@dannz can we look for a second one too? We can press for 2 people at a time then, more efficient use of the heat press 
Making 2 flat plates with a handle to lift one of them up
Sure, but let’s get one up and running to begin with. What we need now is a suitable top plate to go with this. A similar sized stone tile with smooth flat surface would be ideal. A worktop offcut 38mm thick would be too heavy for the top plate. Dorine, would you see whether you can source a suitable stone tile? (Smooth and flat on the finished side). Once you have found that, then we can get some handles fixed to it. If you want to have a second press, then maybe look to get a 2 or 3 large tiles of 400x400 or larger, or one which is 900x400.
I’ll check Wicks and see what they have, maybe one of their large tiles we could glue to wood might work?
Google too. Is there a budget for this?
Not that I know about. Another option would be a sheet of 40*40cm aluminium with an air gape between wood and the aluminium, £17.23 which I could buy on eBay type thing.
That’s an option. Look at tiles too. Then decide which you think best.
I just picked up this 600x600 tile, very minor chip in one corner. Got it for free. I explained the requirements to the guy in the local builders store. He said this would be heat resistant, but not suitable for putting directly on a workbench - it is likely to break and people might get injured. Inside an mdf carriage or attached to an mdf bed should be fine. It’s shiny, smooth and might be ‘flat’ or at least flat enough. It could be cut down to 400x400 or perhaps two pieces of 400x300. Once we decide the size and what weight it needs to be, we can then think about putting on handles.
I may be able to bring it in tomorrow. @TracyD is there a suitable place I can put this in the Textiles area?
ETA: we should probably torture test it to make sure it can stand up to whatever heat you are going to inflict on it.
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Of course - perhaps somewhere near the heat press. @Dorine - are you still planning at being at the space this coming Wednesday? I’ll come over and we can plan!
Yup yup sounds like fun, cleared my schedule so will be there
I also played a bit with the overlocker retreading it, Janome one to practice a bit 
keen to try using it
The quartz piece is on the big table in arch 1 
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The 600x600 tile is at the side of the heat press in textiles. There is also some timber there for making handles. I also moved Tom’s granite slab there. All labelled. Please take care with the tile - it is breakable and would have shards and sharp edges.
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