Can I use a household iron to apply heat transfers?
If you are just starting your t-shirt business, and exploring using heat transfers, you have probably wondered if you can use a household iron to apply heat transfers instead of a heat press. It seems like a quick, easy way to get started. And hey we all own irons.
Here is why a heat press is worth the investment over the use of a household iron.
Temperature
A successful heat transfer application requires even, accurate and consistent heat. While an iron may reach the right temperature in spots, it will be significantly cooler around the edges. A quality Hotronix heat press will give you an accurate, digital readable temperatures.
Size
An iron is roughly 3 x 10 inches in size. A standard adult size print is 11 x 11 inches. Unless you are applying something small, the iron will not be able to cover your heat transfer image area. Unfortunately, rubbing it in several places will not give you even heat throughout the transfer application. Most heat presses are at least 15 x 15 in size, fully covering your transfer print area in one even, application. The size alone makes it a challenge to use a household iron to apply heat transfers.
Pressure Control
Even if you can obtain an accurate temperature, and the size of your print is smaller than the iron size, the biggest obstacle to using an iron instead of the heat press is the pressure.
A successful application requires three items-time, temperature and pressure. You can apply the transfer for the right length of time with an iron. You may be able to reach the right temperature with the use of an iron. But it is very unlikely you will be able to obtain the pressure needed while you use an iron. The only pressure with an iron is your strength. Heat presses have pressure controls, and many even have digital pressure readouts, to be sure you get the right pressure for a long lasting, durable print.
Durability
You and your iron may come up with a temperature, time and pressure to release the transfer from the carrier and get it applied to your T-shirt. But odds are it won’t last. Improper time, temperature and pressure can lead to cracking or peeling after a few washings. With the use of a quality heat press, all the Transfer Express products will still look new after 50 wash/dry cycles.
So, What Should You Do?
If you are serious about making T-shirts, even as a hobby, it is worth investing in a heat press. There are quality heat presses at different price points from the craft press to the AtoZ Swing Away Heat press to the Hotronix Auto Open Clam to the Hotronix Fusion IQ. Heat presses last for years and are the only investment needed to get started printing T-shirts. Invest in the best heat press your budget allows.
Bottom line is using an iron is like baking a cake with an Easy Bake oven. It might technically bake a cake, but it is not the right tool for a professional job. For best results, go with a heat press!