Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
Just posted this in the new member section, but since I don't really see a lot of responses in that section in general, I thought I'd posted it again over here. I've been reading everyone's posts, watching their videos on YouTube, and your advice has been priceless! Now I just need your advice on my personal situation, and I'm hoping you can help...
Hi everyone!
My name is Melissa, and I thought I'd share how I got into making t-shirts, and my foibles along the way...
I sell children's books on Ebay, and was looking for Caillou (the bald kid cartoon character) items on Ebay for my daughter's 4th birthday party. I had seen custom made t-shirts on ebay that I liked, but looked really plain to me. I thought, "I can do better than that!" I had done some work with Fireworks MX to produce chocolate bars and invitations for her 3rd birthday, so I had some experience in graphic design. However, I did not know how to go about making the t-shirts! I did a little research, and decided this was something I could definitely do, and give them as favors for her party! I was so excited, but didn't want to spend a lot of money. I purchased a used clothing press off Ebay ($80), and bought some Alpha Double Green transfers from Alpha Supply Co. I made the design, printed it on my HP Photosmart printer on the Double Green paper, and pressed it onto a t-shirt. VOILA! It worked!! I continued to press the shirts (purchased from what is now jiffyshirt.com for $1.59 each), although I did have problems from time to time, including scorching a few of them, since there is no temperature control read-out -- it is only adjustable as "cotton", "linen", etc. so I don't know at what specific temperature I'm really working with!)
The shirts were a BIG hit, and everyone was THRILLED with them! Since then, I've made camp shirts (everyone thought those were a great idea too) for my daughter and her friend, concert shirts for a Wiggles concert in July for my daughter and her cousin, and last week I was contacted about designing and producing custom heat transfers for a child's birthday party -- within only 1 week's time! The mom was CRAZY about my design, and I made 17 t-shirts for the party. I did have problems, and wasted 4 shirts along the way because the cover on the bottom surface of the press moved, and it wasn't pressing the transfer perfectly flat. I also had a problem with the transfer curling when I was positioning it, and actually folded over, pressing onto the platen instead of the shirt! Uuuuugggh! After this experience, I am determined to get better equipment! I burned my hands and wrists in 4 different places because the platen doesn't open all the way to perpendicular too! I only charged $10 per shirt, but still made a REALLY nice profit! Do you think that is too little, too much, or just right for a custom-designed photo t-shirt in Queens, New York City?
I had considered going into a small part-time business doing party shirts after I had such a strong, positive reaction to my daughter's birthday shirts, but know what a pain-in-the-butt customers can be on Ebay, I wanted to take the time to see what happened to the shirts as they were routinely washed. Well, I am a bit disappointed, to say the least. After several washes, the transfers cracked and chipped, so bits of the photo and lettering were missing. I did warn consumers about this along with the washing instructions, saying, "it is normal for heat transfers to degrade a bit with washing, but will still look great". To be honest, I am disappointed. That's why I went searching the Internet yesterday looking for a better transfer, with better durability. I was SOOOOOO happy to find t-shirtforums.com, and have been reading your site for HOURS. I understand that IronAll (also sold under several different names) is probably the solution to the cracking and chipping problem -- at least I hope it is!!
I am considering a Knight JP12 or Hix Hobbylite 9 x 12 press to correctly press the transfer on the shirts. Any suggestions on which is better? At this point, I can't go much bigger (space limitations in my basement office), or more expensive since I don't have much working capital. I think I like the swing-away factor of the Hix, since having almost 400 degrees of heat radiating in your face when positioning a shirt is tough! I think I sweat out all of my bodily fluids when making those 17 shirts last weekend!! LOL...
OK, another quick question. I am currently using a HP Photosmart printer, which of course, is costly because of the ink cartridges I am currently using, but I really like the resolution of the photos on the transfer paper. I found one site that sells CIS for HP Photosmarts, but I'm going to have to look for the model number of the printer I have. I have also considered purchasing an Epson C88+, but is not a photo printer, is it? Will I have the same resolution as my Photosmart? My Photosmart is also a 7 color printer, as opposed to Epson's only 4 I love the idea of it's cost (cheap) and getting a CIS for it. I have seen these on many different sites, not necessarily related to heat transfer printing, and they're much cheaper than on sites like coastal, imprintables, etc. Can these other CIS systems be used, and then purchase the pigment inks through coastal, just to save some money? Since I don't really know how much work I'll be doing, or how much profit I'll be making, I need the keep the "bottom line" as small as possible!
Thanks SO MUCH for your input! Your opinions and suggestions are very welcomed by this newbie!!
Thanks, Triple T -- just thought it might help with the advice if everyone knew for what purpose and scale I needed the equipment for, hence the long post...
While waiting for someone to reply I think I figured out for myself what equipment I will be purchasing, so I don't know if I really need to post again. Next time (if there is a next time) I'll be sure to brief.
Thanks for being the one and only person to respond...
Welcome.. well first of all I hope those were my videos you watched. It looks like you fell into the trap.. Now you are becoming one of us.. And we are a big club. a few things.
1. Don't buy the small press. you will be sorry later. get the 15 x 15 as minimum size. I have a Mighty press from coastal business. I think it is under $650. Also spend less then $85 for a C88+ epson printer. it has Durabrite ink which is pigment ink and the best ink for printed transfers. HP is dye. You can also get a CIS system from coastal I also have that. Then you may want to look into using Plastisol transfers if you have any type of volume at all. Iron all and its brothern are great papers but for certain type of shirts. I don't use them for any commercial product (Shirts sold in stores) or school or groups. Those are volume orders so I use plastisol. There is a new paper out called iron all for darks and it will adding this to my videos on youtube and here on the forum for my fans to see. I know your new so you will get that one later..LOL There are other thing you could get to make your jobs easier but I am not allowed to push my own products.. If you have any questions about anything feel free to contact me or others here. I wish you success in your new venture.. Lou (Badalou)
__________________ There is a center to everything.. I found mine at.. www.heatpressessentials.com Tools to get the job done! www.tbiz101.com (New)Heat Transfer Education
Last edited by badalou; September 21st, 2007 at 06:30 AM.
Reason: spelling
Welcome.. well first of all I hope those were my videos you watched. It looks like you fell into the trap.. Now you are becoming one of us.. And we are a big club. a few things.
1. Don't buy the small press. you will be sorry later. get the 15 x 15 as minimum size. I have a Mighty press from coastal business. I think it is under $650. Also spend less then $85 for a C88+ epson printer. it has Durabrite ink which is pigment ink and the best ink for printed transfers. HP is dye. You can also get a CIS system from coastal I also have that. Then you may want to look into using Plastisol transfers if you have any type of volume at all. Iron all and its brothern are great papers but for certain type of shirts. I don't use them for any commercial product (Shirts sold in stores) or school or groups. Those are volume orders so I use plastisol. There is a new paper out called iron all for darks and it will adding this to my videos on youtube and here on the forum for my fans to see. I know your new so you will get that one later..LOL There are other thing you could get to make your jobs easier but I am not allowed to push my own products.. If you have any questions about anything feel free to contact me or others here. I wish you success in your new venture.. Lou (Badalou)
Yes, Lou, it was YOUR videos I've been watching. They're FABULOUS! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with newbies like me!
As far as the press is concerned, I've been very confused as to what size to go with. On one hand, I know pre-printed transfers are larger, so I wouldn't be able to press them with the 9x12, and I know always allow yourself room to grow by getting the larger size. However, Alpha Supply said only get what you need for your immediate purpose, which for me, is doing children's t-shirts which are small in size. I like that market, and will probably stay with childrens' sizes as opposed to a lot of adult work. In addition, I would like it to be portable and, being a woman, 90 lbs. is a bit heavy for me to lug around to craft fairs, etc.! LOL... I would also have to justify such a large expenditure to the hubby who keeps seeing me buy more stuff, and hearing how I can make money doing this, but hasn't seen anything come in yet! It looks like I'm taking the profits from that birthday job and putting them into the new press and the IronAll transfers...
I told hubby this morning that he can buy me the Epson C88+ for Christmas with the CIS system. I see them everywhere for $79.99, but I told him to wait until the Thanksgiving Day sales to get the best price, and then he can buy the CIS from Coastal. As I referred to in my previous post, how good is the resolution of the C88? The HP ink is a dye (which is problematic, I know), but the resolution for photos is awesome b/c it is a photo printer, which the Epson is not. Do you think the picture quality would be comparable?
By the way, I CANNOT BELIEVE you invented the t-square! I have been suffering in transfer placement with each shirt, and have WISHED for such an item! BTW, I'm buying one TODAY!!!
Thanks so much Lou -- love your videos, your posts, etc. Thanks for giving me a quick education!
I just wanted to let you know you can find great deals on ebay for heat presses. (Although I would be a little careful with the imported ones offered). After about 2 weeks of careful scanning, I found a 15" X 15" Mighty Press (without digital read out, which you really don't need, just more $) and won the bid for $164 ! This is a $700-$800 press. It needed a few cheap parts (cost me under $30. directly from the company), here's their link Untitled Document . The company is Stahl's, and they make Mighty Presses and Hotronix Brands. So for under $200, my press cleaned up to look and function as new. Even the auto-timer and buzzer works. I would keep looking if I were you, and don't spring for the full price new press yet. One other thing, guarantees. Some companies, like Stahls, offer lifetime guarantees on the heat platen (imports only offer 90 days to a year). BUT, after talking to the service guy at Stahls, he made me feel comfortable with buying a used Stahl's press (without the guarantee you'd get on a new one). He said the reason they offer the lifetime heat platen guarantee on the Stahl's presses is because they almost never go bad. It's only the small parts that may wear out or break (like springs). These are cheap and easily replaced. Good Luck....................Pete
Somewhat of a newbie needs your advice 
