F2C Heat Press Machines – Should You Avoid Them?
Should you get an F2C Heat Press?
If you’ve been looking for a heat press for any length of time, you will have seen likely seen F2C heat press machines. The brand has been around for many years now, which is a good sign when looking for a new press! The machines are popular, but let’s take a closer look at them!
F2C Heat Press Review
F2C Direct has been selling heat press machines since 2014, and has very positive overall customer satisfaction ratings.
Because these machines are very similar to those available from other sellers, it makes it hard to decide which seller to buy from. However, since F2C do have a very high overall customer satisfaction rating, they are well worth considering.
F2C heat press machines are used for applying heat transfers:
- Cotton and polyester garments (shirts, polos, tees)
- Sports jerseys
- Tote bags
- Coated ceramic tiles
- Sweatpants
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Mousepads
- Baby or kids clothes
- Wooden items
- Dog tags, license plates and other metals
What types of transfers can you press?
There are all sorts of heat transfers that you can get into. You can buy transfers pre-made, otherwise you will need further equipment to produce your own.
Making your own vinyl transfers will require vinyl sheets and a vinyl cutting machine, while making sublimation transfers will require sublimation printing supplies.
Types of transfers include:
- Heat transfer vinyl (HTV)
- Smoothed, flocked or glittered HTV
- Rhinestones
- Inkjet transfers
- Sublimation transfers
- And the major majority of transfer papers
Sublimation transfers require the most heat (around 400℉) and can be the trickiest transfer to get right. You can see our article on sublimation printing for more info.
F2C 15 x 15 Heat Press
F2C’s 15 x 15 inch heat press is a solid home and hobby heat press machine – it might also be suitable for a small start up t-shirt business.
15 x 15 inch machines are a good size to have for home use. It’s not so small that you have trouble pressing large t-shirts, but not so big that it dominates the room it is in. Clamshells are also a good style for in the home or garage, not needing a ton of space to open and swivel around.
Features:
- Digital LCD time and temperature display
- A thickened top platen
- Adjustable pressure knob
- Solid steel frame making it very hard wearing
- Teflon coated heat platen
- Heats up in about 15 minutes
- Press transfers no larger than 14 x 14 inches
Specs:
- 110 volts
- Weighs approx. 50 pounds
- Temp: 0 – 400℉
- Timer: 0 – 999 seconds
- 1200 watts
F2C 12 x 10 Swing-Away Press
The F2C 12 x 10 inch Swing Away Heat Press is one of the top rated small heat press machines.
Small heat press machines are ideal for craft and hobby use, though they’re not so great if you’re doing large shirts. Best for those doing kids clothes and baby onesies.
They are easy to store away, easier to move around the house, or transport out of the home, and they are cheaper!
Features:
- Swing-away style
- Industrial strength build
- Digital time and temperature display
- 15 minute heat up time
- Adjust the pressure to the thickness of your substrate
Specs:
- 0 – 400℉ range of temperature
- 0 – 999 range of time (though I wouldn’t put anything in for 999 seconds!)
- 110 volts
- 800 watts
- Weighs 25 pounds
F2C Pro 5 in 1 Heat Press
This F2C 5 in 1 heat press will allow you to press onto mug, plate and caps as well.
Multifunctions might be right for you if you’re just wanting to play around and practice transferring onto these other substrates, but for business purposes you may want to choose a higher quality machine from the article linked above.
This press comes with:
- 12 x 15 inch shirt press
- 5 inch max diameter plate press
- 6 inch max diameter plate press
- 11 ounce mug press
- 6 x 3 curved cap press
These additional presses attach to the main body either by switching out the flat platens, or by plugging into the control panel.
Features:
- Swing-away style machine
- Choose either Fahrenheit or Celsius
- Take attachment presses
- One year limited warranty
Specs:
- 1200 watts
- 110 volts
- 32 – 430℉ temp. range
- 0-999 time range
- Weighs 50 pounds
F2C Mug Heat Press
The F2C Mug Press Machine is another option. It is usually a better idea to get a dedicated mug press if you are serious about mug pressing.
Features:
- 3.1 – 3.5 inch diameter with a 9 inch length and 4.5 inch height
- 3.5 – 2.5 inch diameter with a 4 inch height
- Digital time and temperature display
- Shift the pressure to fully suit your size and shape of cup
- Choose either Fahrenheit or Celsius
Specs:
- 110 volts
- 0 – 430℉ temperature range
- 0 – 240 second time choice
F2C Heat Press Alternative
F2C heat press machines are great for the right people.
I would describe them as ‘entry-level machines’, which are best for home and hobby use. F2C are definitely one of the better sellers of these machines, but they are still prone to having faults.
A better alternative to the F2C heat press is the MPress from Heat Press Nation. These cost a little more, but you will have greater peace of mind, especially if you are need a heat press for business. For more info about their range of machines, check out this HPN review.
Thanks for reading, please leave any comments or questions down below!
(Please note: This post contains affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy here.)
I just bought a heat press, do I use vinyl or iron on for cups ?
Congrats, Kaelin! If you’re talking about customizing things like mugs, glasses, or tumblers then permanent adhesive vinyl is the way to go in my opinion. That being said there are definitely folks who swear by HTV on mugs so I’d suggest just giving both a try to see what you think!
I am trying to figure out what supplies I need for a 5 in 1 digital transfer submlimation heat press. Paper, printer, etc.
Hey Sheila, congrats on the new heat press! Here’s an overview on sublimation transfers. You’ll need a sublimation printer, sublimation ink, sublimation paper, and the blanks you want to design. Let me know what other questions you might have.
The pads that come with it which one to you use.??
Hi Rhi, we just use the pads that came with our machine. If you need 15 x 15 inch heat press pad replacements you can find there here.
I too have not received my heat press, the tracking on Amazon only says shipped by my shipping, gives no clue as to where it is, I paid extra to have it here by the 5th thru the 9th here it is the 13th and no update as to where it is? This really stinks as I needed it for an outreach event on the 10th now just want to get it so I don’t feel like everything is a total loss, the 5in1 swing away has swung out so far
HORRIBLE!!! Waited a week for my heat press all for amazon to say it will be another week and there is nothing they can do!!!! I have never been more angry!! I waited the week because I needed it for an event!!! Not only did I not get my product but I lost out on money to make!!! We as consumers count on our products when we say we are going to get them, Its the most frustrating thing to not get your product after watching out for the delivery guy all day BECAUSE IT SAID IT WOULD BE HERE TODAY AT 8PM AND I DIDNT GET A NOTIFICATION ABOUT IT NOT MAKING IT UNTIL 8:30PM, WHAT A JOKE!!!!
Hey Lydia, thanks for sharing. Yes it is so frustrating when this happens! I don’t think this is the norm, but it’s unfortunate it happened to you when you actually needed the heat press for this event.
My press wont turn on
I’m sorry to hear that. What type of press is it? It’s possible the problem is just a blown fuse, but otherwise it would be best to get in touch with the seller or manufacturer.
I have the swing away 12×12 the bottom plate slides out Can I order a 15×15 plate to switch out when needed for bigger items?
Hi Lynn, no you wouldn’t be able to do that. With machines that have changeable heat platens, you usually have a large top platen, and then switch out to a smaller lower platen if you need to. You can’t switch top platens, and that dictates the size you can press. For the most part, only the US made heat press machines allow for changable platens. However, multifunction machines also allow you to switch in smaller heat platens for pressing caps or plates, for example.
I just unpacked my F2C and it doesn’t have any instructions how to start. I already check videos on YouTube and I couldn’t find my answers. In top of that the machine doesn’t swing at all. I’m planing to call customer svcs at Amazon to complain is I can’t find any answers
Hi Lorena, sounds like you got a clamshell. Did you want a swing away press? You can check out these PowerPress instructions. It’s basically the same. Or if you do a return, check out Heat Press Nation for your next heat press. They have quality swing away presses in their Black Series range that come with great instructions and support.
Is there somewhere to have a printout of what temp to use and for how long to make these items?
Hi Mary, usually the best thing to do is to check the label on whatever transfer you are doing. Every brand of vinyl or transfer paper is a a bit different, and then the different types of vinyl or transfer paper within that brand are different too! If you don’t have that information you will be able to google and find a general setting for what you’re looking for.
My machine stopped heating up. Any suggestions?
Hi there, your machine may need a new fuse, otherwise contact your seller for more information.
I got an F2C
F2C 5 in 1 Professional Digital Transfer Sublimation Swing-away 360-degree Rotation Heat Press Machine
for my daughter but there is no operating manual and youtube videos just don’t cut it–any ideas for where/how to get a printed operating manual?
Hi Lois, have you seen this video on YouTube? I think it shows how to set up and use a 5 in 1 heat press quite clearly. It shows how to attach and use the different attachment press parts. It is quite fiddly changing everything around each time unfortunately. Let me know how you get on or if you need some more info.
but it does not EXPLAIN anything. The manual it comes with is a joke ( 3 half pages) and there are no videos in English on youtube to help with the process..
What are you having trouble with in particular Phil?