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Sophie2006 · February 15th, 2007

Hello there,
May I first say what a great forum this is....well done!
My questions below have most likely been asked 1000 times, (and answered 1000 times) but as I'm a complete novice and not the brightest crayon in the box, I'd be really grateful if someone could give me simple answers to the following.
I lost my husband before Xmas '06 and, not wanting to go on a pension, came up with the idea of printing T-shirts at home, mostly for 'something to do', but also because my daughter can sell them at her local weekend markets.
Sooooo.....I ordered and received a heap of transfers from Proworld (hope I'm not breaking any forum rules by mentioning this company, it's just so you'll know what type of transfers I'm using). I've also ordered a lot of 100% cotton T's. And I bought a Roxcell (clamshell?) 38cm x 38cm heatpress. Now, the heatpress doesn't come with clear instructions, ie "The temperature range for baking the mental (do they mean "metal"?) board normally is 170-200C, time: 20-40 seconds; temperature for baking the procelain board normally is 200-220C, time: 120-150 seconds, and the temperature for baking the fabric normally is 120-140C, time: 5-10 seconds.
What does all this mean, please?
I've been trying different temperatures, different pressures, and different times.
The optimum seems to be to preheat the garment (double thickness) for 5 seconds at 180C, then 20 seconds for the transfer.....hot peel. To save wasting full transfers, I've cut some up into small pieces, dotted the pieces over old T-shirts, and the above method works well, but when I heatpress a full transfer onto a good T-shirt, disaster!!!! Only about half of it takes.
Where am I going wrong? Is it only a matter of trial and error?
I'm tearing my hair out.

Any comments and/or suggestions will be welcomed.
Thankyou very much.
Sophie

Jasonda · February 15th, 2007

Hi Sophie,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

Did you receive any pressing instructions from Proworld?

What do your "disaster" prints look like? Do they seem too melted, or are they not attaching properly?

Sophie2006 · February 15th, 2007

Hey,
Just for the record. I do not recall typing "pro world transfers not pressing properly" in my header.......in fact I know I never typed that.
My problems have nothing whatsoever to do with Proworld. The transfers are terrific. I'm the problem through inexperience.

cookster · February 15th, 2007

Sophie, Is it the same section that sticks to the shirt when you press a full transfer. (Left side/Right side) If so you may want to check the temp. of your platen with a heat gun as it sounds like your platen may not be heating evenly.

Mr.4ColorProcess · February 15th, 2007

Sophie, let me quote you then answer some questions for you.

"The temperature range for baking the mental (do they mean "metal"?) board normally is 170-200C, time: 20-40 seconds; temperature for baking the procelain board normally is 200-220C, time: 120-150 seconds, and the temperature for baking the fabric normally is 120-140C, time: 5-10 seconds.
What does all this mean, please?"

Mental is supposed to read 'METAL' -- and those are the following instructions
Procelain is supposed to read 'PORCELAIN' and those are the following instructions.
And the last are the instructions for fabric.

I don't know if your heat press reads in Celsius of Fahrenheit. But here's a conversion link for you to play with:
Fahrenheit to Celsius Converter

You need to contact your transfer manufacturer and find out what the specific pressing instructions are for your heat transfers. Many times, certain designs transfer at different settings. For instance, one white design might transfer at 365 degrees, 7 seconds @ 65psi. Then another design, maybe a different colored design might transfer better at 375 degrees, blah blah blah... You need to find the specific instructions for your specific order.

Hope that helps,

-- Jim

Rodney · February 15th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophie2006


	Hey, Just for the record. I do not recall typing "pro world transfers not pressing properly" in my header.......in fact I know I never typed that. My problems have nothing whatsoever to do with Proworld. The transfers are terrific. I'm the problem through inexperience.

Hey Sophie, that would have been me

Sometimes it's necessary to edit the title of the thread so that members scanning the forums have a better idea of whether or not they can answer the question inside.

I've fixed the title so it doesn't mention pro world, but I did it to help you get answers to your question

I've found that sometimes the more accurate the title, the better responses you'll receive.

Let us know if the tips above are of any help or if you still have further questions.

T-BOT · February 15th, 2007

relax Sophie.

Make sure your equip. is working properly (there are a lot of topics here on the board).

Then yes. test, test, test.... it takes a little time to get the flow.

It does get confusing when trying various typs of transfers all at the saame time. Perhaps start with one type (like cold peels), master that, make your own setting notes and move on to the next transfer type.

You will be fine.

John S · February 15th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophie2006


	...temperature for baking the fabric normally is 120-140C, time: 5-10 seconds. What does all this mean, please? I've been trying different temperatures, different pressures, and different times. The optimum seems to be to preheat the garment (double thickness) for 5 seconds at 180C, then 20 seconds for the transfer.....hot peel. To save wasting full transfers, I've cut some up into small pieces, dotted the pieces over old T-shirts, and the above method works well, but when I heatpress a full transfer onto a good T-shirt, disaster!!!! Only about half of it takes.

I wonder if your shirts have a lot of moisture in them. Your test shirts are getting several full pressings, which would dry them out and make the transfers stick. Then when you go to a new shirt, the 5 seconds might not be enough to get all the water out.

Try a new shirt, press it for 5 seconds, open the press and lay a drinking glass on it's side in the middle of the T-shirt and look for fog on the glass. (I use a perfect transfer tool, which is a large sheet of clear plastic. I lay it on the hot shirt and if it fogs up, I press it again. Some times I have to press a shirt 2 or 3 full cycles to get all the water out!)

Sorry I don't have the time/temp/pressure for your transfers. Maybe someone will post the formula they use for their brand and that will help you get close enough to get some good shirts.

Sophie2006 · February 15th, 2007

Hi Jasonda, Bob and Jim for your informative replies.
Proworld's instructions for almost all the transfers (they're all rather large transfers, by the way), are to preheat 7 seconds (OK), then press for 8-10 seconds at 385 Fahrenheit. This, to my mind is around 190-200 Celsius? The heatpress is in Celsius degrees.
I think it's rather even heating because when I dot pieces of transfers all around the scrap T-shirts (top, middle, bottom and sides) they all come out perfect, but when I try a full transfer, either the top, middle or bottom comes off clear.
Also, I don't know where the heatgun thingy comes in, but there's one in the garage.......
Also, haven't a clue about the psi. The pressure is decided by a knob at the back of the machine, and I have it as tight as I can, but if it's too tight then I just can't lift the handle at the end of the specified time, and panic like mad!
Oh, will I get it right in the end? Do I just need to keep practising? Sick of wasting good transfers.
Many thanks,
Sophie

Sophie2006 · February 15th, 2007

Hey Rodney,
I thought I was dreaming things when I saw that header, but now I understand.......thankyou.
Yes, the tips are great and are helping me sort the chaff from the wheat, so to speak.
Concerning Proworld, I was most happy with their service and delivery time (only about 10 days from the US to Australia). I can't find any other transfer companies (or t-shirt companies, apart from the one I used) that ship to Australia.
As for further problems, don't think I mentioned the clamshell has a thick rubber/vinyl heatmat, but I wouldn't dare put the T-shirt on the metal plate.
Probably I just need someone with experience to advise me the optimum temperature and timing to achieve an 'overall' great effect.
Cheers,
Sophie

Solmu · February 15th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophie2006


	Also, I don't know where the heatgun thingy comes in, but there's one in the garage.......

You probably don't want to take to your heat press with a heat gun - the other poster actually meant to say an IR thermometer rather than a heat gun.

cookster · February 16th, 2007

Lewis, Thanks for clearing up my statement as that is exactly what I was talking about was the IR thermometer. It will telll you if your platen is heating up the same temp that you sent your dial at and also if there are cold spots on your platen. Sorry for the confusion SOPHIE as I also cut sign vinyl and we use a heat gun for snowmobiles to make the vinyl stick better.

MotoskinGraphix · February 16th, 2007

385-400 F (240.44C) for 10 seconds. 8 seconds if on dark apparel assuming all your transfers are hot-split or hot peel. Peel the prints right away from corner to corner in a steady motion. Pre-press is different for everyone. Our climate is very humid and I pre-press for at least 20 seconds.

Sophie2006 · February 16th, 2007

Thanks guys for all your help.
240 Celsius???? Ok then, I'm about to give it a burl.
It's a dry heat here so I'll just leave the pre-heating to 5-7 seconds, ok?
Now Lewis, I happily notice you're from Melbourne.
I'm only 300ks. up the Freeway.
Do you know of a good quality T-shirt supplier in Melbourne, or aren't I supposed to ask this?
Here goes with the 240 degree pressing......will let you know.
Cheers, Sophie

Sophie2006 · February 16th, 2007

OK, it's the puff transfers that are the problem.
The hot peels work well, whether at 240, 230, 220 or 210 degrees celsius, on medium pressure, but the puffs are abyssmal.
Any hints, or do I just not buy puffs anymore?
Many thanks,
Sophie

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Heat press questions. Please help: transfers not pressing properly

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