Seal 500T or 500TX Dry Mount Press

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J V McLure

J V McLure

Grumbler
Joined
Aug 2, 2012
Posts
39
Loc
Athens, Texas
I have been shopping for a large dry mount press. The 24" x 36" is perfect for our needs. I was closing in on one and now I'm confused. I've searched the web for an answer without any luck. This has always been a great place for good answers.

What is the difference between a 500T and a 500TX? How about a 550T or 550TX?

I think these are all 24" x 36". Other than that, all I have are questions. Does anyone know about these various models.

Thank you everyone for all you do to help. This forum is such a great resource.

J V
 
500-T => mechanical thermostat
500-TX => electronic temperature control (not digital readout)

550-TX ?? => electronic temperature control with digital readout. Unless they've changed it, the digital readout indicates the 'setpoint' not the actual temperature.
 
Rick,

Thank you so very much. Great information.

Is there anything I would not be able to do with a T that I could do with a TX? Or is it like a car with a crank up window vs a power window?


Rick Bergeron - CPF said:
500-T => mechanical thermostat
500-TX => electronic temperature control (not digital readout)

550-TX ?? => electronic temperature control with digital readout. Unless they've changed it, the digital readout indicates the 'setpoint' not the actual temperature.
Click to expand...
 
I've only owned a 500-TX and it is still troublefree with its new owner (13 year old now).

The 500-T requires an occasional T-stat replacement being mechanical in nature.

Other than that, either machine work well. Any T-stat failure while in use has the potential for an "OOPS", whether mechancial or electronic.

I've only tested a demo 550-TX and didn't like it. The particular unit that I tested was being demo'd at a tradeshow by the manufacturer and the temperature overshoot was was measured in excess of 50 degrees even after it had been in use for several hours. The measured temperature overshoot of our 500-TX was less than 20 degrees.


  • That might be why the display indicates the setpoint temp instead of measured temp.
  • The overshoot issue may have been resolved by the manufacturer by now.
  • Temperature is one of the most difficult things to control without significant swings.
 
One other important piece of info for you is the size:

Actual size is 26x34 and NOT 24x36

To mount a 24x36 you are required to use 2 bites so if that is the one size you are mounting you may want a small heat/vacuum press.


Using the 500 series you can mount 58" by unlimited length using multiple bites. Heat/vacuum presses are limited to their actual size.
 
Thank you so much Rick. That's some great information. I picked up a 500T that looks darn near new at a very good price. As for the mechanical T-stat, I came across a You-Tube video last night with a guy showing how to replace one that had burned out.

It seems to me it would be fairly simple to do a replacement and install a better control for the heating coils. For the time being though I'm going to let, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it" guide me with this press.

Rick Bergeron - CPF said:
I've only owned a 500-TX and it is still troublefree with its new owner (13 year old now).

The 500-T requires an occasional T-stat replacement being mechanical in nature.

Other than that, either machine work well. Any T-stat failure while in use has the potential for an "OOPS", whether mechancial or electronic.

I've only tested a demo 550-TX and didn't like it. The particular unit that I tested was being demo'd at a tradeshow by the manufacturer and the temperature overshoot was was measured in excess of 50 degrees even after it had been in use for several hours. The measured temperature overshoot of our 500-TX was less than 20 degrees.


  • That might be why the display indicates the setpoint temp instead of measured temp.
  • The overshoot issue may have been resolved by the manufacturer by now.
  • Temperature is one of the most difficult things to control without significant swings.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you Jeff. You guys are so much help. I'd be lost without this great resource.

I'm trying to picture how in the heck you would run something long that is 58" wide through a 26"x34" press?

We have a 48x96 heat/vacuum press for larger items. I was tired of hearing the thing run if we were only needing to mount an individual small item like a 16x20.


Jeff Rodier said:
One other important piece of info for you is the size:

Actual size is 26x34 and NOT 24x36

To mount a 24x36 you are required to use 2 bites so if that is the one size you are mounting you may want a small heat/vacuum press.


Using the 500 series you can mount 58" by unlimited length using multiple bites. Heat/vacuum presses are limited to their actual size.
Click to expand...
 
You push the mounting board all the way to the back support brackets which leaves a few inches of print behind the platen. You move it to the right and left to the end of the board using individual bites. Now shift it forward to heat the couple of inches that are loose at the back edge. Now turn the entire board around and repeat the process.

It is best to let each section cool before taking the next bite with many heat activated boards and some tissues.
 
More info....

J V McLure said:
...I picked up a 500T that looks darn near new at a very good price. As for the mechanical T-stat, I came across a You-Tube video last night with a guy showing how to replace one that had burned out.

It seems to me it would be fairly simple to do a replacement and install a better control for the heating coils. For the time being though I'm going to let, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it" guide me with this press.
Click to expand...

JV,

Later models of the 500T could be converted to a TX with a conversion kit that Seal sold at one time. I actually had a conversion kit that I sold to Grumbler here several years ago. My old 500T, used from 1978 to 1999 was too old of a model for the conversion.

John
 
Goodtwin said:
Has anyone ever tried this bite method with laminate? We can print 44" by what ever length but can only laminate a 40 by 60.
Click to expand...

The DryTac laminates worked better for us when taking 'bites' due to the lower activation temperature when compared to the other brands. The other brands approach the temperature where the foamcore starts to break down. It does take a bit of practice so that you don't crush the foam in one bite more than the next bite.
 
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