queenofglitz

Good Evening - This is my first post to this group and While I am not new to using a heat press for rhinestones and appliques - today was my first try at heat transfers....and I need Help! - This group seems very knowledgeable and helpful. I purchased a new 15 x 15 heat press on Ebay (sorry can't tell you the brand - don't remember) but anyway I am having problems getting the transfers to work. The top 1/4 to 1/2 of the transfer is not taking. I have tried different temperatures and pressure and time to no avail - Can get the bottom 1/2 of the transfer to take but the top 1/4 to 1/2 just does not transfer.
I have been reading your past threads and saw about pressing the t shirts before applying the heat transfer - I have not done that and will be sure and do that tomorrow. Also saw where someone had put a towel under the T shirt - ????
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated - We have a really big car show starting Friday and I just started working on the T-shirts today - Did not anticipate any problems - After all, I am very experienced (Smile) in making heavily embellished garmets and Jean Jackets - Never had any problems on these but doing the heat transfers on these T shirts really has me puzzled, frustrated and confused. . My heat transfers are all of cars (who would have guessed) and the mfg said 375 med pressure and 7-8 seconds. I tried the 7-8 seconds and that did not hardly transfer so have upped the time trying up to 20 seconds......
Thanks in advance
Sharon - Queen of Glitz

 

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deniseg

well i'll try and help by saying what i have found the best way to do T/P ok it may be that your press is not heating up uni formally but the 7/8 sec's is really short.I press my t/p at 205c and for 16/18 sec's i place a teflon sheet over to help protect my t-shirt.If its discolouring the shirt try it at a lower temp 198c but for longer 19/25 sec's.That's if u r using normal t/p u r printing yourself,I have come ACROSS SOME READY MADE TRANSFERS THAT ONLY NEED 10 SEC'S AT 185c but they r special ones ( sorry for caps)also i use heavy pressure.Hot peel.for DK's I do same method but its cold peel and covered with parchment paper which is left on till cold.Hope this helps a bit and gl

 

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wakeupdiscover

I think you might be dealing with the monkey press. Is it a wood frame? I am having the same exact issue and they are taking it back to replace repair the item. They have been very cordial and easy to deal with. I am also going to be using my tax rebate and refund to purchase a better machine and hopefully they get this working as a portable for shows. Hope that helps. I don't think you're doing anything wrong at all.

 

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deniseg

ps if u have got a lot to do another way round your problem may be to turn your shirt try a diff position,you never know it may work or press it ,turn it press it again hot peel,try it may work ,let us know how u get on.

 

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queenofglitz

Thanks for all the responses - The machine was from Nor Dale Clothing and on their auctions it is called the Black Magic. I have received a response back from them and they are saying I need to tighten the pressure but I have or have had the pressure so tight I cannot hardly get the machine open...so don't think that is the issue.
Question about turning the transfer around - am I understanding that it might work to repress the transfer? When I open the heat press the transfer is pretty loose from the shirt.
I am going to my shop in about an hour and will try pressing the shirt before applying the transfer and will also try the towel under the shirt. I will also try to turn the shirt and repress the transfer - I am thinking that perhaps I should lessen the time on each press if I am going to turn the shirt and repress the transfer.
Also someone mentioned using a teflon sheet - I have one that I use on my rhinestones when I am working on certain fabrics on my purses or totes because they will scorth but did not try it on the heat transfers because I thought perhaps the top half of the shirt was not getting enough heat or have wondered if I am getting too much heat or uneven heat.
Thanks for your responses - I will keep you posted on my progress...If I don't solve this soon I will be out of shirts
Sharon the Queen of Glitz but the Dummy on Heat Transfers.

 

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bern

I had a similar problem with a heat press off Ebay the transfers would not work at all with the image tearing and only partially adhearing . I now have a insta heat press and the difference is amazing , it works so well . I did get to transfer images to mouse mats on the Ebay press by pressing for a time then lifting the handle and turning the mouse mat 180 and pressing again , this goes to show how eneven the heat was . I have also clamped a thermometer between the heat platen and the lower pad to check on the temp that the press is actually getting to it may be way off from what you have dialed in .

 

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CuttingEdge

Quote: Originally Posted by queenofglitz ... The top 1/4 to 1/2 of the transfer is not taking. I have tried different temperatures and pressure and time to no avail...

Is it possible something at the top around the coller area is bunching? Is your platen making good even contact across the entire surface of the shirt?

Perhaps to test with the press heat off you could set the shirt up as you normally would and attempt to pull a large piece of heavy paper thru the top and bottom to check for pull resistance or uneven contact.

 

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