I like to do this for most of my heat transfer projects, honestly. Ability to register the product online to receive educational materials and updates. Crafting doesnt always happen at home. When you take it out of the packaging youll see a quick start guide that walks you through your first project with all the materials that came with the press. Its okay if the EasyPress overlaps just a bit with the previously heated area. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But if you do a lot of crafting work, this bad boy will up your quality while also saving you time. As you can see the heat mark results on a red fabric too at this same temperature of 375.however that mark did disappear after about an hour when the fabric cooled. Or on an ironing board and ended up with some wonky rippling in your design? Copyright Silhouette School 2016. Remember to never slide your EasyPress. Thats because you want even pressure across a flat surface for your design to adhere, and seams and zippers can get in the way of that. DWYM is your trusted product review source. Then I returned the EasyPress to its safety base and flipped the bag back over. Ideal for jumbo-size projects. You can unsubscribe anytime. Sign up to get my latest posts straight to your mailbox! Once the liner has cooled from hot to warm, carefully peel it off. Over the years, these devices have evolved from their original design that needed cartridges to cut out letters and shapes. Other models are especially good with thick materials, like glitter heat transfer vinyl. A loud craft die-cutting machine can be a nuisance, especially if you use your maker when your family is around. Heats up quicklyup to 25% faster than the original EasyPress. Remembers time and temperature settings from last use. For the final layer, apply firm pressure for 15 seconds (note: use only 10 seconds if youre using foil iron-on), then flip the material over and apply 15 seconds of heat to the entire design from the back. Once the design had cooled from hot to warm, I peeled off the protective sheet to reveal my design. Update as August 22, 2021:Checkout The Best Craft Die Cutting Machine for a detailed review of all the top . In addition, don't forget to look for specific answers by using the Search Box on the blog. After the EasyPress timer beeps, burnish the design. To do this, using the recommended temperature setting for your materials, but instead of following the recommended time, cover your design with your EasyPress and apply firm pressure for 3 seconds. The process is very similar to applying iron-on to fabric. I'd love to have you, andI promise I don't send too many emails ;). For example, this temperature will be different for foil iron-on than it would be for regular iron-on vinyl. It can heat up to 400 degrees in 1-3 minutes! Make sure to always mirror your images when working with iron-on. Iron-on material is traditionally associated with fabric, but you can use the EasyPress to adhere iron-on designs to other bases like wood and paper. If the answer is yes, EasyPress 2 would be worth the price. Now with adjustable heat up to 400 (205 C). You can use the liners for protection as youre working through your design. Your design may require you to wait for everything to cool completely. The original EasyPress would not remember that, which may not seem like a huge deal, but it is a convenience that makes things a little quicker! The small size of the EasyPress 2 box and light weight is just one small benefit, but it leads to what I consider the biggest benefit of the EasyPress over a heat press: it's portability and ability to be easily stored. SCRIPPS CO., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Learn more. The heat press wins, hands down on pressure and the EasyPress wins on portability again. In order to print designs from your mobile device, youll need to download an app onto your phone. If you're still not having any luck, feel free to email me with your question. Once your timer beeps, move the heat press to a new section and repeat. If you plan to work with a wide range of fabrics, look for a machine that can adjust to the thickness and type that youre using. You can see me doing this in the video I have in this post. Some are quieter than others, so keep that in mind before purchasing. Some can cut through extremely tough fabrics like leather and vinyl, while others can handle delicate fabrics like lace. (See my tutorial for how to layer iron-on vinyl for more!) Cricut suggests using their EasyPress on a flat surface like a table with a Cricut EasyPress Mat. You can do this by putting the item over a piece of thick cardboard that is about the same size. Some models use a technology called the Adaptive Tool System, which features 10 times the cutting power of other machines. Thinking maybe the 12x10 EasyPress was a dud I used the smaller 6x7 EasyPress at the same temperature, same printable heat transfer, and same fabric and got the same results. Im going to be totally honest with youif you only do a few heat transfer or iron-on projects a year, you probably dont need an EasyPress or EasyPress 2. Then I carefully weeded out the negative space using a weeding tool. Log in. The timer defaults to 30 seconds, which is what I needed. Heat transfer or iron-on materials adheres to a surface once it reaches a specific temperature. When you apply the EasyPress, the raised seam or zipper areas will flatten out since the towel material has a bit more give. It heats up faster! Its important to note that these arent professional-grade die-cutting machines. In fact, there are many Cricut designs out there that are designed specifically with layering in mind. The safety base keeps your EasyPress 2 in a protected position on a resting position and also protects the surface of what you are crafting on. Comes in different sizes with different price points. The first thing to discuss in any complete guide to using the Cricut EasyPress is why its actually necessary in the first place. We looked at the top and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. You dont have to use an EasyPress Mat with the EasyPress, but it was designed for it and makes things really seamless. Push the power button to turn on and heres another cool new feature: it will remember and automatically set to the last settings you used. The mat is made of a heat-resistant cover, a felt layer for moisture control, a foil lay to reflect heat back up to your project, and a silicone sponge layer to insulates your work surface and functions as a pressing pillow to absorb seams and whatnot (see section below about working with your EasyPress and seams/zippers!). The temperature can be more difficult to control with an iron, and using the EasyPress can help you get the exact right temperature and time needed to ensure results that last. You dont have to apply pressurejust let it sit there doing its thing. And of course, its a perfect complement to Cricut cutting machines. Using the EasyPress on smaller items can be a bit less straightforward. Unlike other craft die-cutting machines, it can heat up in 60 seconds or less. Id love to have you, andI promise I dont send too many emails , function ml_webform_success_4037224(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-4037224 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-4037224 .row-form").hide()}, Copyright 2022 Let's Craft Instead | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Complete Guide to Using the Cricut EasyPress, how to cut wood with the Makers knife blade, Cricuts Interactive Quick Reference Guide. Simply place your design and set the EasyPress down over it. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. However, theyre great for home craft projects that you wouldnt have been able to do without a craft die-cutting machine. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They have multiple layers that are placed on top or one another to create the final image. For more details, review our Privacy Policy. I used a balled-up paper towel to gently burnish the design through the protective sheet to ensure optimal adhesion as the iron-on stick cooled. The EasyPress Mat prevents all of this, all while being use to use and store. Streamlined safety base that keeps work surface up to 60F cooler. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. After the timer beeped, I flipped my bag over and applied heat from the back for about 10 seconds. We get several hundred comments a day. Layering materials is an easy way to add dimension to your heat transfer projects. Once the EasyPress light turned green, I pre-heated the my bag for about 5 seconds. Aside from the different size options, the biggest benefit of the EasyPress 2 over the original EasyPress is the higher temperature range. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. After youve finished applying heat to the entire design, flip your project over and apply heat to each area of the back for about 10 seconds. Price is comparable or more than a standard 15 x 15 heat press, EasyPress 2 is more expensive than the original EasyPress but comes with more features and benefits. You'll also get convenient notifications once the device has heated up, as well as beeps when the device is about to go to sleep due to inactivity. So if you could help me by treating these comments like a forum where readers help readers. It works great with traditional heat transfer vinyl, as well as the fun stuff like heat transfer foil, glitter, and metallic materials. Speaking from personal experience, I think the EasyPress 2 does a much better job on metallics, foils, and other special items that arent plain ol vinyl. We then create one easy-to-understand review. The first thing I noticed is that I was able to carry all three of the EasyPress 2 boxes up to my office by myself and in one trip. Operate the EasyPress 2 the same way as the original EasyPress. Not only can you get started right out of the box, but todays machines also have notifications built in that will let you know when your machine is warmed up and when its about to shut down due to inactivity. According to Cricut, there are three main factors that contribute to getting professional heat transfer results at home. Another handy feature to watch for is the ability to remember the settings you last used. The Cricut EasyPress 2 comes closer in comparison to a traditional heat press than the original heat press in almost every way: max temperature range, platen size, and price. Begin at one corner of the design and press according to the setting outlined for your base and iron-on material. Some machines can cut all types of fabric without you needing to add interfacing or backing to it to reinforce it. Also take care not to let the edges of your liners leave imprints in the already adhered material. Helpful safety features include an insulated resting base and auto-shutoff feature. COPYRIGHT THE E.W. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You can control the temperature, up to 400 F, with ease on the digital display which also has a timer which takes the guesswork out of your projects with different materials. Until now, I have always used an iron for my heat transfer and iron-on projects. You can use their Interactive Quick Reference Guide to see what settings you need to use for a given material. Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in the category. Your email address will not be published. If you craft with friends, perhaps through retreats or casual get-togethers, youll love that some craft die-cutting machines are ultra-portable. The great thing about the new EasyPress 2 is that it is super easy to learn and it heats up in 60 seconds or less. Just make sure you let it cool before you proceed with your design.)