Finally! A review from someone who didn't get one for free and is a paid Cricut brand ambassador! For the price, the few "nice" features (like the 2 finger close) just don't merit spending the additional money when you can get a more versatile press(like an 8 in 1) for less money and you don't have to buy the additional Cricut presses to be able to press the same materials.
Thanks for watching: we think the Cricut Autopress has some nice features that will be right for some crafters. It definitely had its place. There sure are some machines with more versatility as well!
Finally a review I can honestly trust from a source that's not associated with Cricut teams who received their products as "gifts" or part of Cricut product experts! I appreciate the detailed machine setup and showing of multiple projects pressed especially the wood rounds you all provided. I actually purchased the Cricut Autopress for it's storage versatility and sleekness plus the fact it's heating element is not as open as a traditional heat press. It will work well for the projects I make as they fit within the size range of this equipment. Thank you for you honesty 🥰.
An absolutely great video, especially for someone who's been eyeing this press for a few months now! Great job the two of you and I hope to see future reviews!!
Thank you. The whole login in and computer activation is a deal breaker for me. I would have never thought this was the case with a heat press. Love the review and can see how it’s a good device for many applications just not my craft life. Again, thank you for helping me confirm I need to go the $1k traditional heat press route.
We're glad we could help! We have an in-depth clamshell vs. swing away comparison here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-563TW5vcNLc.html Both of the heat presses in that video are actually $100 off right now! Hope this helps. :)
Yours is the best and most thorough review of the Cricut Autopress that I have seen. Thank you for all the thought you put into it, using various substrates etc. Definitely head and shoulders above the other 5 reviews I watched.
Hey there and thanks for watching! That's a tough situation - hopefully you can either find some things it does better for you...or perhaps resell if it doesn't meet your needs. Good luck!
Thank you! We really do love the TransPro Plus heat presses from Pro World. Here are the two we have: Clamshell Heat Press - TransPro Plus 1620: shrsl.com/3fta8 Swing Away Heat Press - TransPro Plus Swinger: shrsl.com/3us8c
Does this machine requires to be connected to the computer at all times during usage or just the power plug? I got an offer for it for 200$ not sure if I should go for it.
Hey! It does not need to be connected to the computer at all times. It just needs power. We did have to activate it through the computer the first time though.
I have everything Cricut. I'm a cricut fan, however $1,000 is way too expensive for heatpress. I'm getting this heatpress unless cricut lower their price. This is Cricut first auto heatpress. Why would they make it so expensive?
Hey! We also love our Cricut stuff. However, $1000 is a bit pricey, especially for the size of the platen. However, they do have it for a couple of hundred dollars off now if that helps!
I don’t understand how it’s 1k. I’m surprised it’s such a large price different from easy presses. This thing should be 300 or 400 max. I do like the idea of it and auto pressing but dang.
Hey there - thanks for your comment! It does have quite a few more features than an EasyPress (and is definitely bigger than one). However, it’s definitely more $$ than most were expecting. 😉
Hey! Thanks for your question. There were a few design features of the HTVRont press that we weren’t big fans of, so we didn’t purchase that one for comparison.
Thanks so much, been waiting for an unpaid review 😉... So the size, I'm not planning on doing huge projects, just standard stuff out of my 8.5x11in printer pages, so the size doesn't need to be any bigger really does it? Even a bigger tote bag or XL hoodie should do just fine on this, am i right? And why is the auto pressure a con if it seemed to work well with all the standard materials and its one less variable to worry about? Sorry im new to heat presses so forgive me if i sound naive, just trying to understand.... Also you guys didn't address if you felt it was worth it compared to other presses you have tried. Like despite the price, do you see its value to some customers or did you feel that it was of lesser quality in some way that you wouldn't recommend no matter what and go get another heat press? Sorry so many Qs! 🙏🏻🤭
Hey! We LOVE all the questions and are happy to answer them. If you're going to stick to things that are in the size range you mentioned (8.5x11 or just slightly bigger), this is plenty big enough for you. You can also press *some* things in sections (like HTV) so if you are doing a larger design on a big tote, for example, you can also do that with this press (though it may take some practice to get the technique just right). Because we do such a range of projects, we have had the need for heavy pressure on a few occasions (the Supacolor transfers are a great example - while the pressing pillow helped, we're still not *totally* confident that those will last as long as they should using this press). However, if you're planning to stick to standard items that don't require heavy pressure, then it will be quite nice to have one less thing to think about! For our ultimate recommendation: overall, it's a well-made, beautiful machine that makes it easy to press standard materials onto a range of items. It takes up the space of a clamshell press but gives you the functionality of a swing-away press (in that it can do thicker materials, which standard clamshells don't do well). We find that to be brilliant. We do find the size and lack of pressure adjustment to be challenges for us personally because we do such a wide range of projects. If we could only have one press, we wouldn't want to be limited in that way. However, if those aren't concerns for you (and it's in your budget), then go for it! Whew! Long answer, but we genuinely hope that helps you. Let us know if you have any more questions!
@@JustMightDIY that's actually super helpful! Thanks for taking the time... My last Q is, if you had $700-$1000 to spend on a machine to get your small biz started, which would be your go to machine?
Hey again! What are you looking to make and sell (just apparel or also thicker items for home decor), and what materials do you see yourself using (htv, sublimation, etc)? Knowing that will help us offer further ideas. :)
@@JustMightDIY thanks, yes so things like htv n sublimation on shirts, sweaters, oven mits, canvas, thin laser cut wood, tea towels, bags, metal blanks, blankets etc. I cant see myself using complicated materials but i never know, learning as i go. Also part of my problem is im not sure which materials require heavy pressure to know if I'd use them. I just hear so many of the presses under $1000 tend to have issues all the time with quality. Wtvr i get, i will get a warranty. The ease, features, look of this machine just appeal to me strongly but the professionals seem to think it's better to steer clear. And as an aside, whose to say some amazon co wont pop up in a year n copy the design here n make it cheaper. Sigh***no easy answers lol
Hey! Personally, and this is JZ speaking, I wouldn't want the size limitation if I was planning to start a business and hadn't really zeroed in on my products yet. If you know that you won't be doing thick things, you can get a GREAT 16x20 clamshell press with tons of features (pressure gauge, auto open, slide out platen, interchangeable platens, etc.) for around the Autopress cost (the TransPro Plus 1620 from Pro World is $1099 right now). We've personally tried that one (full disclosure: it was provided to us for review), and we love the versatility of it. It has the prime/most accessible position in our craft room right now - that's how much we love it. They also have 15x15 clamshell with those same features for $899. Our video on the 16x20 is here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UADgs17k22g.html Heat Press Nation also has some great presses you should consider as well (though we don't have first hand experience with those - just know their reputation). All that being said, if you like the Cricut Autopress and just really want it, get it! It's a beautiful press and can definitely do a lot. Life is too short to not go after the things you love. If you find you outgrow it, you can probably sell it on Facebook Marketplace and get something different down the road. :)
Hey! Here are the instructions Cricut offers: help.cricut.com/hc/en-us/articles/4736470987287-Cricut-Autopress-Pressing-on-wood HTV on wood really is tough for so many reasons. We’ll stick with adhesive vinyl on wood (or sublimation). Both were much easier!
Thank you, I Lick Grandmas, for leaving such an insightful comment. We did review the video and counted 9 boisterous laughs, 14 giggles and more "HA"s than we have fingers and toes to count them with. But it's actually the dude we're going to hold responsible for his dry humor and wit, which you may not have picked up on, causing so many outbursts. BTW. So a pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel for his belt buckle...
While doing sublimation you are quite right, but it's because Teflon locks moisture, not draws. That can lead to ghosting images and the stray sublimation particles that won't get trapped as they would by butcher paper. As for other needs such as HTV and Supacolor, moisture locking isn't a problem but the reduced transfer of heat can be. For us it's worth protecting our $1k investment. Thanks for checking us out!