Equipment and Vinyl Guide
I love my Cricut and HTVRONT kit, so this page is a friendly tour of the equipment I use and recommend, how silicone wraps can help with mugs and tumblers, and how to work out which vinyl is which once the packaging has gone in the bin. I'm not affiliated with any brand mentioned, and products get updated, so always check the manufacturer's instructions. For temperatures and times, see my Sublimation Guide.
My favourite equipment
Cricut
| Machine | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cricut Mug Press | Ceramic mugs with sublimation or Infusible Ink | It manages time and temperature for you, so there's nothing to set. It has cooler, normal and warmer settings if a transfer looks overcooked or is fading near the handle. HTV and adhesive vinyl aren't suitable for the mug press. |
| Cricut EasyPress 3 and EasyPress SE | Flat items like T-shirts and tote bags | Works with iron-on (HTV), Infusible Ink and sublimation products. Cricut's Heat Guide (and the Cricut Heat app for the EasyPress 3) gives you recommended settings. The EasyPress 3 needs activating in the app before first use. |
| Cricut EasyPress Mini and Mini LT | Small and awkwardly shaped items | The Mini has three heat settings (Low, Medium, High). Cricut recommends High for Infusible Ink projects and blanks. The Mini LT has a single heat setting, so it's the simplest one to use. There's no timer on the Mini, so watch the clock. |
| Cricut AutoPress and Hat Press | Bigger flat jobs and hats | Use the online Heat Guide or the Cricut Heat app to send settings straight to the press. |
Cricut's cutting machines, used with Design Space, are what I'd reach for when it comes to cutting vinyl, and their heat presses sit nicely alongside them.
HTVRONT
| Machine | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Heat Press 2 | Flat garments and slightly curved items | Automatic clamshell press with a digital display. Temperature goes up to 210°C (410°F) and pressure from 20 to 80 kg. |
| A100 Auto Multi Heat Press | Makers who do T-shirts, hats and drinkware | A 3-in-1 automatic press with tool-free quick-swap modules for flat, hat and tumbler projects. |
| A200 Auto Tumbler Heat Press | Tumblers, mugs and glass drinkware up to 40oz | Adjustable pressure, and it uses heat press mats to match your tumbler size. |
| A300 Auto Hat Press | Caps and curved brims | A dedicated automatic hat press. |
| H10 handle T-shirt press | Flat sublimation and HTV projects | A 12 x 10 inch manual-handle press. |
| H17 Phone Case Heat Press | Sublimation phone cases, badges and small blanks | Uses heat and vacuum suction to hold shaped blanks, so always use the right fixture set for your case. |
Silicone wraps for mugs and tumblers
A silicone wrap is a reusable sleeve that goes around your blank (over your sublimation paper, which is held on with heat-resistant tape) before it goes into the press. Here's why so many crafters swear by them.
The benefits
- Even pressure and heat. Wraps fill the gap between a smaller blank and the heat plate, which helps avoid patchy colour and faded areas.
- Reusable. No single-use shrink wrap and no heat gun needed, so it's less waste and less faff.
- Good for smaller blanks. Skinny tumblers, water bottles and can coolers are narrower than a standard mug, and a wrap helps them fit snugly.
- A choice of thickness. Many wraps come in a few thicknesses. Thinner wraps allow faster sublimation, while thicker ones are more durable but adapt less to the shape of your item.
- Protects delicate parts. They can shield bits that might burn, like seals or fasteners.
- Works in an oven too. Silicone sleeves are also used for convection oven sublimation.
Adding one to your press
- Cricut Mug Press: The Mug Press was designed for ceramic mugs, so wraps for tumblers and other blanks are third-party extras that aren't part of Cricut's official set-up. Many crafters use them, but check your warranty and Cricut's guidance first. Choose a wrap thickness that gives a snug fit, and remember the Mug Press has no timer, so use an external one.
- HTVRONT A200 and A100 tumbler module: HTVRONT use heat press mats in different thicknesses (2 mm and 4 mm) to match the tumbler size, so use their mats for a proper fit in these presses rather than adding a separate wrap.
- Check the heat rating. Make sure your wrap is rated above your pressing temperature. Many are rated to around 200 to 250°C (392 to 482°F).
- Test first. A wrap changes how heat reaches your blank, so your usual time may need adjusting. Some crafters also rotate a tumbler halfway through the press time to even things out.
Types of vinyl
| Type | What it's for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Heat transfer vinyl (HTV or iron-on) | Fabric and textiles like T-shirts, tote bags and hats | Heat-activated adhesive applied with an iron or heat press. Comes on a clear carrier sheet. |
| Permanent adhesive vinyl | Mugs, tumblers that get washed, signs and outdoor decals | Pressure-sensitive sticker-style vinyl with a paper backing. No heat needed. Use transfer tape to apply it. |
| Removable adhesive vinyl | Indoor wall decals, seasonal decorations and stencils | Lower-tack sticker vinyl that peels off without leaving residue. It's not suitable for anything that gets washed regularly. |
| Specialty finishes | Extra sparkle or texture | Glitter, holographic, metallic, flock (velvety), puff and patterned finishes come in both HTV and adhesive versions. |
How to tell your vinyl apart without the packaging
We've all got leftover scraps that have lost their labels! Work through these clues.
- Turn it over and look at the backing. If it has a paper backing (often printed with a grid), it's adhesive vinyl. If it's the same colour on both sides, or has a shiny clear plastic sheet on top, it's HTV.
- Peel back a tiny corner. Adhesive vinyl is sticky when the backing comes off. HTV isn't sticky to the touch, because its adhesive only activates with heat.
- Look for printed clues. Cricut prints "Permanent" or "Removable" (and "Smart" for Smart Vinyl) on the backing. Oracal prints its number on the back, such as 651 or 631.
- Check the grid colour on Cricut vinyl. On Cricut's adhesive vinyl, a green grid has meant permanent and a grey grid has meant removable. Packaging changes over time, so treat this as a hint rather than a guarantee.
- Check the finish. Permanent vinyl is usually glossy and removable is usually matte. There are exceptions though, such as Oracal 641, which is matte but permanent.
- Judge the tack. Permanent vinyl feels very sticky, while removable feels noticeably less tacky.
- Still unsure? Test a small scrap. HTV will bond to fabric with heat, while adhesive vinyl will simply stick to a smooth surface without any heat.
Spotting the different HTV finishes
- Smooth (standard): A flat, slightly shiny finish and the thinnest and most flexible option.
- Glitter: Visibly sparkly and chunkier to weed.
- Flock: Thicker with a velvety, suede-like surface, and easy to weed.
- Holographic and metallic: A rainbow or mirror-like shine.
- Puff: Puffs up when heated, so it needs a hot peel.
Cutting tip: HTV is cut with the clear carrier sheet face down on the mat and the design mirrored. Peel a corner to check which side is which, as some HTV adhesive can look glossy too. Also keep your leftovers labelled or in separate bags, so you never have to play detective again.
The top 3 vinyl brands
There's no official UK league table for craft vinyl, so I've chosen the three names that crafters recommend most often and that work brilliantly with Cricut and HTVRONT machines.
| Brand | Best known for | Why crafters love it |
|---|---|---|
| Oracal (ORAFOL) | Adhesive vinyl | A German-made brand and the go-to for permanent (651) and removable (631) vinyl. It cuts and weeds predictably and is a favourite for mugs, signs and decals. Oracal 651 is rated for outdoor use for up to six years. |
| Siser | Heat transfer vinyl | An Italian brand whose EasyWeed range is regarded as one of the most forgiving HTV options for home crafters. It also makes patterned, holographic and stretch finishes, and an adhesive range called EasyPSV. |
| Cricut | Vinyl made for Cricut machines | Cricut's own permanent, removable and iron-on vinyl and Smart Vinyl work seamlessly with Design Space and the Cricut Heat Guide, which makes it very convenient, although it can cost more per foot than alternatives. |
HTVRONT also sells HTV and adhesive vinyl at friendly prices, which makes it a good budget option if you're just starting out.
Need a hand?
Not sure which vinyl or press is right for your project? Email me at Aiyannaspixelstudio@outlook.com and I'll help as quickly as I can.