A press with heat will give you more creative options and will allow you to do everything a cold press will do and so much more. I would buy a press from a manufacturer who is either still in business or who has sold their business to someone who still has parts/help and an incredible help line. Seal/Bienfang/D&K and Print Mount). Seal/Beinfang are now branded as Expressions. The parts that most often need replacement are gaskets/bladders and gas support struts. Unlike clamshell mechanical presses, the electronics (i.e.
Thermostats) are usually very reliable. I have a SEAL press and also Print Mount press.
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Both have been very reliable. Wendy from D&K offered a 'trick' that allowed me to avoid the inevitable gasket replacement on my 51 x 100 Seal Press and on my Print Mount I have only had to re-enforce the bladder around the vacuum ports and replace the gas struts. Both presses are over 25 years old. Print Mount presses are built like tanks and are extremely robust.
A Vacuum press is more versatile than a clam shell press. I would buy a press with at least a 40 x 60 capacity.
While a vacuum press is a very valuable tool, if I had to do it again (meaning set up a shop) I would seriously look at roller mounter laminators. Not only do they take up less space, they will allow for larger mounts and other options that vacuum presses do not (face mounting to acrylic or mounting to PVC/aluminum composite or substrates thicker than 1' or more rigid like wood.) 6. Regardless of which press you buy, Chris Pashke's mounting book (and classes at the WCAF) are invaluable. Click to expand.Roller presses are a whole other animal. Heated presses allow for faster feed rates, but there are many cold application adhesive films and also laminates that work well cold.
There are also a plethora of pre-coated boards that will speed up the process. Your size is limited to the width of the rollers. A 50+' wide machine does not take up significantly more room than a 48' wide machine.
![D&k Dry Mount Press D&k Dry Mount Press](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125364702/940581422.jpg)
PFM has an excellent article recently by Chris Pashke. Here is a link to my DROPBOX with her article.
It is a year old, but still contains valuable info. There is a resource list on the last page. I really like the CODA line (and they also make coated boards). They are simple but built like a tank (like the Printmount presses). Also, Drytac is your friend.
![Dry Dry](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125364702/705231852.jpg)
They have a great website. We use their tissues and laminates in our hot press (vacuum). Their catalog is an education in itself.
Again, the choice of machine should also consider the support - both from company selling the machine and also the manufacturer. (D&K should be a place to start). Roller presses are marketed more to the graphic arts (printers/photo finishers) than framers. Therefore, you will see fewer of the 'other' (non-framing) manufacturers at WCAF than at a printing/photo show.