OpenTube

Why I Was Wrong About the XTool Wonder Press

Chris Piascik

35,765 views

xTool sent me their new WonderPress to review, and honestly I almost said no. I figured it was just a fancy heat press and that wasn't enough for a video. Turns out it's a lot more. It goes from a heat press to a vacuum former to a craft oven in seconds. So in this video I put it through its paces: the wins, the failures, and everything in between.

Check out the Wonderpress: https://bit.ly/3ScTMRH
(Use my coupon code: CHRIS116)

I start with the heat press module (220 lbs of auto pressure, way more consistent than the manual press I was using before), try out the dual-station setup for batching shirts, and get into some tips for better transfer feel with DTG Pro film and Magic Seal spray.

Then I get into vacuum forming, which honestly overwhelmed me at first but I started simple, just trying it on a random skull in my studio...
Didn't get to the craft oven in this one, that's a video for another day.

Also mentioned in this video: the xTool Omni printer, which I've been using nonstop — check out that video next if you want to see what it can do: This Machine Prints on Literally Anything ...

Big thanks to xTool for sending the WonderPress over to review.

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#art #illustration #drawing #DigitalArt #xtool #wonderpress #heatpress #dtfprinter #dtftransfer

20 Comments

@BabyJesus66 2 days ago

Great review! I was skeptical about the WonderPress too, but seeing the different modules in action really shows how versatile it actually is.

@alphonzosolorzano5011 1 month ago

Super nutty Chris. I used to work with a bunch manufacturing/fabrication techniques & access to some of this stuff was industry only. Nice to see it become a little more available to the everyday person. Check out any local plastic fab spots in your area. They usually nerd out with this kind of stuff & can help with materials/molds. But also it's all online too now.

@shazbotch 1 month ago

When I was in university we used to have fun making chocolates with our vacuum formed molds

@maxcarlsson_nature 1 month ago

Happy you made the video! Looks like a fun and good product to work with! Opens up a loot of cool possibilities!

@Megorhoids 1 month ago

What you should be doing with the vacuum former is creating some of your characters but wearable full size 1970s Halloween masks that you can wear with an elastic band cut out the eyes and a little slot for the mouth. Those would be killer and look cool just hanging on the wall

@EddiRauch 1 month ago

Thank you for your video and your explanations.

@steven_dockery 1 month ago

Are we back on Tuesdays? Honestly that makes the week bearable. 😂

@baekmedier 1 month ago

Make a colab with a bike store to make a Limited edition road bike :D using your art and alle the cool gadgets and machines you have

@generationgeek 1 month ago

For the molds, think about things you can fill them with, especially liquid-to-solid - soap, gummy/jello/chocolate (with food-safe material), etc. Resin is definitely going to be a good thing to play around with, maybe you can make some pieces that shrink in the oven and put them into the resin to float

@chris-piascik Creator 1 month ago

Check out my XTool Omni Printer video, it prints on almost anything!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP9J3gyhc1k&t=52s

@the-good-chad 1 month ago

I'm by no means a resin expert, but I did make a big resin sticker table and learned a whole lot in the process. Would be happy to share my resin tips if you need.

@chris-piascik Creator 1 month ago

Check out the Wonderpress: https://bit.ly/3ScTMRH
(Use my coupon code: CHRIS116)

@leeroderick 1 month ago

Paint the concave side of the vacuform skull (or "reverse" paint the convex side) and put it on a shelf. It will follow you side-to-side. Spooky!

@creaturevilleart218 1 month ago

What are the dimensions of the vacuum forming area?

@melissaashton-ruoff4064 1 month ago

In the charger with the bottle caps, you didn't have the vacuum sheet wasn't clamped down before you pressed down. Which probably made it go wonky.

@GrantSR 1 month ago

For that vacuum forming: Can you UV print on that plastic film BEFORE you do the vacuum forming and then have that ink stretch out with the plastic so you end up with a full-color mask or whatnot? Mking a clear plastic shape is fun and all but, if you want to sell anything, it is going to need printing on it.

@shashipersaud728 1 month ago

I wanted the wonderpress but there are two main issues I see. One is the 15x15 size, which could become a limitation if you want to use the standard 13x19 dtf film or sublimation paper. The other is the workflow if you use the dtf oven module. That seems like it would slow you down having to switch between it and the heat press, as opposed to using a separate dtf oven. Also if you print 13x19 film, it seems you’d have to cut it down to fit in the dtf oven module.

@GrantSR 1 month ago

Does the software and the app continue to work if XTool completely disappears from the planet? Or am I buying something that can go away in an instant if they decided to screw me over? I will do everything with hot rocks rather than send somebody money for something that they can brick as soon as they think that will make them more money.

@GrantSR 1 month ago

What are the supply costs for all this vacuum forming stuff? It doesn't matter how cool all the things that you can build are, if they cost so much to make that no one will buy them.

Also, can I use vacuum forming sheets from other manufacturers? Or does this whole system lock me in to only buying those sheets from XTool. I'm not buying into a system where they can suddenly raise my supply costs and I am stuck paying them unless I want to ignore the sunk cost of that whole machine.

@zmartin5546 1 month ago (edited)

Vacuforming is especially handy for toy packaging design,, once you have a figure you can make an oldschool style formed blister plastic on backing card!
The dangers of commenting in real time as I watch is that you eventually come around to this point on your own in the video lol