Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I looked for this in the threads but did not find this exact problem.
Maybe I did not look long enough.
Anyway, when I press dark Hanes 50/50 shirts there will appear a lighter colored box
around the area the heat platen touched. Sometimes it is not visible till weeks later.
This is strange. This is not noticable on the whites or grays.
When the box occurs I have to press all around the lighter boxed area trying to make
the shirt all match in shade.
I prepress a couple of seconds. Pressure is Medium to heavy, place teflon sheet over shirt, press plastisol for 9 sec, 390 temp. Durabrite, 380 degress 18 sec. Thermoflex 350 degrees 18 sec.
Any less pressure and I have seen some transfers ruined.
Could this be just Hanes ? I have not tried other brands.
I had that happen on sweatshirts. try turning them inside out and pressing the shirt and see if that helps. I also stretch the shirt a little after I press and that sometimes helps also.
I dont have the answer as to how to make it not happen.. but i know when dyesubing to hanes i lowered my temp at bit.. I was told that it is the sizing that hanes puts on their t's, by the gentleman i get my dyesub stuff from. I do know that the problem went away for me when i lowered my temp to 380.
I have a new Mighty press. Using a infra red heat gun the temp
on the platen varies up to 15 degrees from spot to spot. I try to average
the heat out to about 380 degrees as close as I can.
What gets me is sometimes the lighter square box will appear weeks later.
Going to try some different brands.
Thanks everyone, you're all the best.
Mystysue, you ever print any portraits on your laser dyesub ?
Still would like to see a picture. ( when you get the chance )
You would not want to buy a new oki 3200, 4 packs of paper, 4 color toner carts
( all new ) would you ?
Don.. yes i have done some portaits on shirts and mouse pads.. I dont have any pictures of them rite now tho.. as our Sign shop as been really crazy busy (we did more sales last week then all of Jan and half of feb last year).
My customer that have bought the shirts with photos were happy and they do last well on the 50/50 shirts. We also use our dyesub for doing alot of work shirts for companys .. and mouse pads and such. Which i think if you are a sign or promo company that is where your sales will be. We tend to have the customers that say.. make me 20 of this or 50 of this. rather than one ups with photos.
As for buying the printer.. i just dont have the room for another one rite now.. i have 2 5200's i use with dye sub.. (one has the white toner), a old HP laser we use for just printing. and our roland versacamm 540v (which takes up a 9 foot wall lol. not to mention the plotter, and engraver and all the other misc stuff.. our little 1800 sq foot shop has not room for any more toys.. umm i mean tools..
Thanks Mystysue, you're the greatest. I was just semi serious about the printer sale.
I am glad you are doing so well. Glad someone is.
After working from my home for 14 years doing signs,
I leased a store front and thought, "wow" T shirts would go over big here.
Now I am lucky to make 100.00 a week so moving back to my shop at home is
beginning to look more appealing. And if T shirt sales are not forth coming from
a public store in a strip mall, then I don't see a need for all the dyesub stuff I have.
Just curious, do you lease a store front or work from your home ?
I looked for this in the threads but did not find this exact problem.
Maybe I did not look long enough.
Anyway, when I press dark Hanes 50/50 shirts there will appear a lighter colored box
around the area the heat platen touched. Sometimes it is not visible till weeks later.
This is strange. This is not noticable on the whites or grays.
When the box occurs I have to press all around the lighter boxed area trying to make
the shirt all match in shade.
I prepress a couple of seconds. Pressure is Medium to heavy, place teflon sheet over shirt, press plastisol for 9 sec, 390 temp. Durabrite, 380 degress 18 sec. Thermoflex 350 degrees 18 sec.
Any less pressure and I have seen some transfers ruined.
Could this be just Hanes ? I have not tried other brands.
Thanks,
Don
We just tried to press a green Hanes, and it did exactly what you talking about...the platen square. Showed up immediately...so now we are trying to press the rest of it so the color will match. Good thing it's a practice tee!
Hanes T's change color from platen 
