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We’ve all been there. Sublimation Paper? Check. Sublimation Printer? Check. Sub Ink? Check. Heat Press? Negative!
With everything but the heat press, it’s only natural that you want to start sublimating, something…anything, just to get the first press under your belt. And without an official heat press, it doesn’t take long for you to wonder which home appliance can serve as a heat press just so you can “practice” sublimating.
After a few minutes, a couple of things come to mind. Can you use the panini press? No, too small. And pretty soon, it dawns on you: how about the household Iron? If this is you, you’re in good company!
So, Can You Use an Iron for sublimation transfers?
No. The sublimation transfer process requires firm, flat pressure for at least 60 seconds and it has to stay perfectly still during the entire process to avoid blurry results. Even if you can manage to keep perfectly still on a small item, the recessed steam divots in a household iron will give you horrible results, with maybe one exception.
Has Anyone Ever Tried Using an Iron for Sublimation?
Yes! I have tried using an iron for sublimation and frankly, just about everyone I know has tried using a household iron at one point or another. Most attempt this out of pure excitement as a total newbie but others have tried a household iron in an emergency order situation, when their heat press suddenly quits and they have an order due.
Simply put… the iron doesn’t work. Nothing quality will come of it. UNLESS you are doing something really really tiny. And that leads us to our next section….
What Can Be Sublimated by Using a Regular Iron?
Of course there is an exception for nearly everything in life. In general, using an iron is a really bad idea for sublimation because nearly every single time, you’ll just be wasting a blank.
However, if you have to sublimate something really, really small and you MUST get your item subbed and out the door, then you might just get away with a household iron.
The item has to be small enough to fit in the part of the iron that has no uneven spaces. Most irons have a very small section of just plain, flat steel as pictured below:
You might get “okay” results if your item is small enough the fit inside the sweet spot of a household iron, where there are no uneven surfaces.
Items like little round bracelet inserts, pop socket inserts, earrings, dog tags etc., might be okay with a regular iron. For the most part though, the proper equipment is the right way to do sublimation. Which leads us to…
What is the Best Heat Press for Home Use?
There are 2 things to consider when selecting a heat press for home use. Plate Size and Volts Required.
- For Plate Size – most people soon outgrow anything smaller than 15×15.
- Voltage – identify the outlet it’s going into before purchasing. Most home outlets are set up for 110 volts. Whatever you do, make sure the heat press you buy, matches the capability of your desired outlet whether it’s 110 or 220. We dedicated an entire article to heat press watts/outlets, amps etc., here: link to article
If the one thing missing in your sublimation business is a heat press, it’s time to make the investment.
The Most Basic Home Heat Press for Sublimation and Crafters
Amazon has decent heat press offerings and many people have a flourishing business with a generic, budget friendly heat press.
The Fancierstudio pictured below is in hundreds, if not thousands of home based business. You can press substrates up to size 15 x15 and at the time of this writing, this entry level heat press requires 110v outlet. You can check it out with this link (affiliate link to product), or by clicking the image.
Higher End Entry Level Heat Press
If budget allows, starting off with an upgraded heat press will definitely feel good and, yes, a better press with tech support is worth the money…if you’ve got it.
If you fall into this category and want to upgrade your press now, instead of later, we recommend taking a look at Heat Press Nation’s entire line of “Home Use Heat Presses” (Link to Home Use Heat Press Section)
Heat Press Nation is a great company to buy from and they are unique in that they offer interesting financing terms, which could be helpful in the beginning stages of starting a home-based business.
In Conclusion
To wrap this all up, you WILL need a heat press if you plan on sublimating anything larger than a dog tag. An iron might work on a tiny substrate, but it’s not safe and it’s definitely not its intended use.
Get yourself a heat press as soon as you are able. It doesn’t have to break the bank and thousands of beginners start with an inexpensive press on amazon. (link to heat press)
If budget allows, upgrade to a Heat Press Nation (link) heat press and check out their site regularly as they often run promotions.