Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Can someone tell me what the teflon cover sheets are for. I know you use them as cover sheets and the description reads it gives a screen printed finish. I know people are using them so can anyone tell me how they are and how they work.
Lays right over transfer or exposed inks and vinyl.
Hmm, but when you press a vinyl transfer (and I think the same is with plastisol transfers), the vinyl isn't exposed, is it? There's like a transfer sheet covering the actual media.
So is a teflon sheet for a "re" press of the design after you peel the transfer backing off?
hello Guys,
After pressing any heat transfer material it is a great idea to "repress" the image with a teflon sheet.
Have you ever had an image that wanted to kinda stick to the backing when peeling it off? Well what happens that image is not fully "stuck" tranfered to the shirt. By repressing it with the teflon sheet even for just a few seconds you are assuring a complete transfer and also gives it a nice sheen finish.
I hope this helps a little
Thanks,
Jason
hello Guys,
After pressing any heat transfer material it is a great idea to "repress" the image with a teflon sheet.
Have you ever had an image that wanted to kinda stick to the backing when peeling it off? Well what happens that image is not fully "stuck" tranfered to the shirt. By repressing it with the teflon sheet even for just a few seconds you are assuring a complete transfer and also gives it a nice sheen finish.
I hope this helps a little
Thanks,
Jason
There's the answer. Thanks Jason. I thought at some point the teflon sheet had to come in contact with the ink of the transfer.
Hmm, but when you press a vinyl transfer (and I think the same is with plastisol transfers), the vinyl isn't exposed, is it? There's like a transfer sheet covering the actual media.
So is a teflon sheet for a "re" press of the design after you peel the transfer backing off?
The design can be exposed if you do multi color vinyl. I use mine for a re-press and any time I need to get rid of press lines.
The teflon sheet is also useful when curing inks on direct to garment printing or when heat applying sublimation, where inks are turned into a gas and tend to migrate up to your heater and transfer onto your next shirt.
Also, if your press is not teflon coated, then using a teflon sheet on every press will prevent you from making a costly mistake when you accidentally have the transfer the wrong way.
Also, if you are using "thicker" heat transfer vinyls, you will notice more of a change in finish to the material, when using a teflon sheet for your second press. It also leaves different finishes on print/cut applications, as does Kraft Paper, or there used to be texturizing paper which was very cool
When second pressing cut vinyl, a little glue will get on the teflon and transfer back on the next garment, leaving a shiny outline of the letters from the first shirt. I keep an old T or sweatshirt handy to wipe the teflon off when it is still hot from the press.
If you get the ghost glue outline, lay a sheet of paper on the vinyl and repress, then cold peel the paper. The glue likes to grip the paper more than the vinyl.
Personally, I just use a teflon sheet for every single press I do. As Josh says, it could potentially avoid an annoying mistake. I also find that the teflon helps keep the transfer in place better; If I try to just close the press over a transfer, it sometimes creates a little air current that shifts the transfers a little bit (this will vary with the press, of course).
Finally, if you're working with pre-cut vinyl lettering, there is NOT any backing, and a teflon sheet is an absolute must.
Teflon sheets: what are they used for and how? 
