#SortIT, Problem Solving and Usage Guide (SortIT.co.za)

If you’ve ever wanted to customise your own t-shirts, mugs, or caps, the Heatware Hobby 5in1 Portable Heat Press Combo is a game-changer. We recently got our hands on one and decided to put it to the test with a DTF (Direct to Film) sticker on a t-shirt, and then played around with its mug and cap press attachments. Let us walk you through how it works and why it’s such a fun tool to have in your creative arsenal.

Setting Up the Hobby P5 for T-Shirt Printing

The Hobby P5 is super user-friendly. To get started, you just press and hold a small button to power it on. Once it’s up and running, you’ll want to set the temperature and pressing time to suit your project. Here’s how we did it:

Adjust the Temperature: Hit the settings button, and you’ll see the temperature display. You can nudge it higher or lower depending on the material of your t-shirt. For most t-shirts, we found a temperature around 150°C works well.
Set the Pressing Time: Press the settings button again to move to the timer. Adjust the seconds—usually, we go for about 10-15 seconds, but it depends on the fabric and transfer type. Press the button once more to lock in your settings.
Wait for the Heat: The machine will automatically heat up to your chosen temperature. When it’s ready, it beeps to let you know it’s go-time.

Hobby P5 T-Shirt Heat Press Guide

With the t-shirt prepped, we laid it flat on the heating pad, making sure there were no wrinkles. Then we placed our DTF sticker exactly where we wanted the design. A quick tip: double-check your placement, because once it’s pressed, there’s no going back! We covered the sticker with a Teflon sheet to protect both the shirt and the design from burning, and when the machine beeped to signal it was at the right temperature, we lowered the press.
The countdown started as soon as we pressed the button—about 15 seconds later, it beeped again, and we lifted the press. Since DTF transfers are cold peel, we let the t-shirt cool down completely before peeling off the film. The result? A vibrant, crisp design that looked professionally done. We were honestly impressed with how easy it was.
Exploring the Attachments: Mug and Cap Press

The Hobby P5 isn’t just for t-shirts—it comes with attachments for mugs and caps, which makes it incredibly versatile. Both attachments plug into the main unit with a simple screw-in mechanism to keep them secure.

Mug Press
For the mug press, we followed a similar process. After plugging in the attachment, we set the temperature (again, around 150°C worked well) and waited for it to heat up. The mug press has a handy latch to hold the mug securely in place, so there’s no risk of it slipping out during pressing. We slipped in a blank mug with a DTF design wrapped around it, locked it in, and let the machine do its thing. The result was a beautifully printed mug that felt like it came straight from a store.

Cap Press
The cap press was just as straightforward. After screwing it onto the Hobby P5, we set the temperature to 150°C and prepped a cap with a small logo (we went with a simple “AM.0” design for this one). You can position the cap a couple of ways, depending on where you want the design—front, side, or even curved along the brim. We made sure the logo was aligned, moved our fingers out of the way (safety first!), and pressed it. After a quick countdown and a cold peel, the cap had a clean, professional-looking design.

Why we Love the Hobby P5

What makes the Hobby P5 stand out is how intuitive it is. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned crafter, the controls are easy to navigate, and the attachments open up so many creative possibilities. From t-shirts to mugs to caps, you can personalise just about anything with a DTF sticker and a few minutes. The results we got were vibrant and durable, and the whole process felt like a fun, hands-on project rather than a chore.

If you’re looking to dip your toes into custom printing, the Hobby P5 is a fantastic tool to start with. We had a blast experimenting with it, and we are already planning our next project. Hopefully, this gives you a good idea of what it’s capable of. Happy crafting!

In a time where AI and smart technologies are transforming industries, AM.CO.ZA has emerged as a leader in CNC routers and printing machines. With more than 11 years of experience, they offer a diverse range of advanced products, including CNC Routers, Large Format Printers, Vinyl Cutters, Laser Cutters, Plasma Cutters, and DTF Printers. Their solutions serve a wide array of sectors, from manufacturing and engineering to the creative arts.
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