Vacuum Mounting Press Suggestions?

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FramerBill

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Yorktown Heights, New York
I'm considering buying a vacuum heat press. The size I need is roughly 42"x66". I only saw two companies displaying their wares at the Decor show in NYC last week: Seal and Tullis Russell (Hot Press). I've heard good things about the Seal, but not much of anything about the Tullis Russell. Thing is, if I choose, I could get a good deal on the Tullis Russell. Has anyone used the Tullis Russell press? Comments on performance, ease of use, reliability, and value are appreciated.
 
I just bought the Hot Press, but I have to be honest and say I have not started it up yet!! It is a heavy bugger though!! I had looked at everything, but I really liked the glass top and some of the other features better (all based on reading, etc. - no prior experience); the price was right also, I purchased a trade show demo. So far, my only suggestion, is plan where it will go (preferably not on a second level!) because it is very heavy and awkward to move and does not lend itself to being carried up stairs easily.

I just got it in place on a stand, just have not started it up, so I'm sure I will have questions to post in the future. I also liked the customer service I have received so far - I find that to be very important.

This probably doesn't help much!

Elaine
 
I, too purchased a hot press from Tullis-Russell at last years New York show. One of the things I liked most about it, and was a major factor in the purchase, was the glass top. It's nice being able to see the picture during the mounting process. So far I've got no complaints at all, it has done a fine job, and the customer service, the one time I had to use it, was excellent. My 2 cents.

-Mike.
 
I've had the Seal press for about 18 years. It's followed me to two changes of location. I've had two service calls to Seal - both were handled quickly. But I would kill for the glass top. That would possibly have avoided such snafus as the beanbag weights left on the poster I was mounting or the overlapping prints in the press. Also, a heavy glass top makes a terrific work surface when you're not actually mounting anything.

Ron
 
A couple more thoughts: You might try calling the customer service numbers for each company and see how long it takes to get through. A couple years from now, that will make more difference than any current price savings of one over the other. Also, depending on what kind of volume you hope to do, you might be concerned about how long it takes for the press to reach operating temperature when the heat is turned on and full vacuum once the pump is turned on. I consolidate my mounting to one or two sessions each week, so I don't worry much about the former and, with the volume I do, the latter doesn't matter either. But it might to you.

Okay, I think I'm done now.

Ron
 
On a general note, it seems that both systems are heavy-duty and reliable with good service, plus a combination vac heat press is definitely the right move.

We bought the Hot Press a few years ago because I liked the glass top and repairs looked simple.

Turned out that last hunch was right; a month or so into working, a gizmo burnt up inside the unit - something which had been replaced but hadn't yet in our unit because we had bought a show demo. Tech service talked me through the troubleshooting and diagnosis, sent the free parts overnight and talked me through the replacement. downtime, 2 days and not a bobble since.
 
Yes, the glass top is handy to have if you want to trim things out on the glass surface. As to watching for things going wrong ... well, other than Ron with his weights going into the press, by the time you can see something is wrong, it is usually too late! If you are short on space in your shop for worksurfaces and need a spot to layout and cut laminating film ... forget it! The heat transfers through the glass and the film will start to "move" (wrinkle, curl etc.) before you have the opportunity to place it onto your image. That is a definite advantage for the Seal press with the laminate top.
 
Anyone else have this problem? If so, how did you solve or get around it. Is any type of temporary cover over the glass top practical?

On the flip side, one of the selling points made by the Hot Press rep was that the inside of the lid is easy to clean. Perhaps so. But are any VACUSEAL owners having a real problem with dirty lids ? Are they harder to clean?
 
We, too, have Big Red. Bought it about 5ish years ago... the first year they were in New York, I think. No problems with it at all, and we love the big glass surface to check for frame warps and general temporary storage of stuff. However, this is not just a "me too" kind of posting, but to tell you that we raised up the legs on the "table" (the metal unit that the press is on) so that we can store posterboard boxes underneath. I realize that not many of you stock posterboard, but this may give you an idea of something that you can store vertically underneath with a little jerry rigging. If you are tall enough to still be able to access the press, I guess you could store matboard underneath, but you probably don't buy that by the case either. Anyway, a little extra idea...
 
Have a look at www.drytac.com they are a Canadian/US/International primary manufacture of mounting materials, my understanding is that they distributor a vacuum press which is manufactured in Germany (my local distributor dropped Hot Press for the German manufacturer) it is not on their web site so you may have to call for details.

Drytac are well received in Ireland and the UK.

With regards to space and the glass toped vacuum presses use a grid self-healing mats on top of the glass this helps to eliminate some of the heat transfer.

Hot Press is a UK company their history in Ireland is mixed.
 
The top of the Seal press remains surprisingly cool during operation. As for cleaning - I sometimes use the Seal platen cleaner stuff, but the cleaning problems are minimal, possibly because I use both a release sheet and a release board between the print and the platen.

Hmmm . . . I guess that also means I wouldn't have seen my bean bag weights or my overlapping prints even with a glass cover.

Thanks for helping me clear that up.

Ron
 
We have a Print Mount " Hot Shot" I understand they now come with glass tops, mine is about ten years old.

The thing I like about it is the fast heat up time & fast grab & mount time as opposed to Seal. Print Mounts are up to tempature in about five mins., Seal is more like twenty mins. Grab time in a cold press is 17 seconds in a Print Mount, I understand Seal is more like 1 1/2 mins. These factors are important if your electricity is at a premium like it is here in San Diego.

The contraptions suck up the juice so you don't want them on any longer than you have to. I also like a fast grab time, you don't have to worry about your tack coming loose in the heat while your waiting for it to grab.

Print mount is like any other company in this field, they bend over backwards to make you happy. Their prices are the best in the industry as far as I can tell.

John
 
I saw Print Mount in New York I could not get near their stand to talk to the guy's they were just so busy all the time, we do not have them in Europe yet but from what I could see they looked like good machines.

Having a background in heated and vacuum equipment this type of purchase will most likely boil down to customer service most of the equipment will be very robust with just some small variations between manufacturers.
 
FramerBill

We bought our seal 3244h about 1982; we purchased a wall-mounting bracket so you can fold it back to the wall when you are finished with it. I mounted it a couple of inches higher than normal so I could fit a storage cabinet below. I don't know if the bracket is still available from Seal. You have to reinforce the wall to carry the weight of the press. The only problems found so far have been the gas springs that hold the top up, they wear out every so often and are now up to $120.00 to replace. We chose the 32x40 size because 99% of the work will fit; when we get an oversized piece we take it to our local framing supply where they have a 40x60. tdavis
 
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