If you are a craftsperson, a DIY enthusiast or if you simply love making homemade items, you are going to love the Cricut Easy Press 2.
Read this article before buying a Cricut Press and work out whether you need one. It is important to know its size and to understand how to use it to create projects with heat-transfer vinyl. 😉
What is an EasyPress? 🤔
The Cricut EasyPress is a machine that lets you press logos onto your clothes. It combines the lightweight portability of an ordinary iron with the evenly distributed heat and the surface of a heat press.
It can therefore apply a heat-transfer design onto fabric in a matter of seconds. ⌛
The Cricut EasyPress 2 heats up to 200 degrees Celsius, which makes it the ideal tool for infusible ink products and for pressing, because you need high, constant and evenly distributed heat for the transfer to be successful.
How is the EasyPress 2 different from an iron?
Using a household iron to personalize your clothes with heat-transfer vinyl does work, but its efficiency is not optimal. The heat distribution on an iron is uneven, so you have to move the iron around in every direction and apply strong pressure at the same time for the vinyl design to be pressed on correctly.
Most household irons also have steam holes that hinder even heat distribution even more. 🌡️
With a household iron, you cannot know the exact temperature of the area you are trying to press. This means that when you press with an iron, some areas may receive the heat they need, but others may not.
Finally, the size of an iron is not suitable for creating your heat-transfer vinyl projects. With the 3 different sizes offered by the EasyPress 2, you will certainly find the one that fits your needs. ✅
Unlike standard industrial presses, the EasyPress 2 is easy to carry around thanks to its lightweight plastic body and a base that lets you move it safely.
Using the Cricut Easy Press 2
Setting up and using the Cricut EasyPress 2 is very simple:
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Once you have removed the plastic film around the machine, place the heating plate on the safety base that comes with the machine. The heating plate fits perfectly into the base
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Plug your EasyPress 2 cable into an outlet. 🔌⚡
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Set the temperature by pressing the button at the top left and use the "+" or "-" keys to increase or decrease the heat.
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Set the press time by pressing the "clock" button at the bottom left and using the "+" or "-" keys to increase or decrease the time.
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Place the textile of your choice on an ironing mat and preheat your machine to 150 degrees for 5 seconds. 👕
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Once the machine has reached the desired heat, place the Easy Press device on the textile, press the start button (the Cricut button) at the top right, and press for 5 seconds to warm up the textile. (Do not skip this step!)
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Now that you have preheated the textile, set the timer for 20 seconds and place the vinyl logo on the garment.
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Place the Cricut Easy Press 2 on the preheated textile and start the timer by pressing the Cricut logo.
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Once the 20 seconds are up, put the press back on the safety plate and remove the plastic film from the vinyl.
And there you have it! You have just made your first transfer with the Cricut Easy Press 2!
If the logo peels off easily or if part of the vinyl has not fully adhered, reapply the heat for an extra 15 seconds.
The different sizes of the Cricut Easy Press 2:
There are 3 sizes of Cricut Easy Press on the market for creating projects of different sizes. Here they are:
1️⃣ Cricut EasyPress 15cm x 17.5cm:
This is the smallest size of the classic EasyPress. Weighing 1.5kg, it is perfect for small flat projects such as:
- Baby clothes
- Beanies
- Small bags
- Gloves
- Socks
2️⃣ Cricut EasyPress 22.5cm x 22.5cm:
This is the medium size and, weighing only 2.5kg, it is the perfect size for most DIY projects and the one most recommended if you are an EasyPress beginner. It is ideal for projects such as:
- Tote bags
- Pillows
- Aprons
- T-shirts
3️⃣ Cricut EasyPress 25cm x 30cm:
This is the largest size of the EasyPress. It is perfect for bigger projects where you need a larger transfer surface:
- Large T-shirts
- Blankets
- Sweatshirts
- Large projects
Pros and Cons of the Cricut Easy Press:
We are going to finish this article by listing the pros and cons of the Cricut Easy Press 2:
✔️ Easy to use
As usual, Cricut has managed to keep its machines simple and ergonomic to use. With only 6 buttons, you will have no trouble using it.
✔️ Quality designs and materials
Whether it is the cutting machines, the presses or any other Cricut item, they are easily recognizable thanks to their good looks as well as their long-lasting durability.
✔️ A press that is easy to carry
This is undoubtedly the main advantage of the Cricut Easy Press 2 compared to ordinary heat presses: you can easily take it with you on holiday or for projects that require travel. 👍
✔️ A choice of sizes
As we mentioned earlier, Cricut offers 3 different EasyPress sizes that will meet your needs.
✔️ Optimal protection for your work surface
Thanks to the safety plate that is included when you buy a Cricut EasyPress 2, you will have nothing to worry about for your work surface.
❌ High price
Despite all the qualities of the Cricut EasyPress 2, the price remains high (between 150€ and 240€ depending on the size). With the Cricut EasyPress 2 you can still be sure that your press will last for many years before giving out. 💪 (unlike some heat presses that only last a few months).
❌ The Cricut EasyPress does not apply strong pressure
When you want to press clothes with heat-transfer vinyl, it is important that your heat press applies enough pressure on the transfer so that it bonds perfectly to the textile.
When you use the Cricut press, its only means of pressure on the fabric is its own weight. This can be enough for standard vinyl, but if you use velvet vinyl or glitter vinyl, we advise you to apply extra pressure with your hand so that the application bonds perfectly to the fabric.
We hope this article has helped you decide whether or not you need a Cricut EasyPress 2.
If you feel like creating textile transfer projects with your Cricut machine, you can take a look at the heat-transfer vinyl we offer in our Shop!
