivity good for future updates and functionality, but yeah, it's kind of strange for equipment like a heat press... The pressure is definitely a deal breaker. Thanks Sandrea!
$1000.00 for this?! heck no!!! with this money you can get a really nice heat press that will do the job right and not to mention the size of it. I do have a Cricut explore air and love it... but the press, never impressed me...Thank you for taking the time to review this product.
There's so many features that we like about it, we REALLY wanted to love it, but the pressure truly is a deal breaker for anyone who takes apparel decoration seriously enough to spend $1,000 on a heat press- you're right, there are far better options.
@@transferexpress and the temperature too... being off a few degrees, is ok... but 30-35!!!?!!! that can definitely mess up a vinyl or any other material that goes in the shirts.
Bingo! At least you can compensate the heat, (but it maxes out at 400, so for sublimation and high temps you're stuck) The original Cricut Easy Presses had similar discrepancies with the temp too!
This guy wanted to make everyone think that the machine he sells is the best! The autopress is really good and I bet after testing it he bought one for himself and forgot the one he used to have 😂😂😂
Hahaha! We'd be lying if we said we've never been hit by the Hotronix Auto Open Clamshell 🤣 Atleast that's just the handle and not the whole top of the press!
Hey CloudSpell, it is quite expensive for a press that does not have adjustable pressure. When using any heat applied graphics you need accurate time, temperature and pressure. With the "auto pressure" and inaccurate heat, you can purchase a much more reliable and accurate heat press for this price.
@@transferexpress Thank you I've been watching some other vlogs about clam type presses or iron press with just those price range I just go with them, but the aesthetics of this cricut heatpress superb
We don't think so either- Being limited to light or medium pressure is kind of a deal breaker when you're making a purchase this expensive. Autoclam for the win, always!
Hotronix is like a cousin, we work in the same family 😉, we're not trying to hide it. However, we did want to give this press the best shot. We love the features and design but at the $1000 price range, we wanted to show what a comparable press would be. Watching other independent reviews around the internet, the pressure is a deal breaker for those decorators too... If you're spending this much, you shouldn't be limiting yourself to just medium pressure.
$1k...for this...HA! What a joke! Whoever design Cricut's products should be fired...their recent product line seem to be more for the age range of 10-15yrs old with minimum adult supervision. I've always liked their cutting machines but that's about it. I was even hoping they'd come with a 24" cutter but nothing yet. Thanks is for sharing!!
this review felt genuine, almost like the old youtube reviews. No marketing or pushing an agenda for the company/products being reviewed. Gave you facts that are crucially needed for heat pressing
We appreciate that Daniel! We thought a lot of the reviews of these presses were a little biased so we wanted to show a true experience with it.
I truly appreciate this. With so many Cricut influencers out there, it is hard to trust what is being said. The paper test did it for me as even heat and pressure is so important. I have a pneumatic press that is no longer made but wanted a backup. Between the size of 12x15 being a limiting factor, imho, I think this is a crafters option but even then as you said there is more than htv. Now I am going to look at my press to see if any gaps. LOL
Thanks Darlah, that's why we wanted to test it out- the features make this a really cool heat press, but the pressure does keep it more in the "hobby-grade" range but for a commercial-grade price.
I've watched MANY videos about this press. The people who received them early say nothing but wondering things. Everyone else, who brought the press, has been having problems with theirs not pressing properly on one object or another. Your review is probably the most interesting because no one else has mentioned, or taken, the plate temperature. Thank you for your thorough review.
Thanks Ali! Time, Temperature and Pressure are all important when it comes to heat pressing any type of decoration- from vinyl, to screen printed transfers and even sublimation. Without testing each element, you're never really sure of what the press is actually doing. We figured the temperature would be off- in our testing with the original easy press machines the temperature was also very low compared to what the temperature setting was set to. The pressure though is really the deal breaker on this one.
We purchased this press for the review, and were not provided the press, nor any compensation to do the review- we were genuinely interested to see if it would work with our screen printed and digital heat transfers, we really wanted it to work. Any of the "this product was provided for free" reviews are always a little hard to trust.
Thank you for doing this video. This is the best , honest video about the Cricut press on TH-cam. I wouldn’t spend $1000 on any heat press. I have the HTV Ront and it’s Even all the way around for under $300.
Yeah, we've heard similar reviews on the HTVRont press, but have yet to test it ourselves... This press would be much better suited in that price range for sure!
Im going to look for “pepsi employees taste test coca cola” videos now😂
Exactly what I thought! This guy wanted to make everyone think that the machine he sells is the best! The autopress is really good and I bet after testing it he bought one for himself and forgot the one he used to have 😂😂😂
I really appreciate this review. I was bumped I wasn't able to afford an auto press yet, but after seeing this, I think I can hold off a bit longer.
Thanks! We're always happy to help out in any way we can!
This was one of the best heat press review videos I’ve seen, just based on checking the heat with a heat gun, the pressure test with the paper strips is something I’ve never seen, and pressure is key with heat presses. I also love that you are being thorough with the review. After seeing the pressure test I am embarrassed for Cricut lol. I can’t believe the price tag on this thing and also I don’t understand why you would need a cricut access account for a heat press…I guess for updates? But it seems more like a marketing strategy to rope people into buying more cricut brands, or paying for the cricut access + monthly subscription.
Thanks Bre- We're definitely no strangers to heat presses and you nailed it, time, temperature and pressure are all super important for proper heat transfer application. The features on this press are really cool and we wanted to like it so much... but that pressure is a deal breaker for more than just craft/hobby-level applications. For the price point this almost fits in to the commercial grade presses, but without the reliability and accuracy.
He didn't even close the machine properly after putting the paper! He is meant to actually close it! That's why the front wasn't as secure...
I have a cricut and heatpresses... you don't need subscription to cricut access neither to use it other than to activate or update heatpress. I don't believe you fell for this review! This guy wanted to make everyone think that the machine he sells is the best! The autopress is really good and I bet after testing it he bought one for himself and forgot the one he used to have 😂😂😂
@@patymar80 you’re wild for spending 1k+ on their heat press 😂😂 I couldn’t get past that logic to read the rest of your comment. I’m fully aware you don’t need a subscription to activate the easy presses by cricut as I have them. You do need an account with cricut to activate ANY machine however, and they badger you to subscribe to Cricut Access, so for someone looking for a heat press for a small business, I think this Cricut one is a bad decision solely because you need a cricut account (NOT a subscription in case that wasn’t clear enough for you) to USE this machine. It’s way too much of a hassle for someone who is only looking for a professional heat press. On top of that, even if he didn’t press it correctly with the paper test as you are alleging, the heat gun test showing the uneven heat on the plates is more than enough for me to stay far away from the Cricut machine, regardless of what brand I choose to buy. Settle down Paty, I don’t need you to explain how the Cricut brand works to me as I already owned an Explore 2 and and Easy Press 2 before I ever watched or commented on this video.
I dont usually regard reviews from people who sell their product, because -there you go- HOWEVER I loved this did seem genuine..I most likely will purchase from you.. Thanks
Thanks Anita, we really wanted to like this press and we had no prior use on the press before we filmed this video- so the disappointment was genuine. We have since played around with raising the print area, but still couldn't get the results we can achieve much easier on other heat presses.
Thank you. You have just saved me my cash. Brilliant demo. Thanks
Glad we could help Julie! We really wanted to like it and it does have some nice features, but the pressure will lead to some frustration... not something you want in a $1000 heat press.
Thanks for this review. Will you be doing one on the HTV Ront Press? Curious about the pressure when using transfers.
Hi Rie! We did have one planned but in preliminary testing the "automatic pressure" seems to be a similar issue. You can raise the print area with stacks of additional mouse pads or lower platen pads and it prints ok like here with the Cricut Press, but we haven't been able to reach the full wash testing results without that full, firm pressure.
amazing review, truly. also: did Cricut fix the inaccurate, under-temp heat issue and/or the uneven pressure issue in the AutoPress?
Thanks nommm, we have not heard of any pressure / temperature fixes- We held on to our autopress to see if any updates came down the line. It seems across the entire line the temperature is lower than displayed.
We did get some decent pressure when we load up the lower platen with additional pads, but it's still not ideal.
@@transferexpress i can confirm Cricut *have not* fixed the under-heating or uneven pressure problems on the AutoPress. Furthermore i've had 2 brand new Cricut AutoPresses fail straight out of the box... th-cam.com/video/I0B_iBoqLec/w-d-xo.html
A fantastic genuine review. Fabulous presentation from Vince.
Thanks Sassy T! No hype, just real talk. Vince is a gem!
Great video. I had the same problem with the first cricut press. Heat was way off. Sent it back and was refunded my money back.
Yeah, seems to be common with both the Easy Presses and the Auto Press. While disappointing for such an expensive piece of equipment, you can compensate on the temperature- Pressure on the other hand makes it almost unusable for anything other than low pressure application.
The only good thing is that beeing operated by an automatic sistem , the problems may be fixed by future software updates ! Thank you for the great and real review !
The automatic system is both good and bad, sure it's easy to use and auto opens and practically closes, but without firm or even adjustable pressure it's just overpriced compared to other heat presses of this price range.
Do you think that if you used two mats that would help the pressure be better?
It did help with the pressure the more we raised it up, and we were able to get decent results, it was just a hassle to have to do it every time. For the price of this machine, the pressure should be adjustable- For printing with screen printed transfers or even direct to film transfers it was a deal breaker for us.
I really wish you guys could do a review of the HTVRONT auto press that’s coming out (it’s currently on kickstarter)
We've got our eye one it, but our hopes aren't set too high. From the delays they've consistently had in their timeline to the unclear communications... the things that are too good to be true usually are.
I love mine. It’s a big ticket purchase for sure. But, worth it imo
Just curious if you don't mind us asking, What decoration methods are you mostly using?
Thank you. Appreciate your comparison review, especially your test showing the temperature was off as much as it was. As the autopress was designed to work with the pad, I wonder if the results would have been different if it had been used. Also, during the pressure check if the strips would have not been able to be removed if the mat were in place to adjust the pressure. I think using the product as designed is important when doing comparisons.
Hey 1Bonvie, for all of the pressure tests and the original pressing, we did use the grey mat that the Autopress comes with. The additional mousepads we added at the end do increase the pressure to firm for much improved application- but that's why we wanted to mention it, because buying any additional supplies to limit your already smaller printing area to get a $1,000 heat press to apply firm pressure seems kind of silly for us when there are other heat press options (that maybe don't have all the bells and whistles as this one) that can work better than this press.
That side view without the pressing mat was just to show the uneven nature of the platens range of motion.
Don't get us wrong, we really like some of the features this press has, the control and presets are actually really cool. However, the ability to adjust pressure is a deal breaker when Time, Temperature and Pressure are the three key ingredients for heat applied graphics. We would have even looked past the heat as we can compensate for it, but the pressure is really the only (and very important) weak point of this press.
@@transferexpress Thanks for the clarification.
The thing is, everyone always says "oh you can get an auto-open press by such and such a company for way cheaper" but what's appealing to me about the Cricut Autopress is the zero effort closure. I have a disability and as a result only have use of one hand, the zero effort closure is extremely appealing as every other press requires way too much muscle power to close. Can you recommend a press that is easy to close with one hand?
Hey Rachel, there's definitely no press on the market (that we've used) that is easier to open or close with zero effort than this auto press. The design here is great for one-handed operation.
@@transferexpress Thank you for your input! I will definitely be saving up for one then! :)
Is it Hotronix Auto Open Clam Press
From: £1,130.00 +VAT (£1,356.00 inc VAT) that’s in the back. I was looking at the one you testing. At 800 pounds. But might as well spend the extra and get something amazing
Yup, that's the Hotronix Auto Open Clamshell press in the back. Checkout our friends at Stahls' UK ( www.stahls.co.uk/ )for some great packages and deals on heat presses in the United Kingdom!
Thanks so much for this video!! I’m good on buying this Cricut auto press, I’ll stick to purchasing the metal presses.
We're happy to help! We really wanted to like this press for the features, but for the price it REALLY misses the mark :(
👋🏾 can i ask you a Q @transferexpress: i'm new to heatpressing and DTF, but i bought a Cricut AutoPress and am having *heaps of trouble getting the AutoPress to press/transfer DTFs* onto the Hoodies i've bought (and it's destroying my expensive Hoodies in the process 😭). does pressing heavier materials (like Hoodies) require more time, temperature, or pressure than pressing t-shirts? i'm pressing 2 x 20 seconds (as per the instructions of my DTF printer) but even then the DFTs don't transfer from the film to the Hoodie. it's literally taking 4 x 20 seconds to get the DTFs to not peel/lift off (when removing the film backing), but pressing for this long literally burns the Hoodies. i've experimented with different pressures (using your mousepad technique in the above video) but without any significant difference in outcomes. atm i regret buying the Cricut Autopress so much. it's been a nightmare from start to finish... 😭 th-cam.com/video/I0B_iBoqLec/w-d-xo.html
Without knowing the specific type of DTF transfer it's hard to help, but we'll want to ensure an accurate recipe for time, temperature and pressure. Sounds like similar issues to our experience here with the Auto Press: On our unit, the temperature is not accurate to the settings. So, you'll likely have to adjust the settings. Since you already tried to increase the pressure by raising the print area and it didnt work, It's likely the temp here is our issue.
Which heat press is the other one? Does it come with the base or is that extra? I didn’t see that on your site
Great question Tracy! The other heat press is the 16 x 20 Hotronix Auto Clam: www.transferexpress.com/heat-presses/hotronix-auto-clam-heat-press
The base (Heat Press Caddy Stand) is an additional add on: www.transferexpress.com/heat-press-accessories/heat-press-caddie-stand
We also have packages that include everything you see and much more: www.transferexpress.com/heat-press-packages/auto-clam-16x20-package
How do you think this compares to The Pink Press? I’m leaning towards The Pink Press.
With comparable printing areas, The Pink Press offers user-adjustable locking pressure, which eliminates the variable pressure issues we faced with this press. It's much more portable and durable and does not require an internet connection to setup- It's ready to go out of the box.
Being a lower investment, we'd recommend The Pink Press for more versatile and frustration free printing.
@transferexpress Are their any upcoming shows scheduled for the Dallas area? I’d like to see the machine in person.
We'll be at the Graphics Pro Expo in Irving, March 7-9th, and the Impressions Expo October 24-26 in Fort Worth!
Can you review the htv ront heatpress please
We're working on it Josephine! It's on the way!
can you review HTVRont auto heat press aswell?
We've got it on the list, We're just trying to get one!
I was looking at one today. Thank you for taking time to do a video
Our pleasure! We definitely wanted to like it, it's got some awesome features and its super easy to use (aside from the whole setup process) but the pressure setting (or lack thereof) is a deal breaker.
What a fantastic review man! Would have wasted my hard earned money on the Cricut. A tonne of fake TH-camrs out there are giving biased reviews. Its shocking!
Thanks! We really wanted to like the press, but for the price there are many full-featured heat presses that are much better options.
That was a very interesting and informative review. I appreciated your effort and comparison. I wondered how well that press worked. It seemed too steep a price for what it is but I guess some people are happy with it. HTVRont is apparently starting one of their own as well with a pull out drawer but it's price range is $279. but the concern with that one is the same as to whether the pressure can be adjusted or if it's another one you can not adjust it. Anyway, thank you for the honest review.
Absolutely, we're happy to help! We really did want to like this press for all of the features, but the pressure stops this from being more than just a low-level hobby-grade heat press... and for the price that's unfortunate.
We've definitely been keeping tabs on the HTVRont press, however, we're skeptical about the price (you always get what you pay for) and if or when it's actually releasing- All the dates have been pushed back a couple times and now there's a pledge even before a kickstarter but the press is already ready for release? It's all confusing, but for that cheap we'll have to try it.
@@transferexpress I look forward to reading your review. In the meantime I’m still saving up for a good reliable heat press :-)
@@transferexpress yay! Literally just commented about that press. I def agree with you get what you pay for and I actually plan on purchasing one of your heat presses because these reviews also show how much you guys care about your product and how much thought goes into the design.
Thanks for you opinion. It’s not for everyone. I love mine.
You actually paid $1k for this!?
i would love to see this review wIth the HTVRONT AUTOPESS
We'll be on it when they start shipping on October 30th.
I ordered a Cricut for less than half the price. I am older 67 years old with arthritis in my arms and hands. I was hoping that the Cricut would allow me to be able to use the press without the pain. I may send it back and check out your websites
You should talk to Cricut about getting a new Autopress, I recently bought one and the pressure is not uneven and the plate comes down perfectly straight…you might have just got a defective one!
Thank you for this review - I am addicted to Cricut and it’s so cute but definitely not worth 1000$ not even $400 when you can get a 16x24 for $350
You're welcome! It is very well designed, and has some great features, but the pressure is the real deal breaker. For the price, it's nice but you're right: there are better investments for a home-based t-shirt business business.
I have everything Cricut. I'm a cricut fan, however $1,000 is way too expensive for heatpress. I'm getting this heatpress unless cricut lower their price. This is Cricut first auto heatpress. Why would they make it so expensive?
Its got some great features but the "Auto-Pressure" is a deal breaker, with disappointing pressure. With preliminary testing the same issues (and more) seem to be happening with the HTVRont press.
What about a software for the MAC??
Cricut design space works on mac and pc
badass review thanks
Always happy to help! We really wanted to love this press, but that 'auto' pressure really limits this unit, and for the price you can get a much more reliable heat press.
Been saving to buy cricut autopress and this video....just makes me feel sad.... as I have changed my mind.... it looks sooo sleek ...I wish cricut could rectify d pressure issue
It sure does look cool and the features are super nice, but unfortunately for a heat press in this price range it just doesn't cut it to skimp on the pressure. The Hotronix Maxx clamshell 15 x 15 series is comparable in price range for a made-in-the-usa option with a great warranty (and adjustable pressure).
Great & honest review! A month late but still very good. New SUB! Keep up the great work 👍
Thanks! If you ever have anything you want to see us try let us know, we're always happy to help!
they were teaching you how to operate this beautiful machine
Wow. There is such a small difference in the cost of the pro tool versus the full price of the cricut press!
That's very true Jessica! If the autopress had adjustable (or even firm pressure) it would be more in-line with the features of a professional-grade press. Those pro presses are hard to outgrow, where the auto press isn't enough for more than a hobbyist.
Good thing I saw this. I was about to spend a gram to buy a cricut press. Even the press cricut east press doesn’t even do the job that I have to double the thickness of the letter still blurry around the letter words. I put it on the max of best print. Still not good for easy pressz
Hey Rohroh! We were worried about the pressure when we purchased the machine and... it definitely is an issue. For the same price there are much better heat presses out there.
@@transferexpress thank you so much. There’s a new one I saw automatic heat press. HTV? Heat press? Barely just launch few days ago. Not sure if it’s good. But the original heat press is better. I mean I don’t have one yet. Going to buy on Amazon.
A little out of my price range but this thing seems amazing. It's a on my wishlist:)
It looks awesome and the features are pretty cool, but you can get heat presses that will do everything this AutoPress can and more for much less.
Idk if I would have it on your wishlist, in a few years they will come out with a newer model to replace this and for $1,000 I feel like it should be better…
Here from that amazing tik tok video
🤣🤣🤣 It's where it belongs 🤣🤣🤣
Not a big fan of the going on line to set up either - mine is in the garage and now i have to haul it by myself to the house to register it!
Yeah, it's a great idea for updates, etc... but in practice having to connect to the internet to register it just doesn't work all the best.
New follower here ❤
Thanks! We're always happy to help apparel decorators of all sizes succeed. Let us know if there's anything you'd like to see us cover next.
I use 2 Cricut heat pads take away the gap
Yeah, you've definitely got the raise that printing area up- That's the only way we were able to get firm pressure on it.
@@transferexpressyes with the two pads everything comes out perfect… I also as you recommended I put my temperature 20 degrees higher than the recommended setting and I’ve had no issues with autopress.. I’ve grown to love it when I hated it at first because nothing came out correct in the beginning
What heat press machine is suitable for a plush stuffed animal with a thickness of approximately 4-5 inches?
There's not any heat presses we know of that are designed to press plush animals. We have however seen decorators have success with the specific plushes that have removable clothing or stuffing that allows for flat decoration.
With seams and filling, you would not be able to achieve flat and even pressure across the surface of the transfer, which leads to misapplied transfers.
I just wanna plug in and use.
We did too James... we did too. 😅
A 35 degree error in temp would be a reason to call Cricut customer support. And why did he not show the indicated and actual temp of the other machine?
Anyone checked the actual heat on this with a thermometer against what the settings say
We check with an IR thermometer here in this video at 12:33 - It's about 30 degrees cooler than the set temperature on the display.
Thanks for that, i thought it was just that mine might be faulty @@transferexpress
Wish I had saw your review before I made a purchase 😢
you didn't show the temp on both machines
Good eye! We did for this video but it didn't make the final cut- We've done some extensive testing and calibrations on the Hotronix Auto Clam in previous videos.
There’s one flaw with your testing method of heat, heat guns are not accurate on reflective surfaces, such as the surface of the heat press. That said, my question about the strips, how long did you have the press down for? Was it truly enough time for the press to heat the strip? Would it register a hotter temperature if it was on a cotton shirt? (Some insulator between the bottom plate)
Great video otherwise
Another question, you’re showing that your goof proof needs 60-80PSI of pressure, so, your press is pressing 13,500lbs of pressure? (Assuming 15x15” and 60PSI)
I am willing to let you donate it to this retired lady here! I would like to have one but I cannot afford $1000 it would just be nice for arthritis hands etc. Thank you for the review! You did a great job of showing the issues with it. I think for some of us small crafters that use cricut design space it works but you are correct that if you don't want to actually do all that it isn't really user friendly out of the box.
Looks way better than any hotronix you can get for anywhere close to $1000. I don't like that the car I cut auto press is not metal. I'll probably never buy another hotronix product as my 16x20 which I barely used just quit on me in the middle of my biggest job ever.
Oh no! Did you contact Hotronix Support? (800-727-8520) They're great with diagnosing and fixing any issues. Depending on the age of your press it may still be under warranty too!
As for looks, you might have a point, but for functionality... The 11x15 Hotronix Auto Open Clamshell press is $1,125 and the 15 x 15" Maxx press is $1,150.
Yeah I am not surprised. I have had all kinds of Cricut products since they began, and time and time again they do a shoddy job until the customers start screaming at them. Then after months and months (sometimes years) they finally fix the problem. I own the Cricut Maker, the Joy, and an Explore apparently because I am a sucker for pain. But I do not own the latest models of the cutting machines and I won't be buying the auto press.
We REALLY wanted to like this press, on paper the features make it worth it, but in actual use and for the money, you can get a much higher quality press. The pressure will be the main source of frustration with this machine, leading to some spoiled garments and mis-applied transfers. It would seem they have the power to recalibrate the heat and possibly the pressure with software/firmware updates, but we'll see.
Seriously that huge mechanical press, IMO, is a commercial press and I for one would not want that huge equipment in my craftroom; it looks risky to use! My understanding is the Cricut Autopress is for a small business or hobbyists and not for everyone. I for one never do a "hot peel" (burn hazard) and it is recommended not to wash an HTV applied shirt for at least 24-48 hours after applying. Honestly who's going to press 5 mouse pads!
Hey Regine-Ann, we would agree, the Hotronix Auto Clam is definitely geared towards small businesses and more commercial use, it's more than any hobbyist or crafter would ever need. Some t-shirt transfers (including most screen printed ones) require a hot peel for proper application, so we're just following the designated application instructions.
We did wait 24-48 hours to wash test these shirts (they were washed over a weekend) and the Goof Proof screen printed transfers washed well, but with the lack of heavy pressure the mousepads were the only way we could get it to apply the correct pressure- we totally agree, nobody should (or even have to) press with all the mousepads, especially when you're dropping $1000 on a heat press.
We love the way the auto press looks, although worry about the plastics and all the heat down the road (a benefit to all metal heat presses) and we love the features and the control panel, but the pressure and heat fall short of what you should expect from a heat press in this price range.
I believe the noise is the fan.
It is, the fan to keep the plastic cool (we think it also keeps the heating element cool too 😆)
Saw this in a Michael's today, had no idea Cricut had a more "enterprise level" heat press. When I saw the price my jaw hit the floor. At that price point you're not catering to the stay at home mom hobbyist crowd anymore. Now after watching this review Im even more flabbergasted. Auto pressure??? 40 degree heat difference?!?. lmao this thing is absolutely useless. Can get a press at half the price and it would do a better job (I have one, along with a Geo Knight). The "Auto Press" looks like a complete fraud...baiting people with the Cricut brand. Thank you for your review, hopefully this will prevent some casual heat pressers some serious buyers remorse.
Exactly our thoughts too! On paper the features look incredible, but unfortunately, the press just doesn't stack up to anything in this price range. Of course the whole requiring internet/creating an account/ etc just to set the thing up is a little frustrating too.
I won’t buy that and the reason is they force you to go online. Also, I can see there’s no pressure. Thank you for your review.
We can see the online registration and connectivity good for future updates and functionality, but yeah, it's kind of strange for equipment like a heat press... The pressure is definitely a deal breaker. Thanks Sandrea!
You’re right about Cricut… I wish I never bought it
What is wrong with the cricut?
$1000.00 for this?! heck no!!! with this money you can get a really nice heat press that will do the job right and not to mention the size of it. I do have a Cricut explore air and love it... but the press, never impressed me...Thank you for taking the time to review this product.
There's so many features that we like about it, we REALLY wanted to love it, but the pressure truly is a deal breaker for anyone who takes apparel decoration seriously enough to spend $1,000 on a heat press- you're right, there are far better options.
@@transferexpress and the temperature too... being off a few degrees, is ok... but 30-35!!!?!!! that can definitely mess up a vinyl or any other material that goes in the shirts.
Bingo! At least you can compensate the heat, (but it maxes out at 400, so for sublimation and high temps you're stuck) The original Cricut Easy Presses had similar discrepancies with the temp too!
Yours is messed up. You
may want to
Send it back because mine does not have the gap in the back.
With the pad removed we've seen other presses show the gap as well- Maybe a first series defect?
This guy wanted to make everyone think that the machine he sells is the best! The autopress is really good and I bet after testing it he bought one for himself and forgot the one he used to have 😂😂😂
www.tiktok.com/@transferexpress/video/7099917935887666474
I've seen demos of this thing and I would probably get hit by it... I'm clumsy
Hahaha! We'd be lying if we said we've never been hit by the Hotronix Auto Open Clamshell 🤣 Atleast that's just the handle and not the whole top of the press!
Autopress is expensive idk if it is worth the money :3
Hey CloudSpell, it is quite expensive for a press that does not have adjustable pressure. When using any heat applied graphics you need accurate time, temperature and pressure. With the "auto pressure" and inaccurate heat, you can purchase a much more reliable and accurate heat press for this price.
@@transferexpress Thank you I've been watching some other vlogs about clam type presses or iron press with just those price range I just go with them, but the aesthetics of this cricut heatpress superb
Not worth $1000. I have some HTV that require firm pressure. I love my Hotronics Autoclam. Seven years & still going strong!🤗
We don't think so either- Being limited to light or medium pressure is kind of a deal breaker when you're making a purchase this expensive. Autoclam for the win, always!
Seems to me like you work for the other company
Hotronix is like a cousin, we work in the same family 😉, we're not trying to hide it. However, we did want to give this press the best shot. We love the features and design but at the $1000 price range, we wanted to show what a comparable press would be. Watching other independent reviews around the internet, the pressure is a deal breaker for those decorators too... If you're spending this much, you shouldn't be limiting yourself to just medium pressure.
I wouldn't waste my money on it.
We did, so you don't have to! 🤣
where THE HELL is dave. what the flip
Haha, Dave was out of the office when the auto press came in and we were too excited to review it!
Guys....you shouldn't have shown cricut autopress in the trash. that was pretty cruel.
😅 Maybe it was A LITTLE overboard... 😅
$1k...for this...HA! What a joke! Whoever design Cricut's products should be fired...their recent product line seem to be more for the age range of 10-15yrs old with minimum adult supervision. I've always liked their cutting machines but that's about it. I was even hoping they'd come with a 24" cutter but nothing yet. Thanks is for sharing!!