The Cricut Mini Press is one of the latest heat presses in the Cricut EasyPress family. It is great as a standalone tool and as a companion to a standard EasyPress.
Here is everything you need to know about the Cricut Mini Press! 😉
What is the EasyPress Mini?
The Cricut EasyPress Mini is a heating plate with a ceramic-coated surface for applying heat to craft and creative projects. It is a light, portable accessory that lets you heat-press in 60 seconds or less.
The Mini Press is fast, efficient, and delivers quality heat-and-pressure action.
The heating element reaches 200 degrees 🌡️, which means the EasyPress Mini is also compatible with infusible ink projects.
It has 3 heat levels, low, medium, and high, and comes with an insulated base and an automatic shut-off feature as an extra safety device.
You will need to use a separate timer for your projects, because the Cricut Mini Press has no built-in timer.
Dimensions of the Cricut EasyPress Mini
The heating plate is 8cm long and 4.8cm wide. The maximum size recommended for using the Cricut EasyPress Mini with heat-transfer vinyl is 10cm x 8cm. You can also press large logos, but they will take much longer to bond to the fabric. ⌛
The distance between the plate and the top of the handle is 10 cm, which makes it very comfortable to hold and use. 👍
How is the EasyPress Mini different from the other Cricut Presses?
There are 4 major differences between the EasyPress Mini and the other EasyPress models:
Size
The Cricut Mini Press is smaller than its siblings:
Cricut Mini Press heating plate size: 8cm x 4.8cm
Other Cricut EasyPress sizes: 15cm x 17.5cm / 22.5cm x 22.5cm / 25cm x 30cm
Shape
Its teardrop shape 💧 and small size make it a perfect tool for small projects.
The EasyPress Mini can fit into tight or hard-to-reach spaces without any trouble.
Temperature settings
The other EasyPress models have precise temperature controls in degrees. The EasyPress Mini has 3 temperature settings... Low (145 degrees), Medium (165 degrees), and High (200 degrees).
Countdown
Unlike the other EasyPress models, the EasyPress Mini has no built-in timer.
What can I do with the EasyPress Mini?
The EasyPress Mini can be used to make craft projects on its own, or with a larger EasyPress to handle borders or smaller detailed areas! 😀
Here are a few items you can use the Cricut Mini Press on:
- Dolls
- Hats
- Pressing the small details on clothing
- Luggage tags
- Clothing patches
- Pockets, cuffs, and sleeves
- Pressing seams and hems for sewing projects
- Shoes
- Slippers
- Stuffed animals
- Touch-ups on the forgotten spots of larger projects.
- T-shirts
- Sweatshirts
How to Use the Cricut Mini Press
Heating up the Mini Press
Plug the device into a wall outlet. Press the button with the temperature icon once to turn the machine on 🌡️, then scroll through the 3 temperature levels by pressing the button again. To turn the device off, press the button a fourth time.
Leave the Cricut EasyPress Mini in its base while it heats up. Remember that even though it is small, it gets very hot. 🥵
Because of its small size, it heats up very quickly. Going from room temperature to the high setting takes only about a minute.
EasyPress Mini settings
For vinyl projects, as a general rule, you will not need to set the Mini Press to level 3. Follow the temperature instructions provided by your supplier for each heat-transfer vinyl and everything will be perfect.
Once the Cricut Mini Press is at the right temperature, the color of its buttons will turn from orange to green.
🕐 Mini Press timer
You may have already noticed that the EasyPress Mini has no timer. You will need to use a separate clock. For example, your phone's clock to keep track of the heating time.
Moving the Cricut Mini Press
The EasyPress Mini was designed to be able to move. The base plate has an extra layer of ceramic coating to ensure smooth gliding over your project.
When you apply the design to a garment with your press, apply pressure with your arm while moving the Mini Press so that every area gets bonded.
How Much Does the EasyPress Mini Cost?
The Cricut EasyPress Mini costs 65€. You can order it, for example, on Amazon. 😉
EasyPress Mini Vs Iron
The question that comes to mind when you see or hear about the EasyPress Mini is why not use an iron for heat transfer?
Well, we are going to look at the pros and cons of the Cricut Mini Press to see whether it really is better than an iron:
✔️ Advantages of the EasyPress Mini
1️⃣ You get a more reliable heat setting:
The Cricut has 3 different heat settings, all 3 of which are made for pressing onto textiles... Whereas with an iron, you never really know what temperature it is at!
2️⃣ The Cricut Mini Press has no steam hole:
The Mini Press is better designed than an iron for applying even pressure.
It comes with a safety base and, unlike an iron, has no steam hole that could change the look of your project.
3️⃣ The Mini Press heat is even:
The heat applied to the plate of the Cricut EasyPress Mini is even on all sides, whereas the heat on an iron varies from one spot to another.
4️⃣ The Mini Press is very safe:
The Mini Press comes with a protective base that lets you set your press down on it once your project is finished. That way, you no longer have to worry about your workshop catching fire because of an iron.
❌ Disadvantages of the EasyPress Mini
1️⃣ The price is high:
The Cricut EasyPress Mini costs 65€, which is expensive.
2️⃣ Not suitable for large jobs:
The Cricut Mini Press is very small, so it will be very difficult to press a logo larger than 20cm. For large projects, we therefore recommend going with the bigger Cricut presses or with a standard heat press.
We hope this blog has helped you learn more about the Cricut EasyPress Mini.
If you feel like taking on some textile vinyl projects, you can take a look at the heat-transfer vinyl we offer in our Shop!
