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shirt10 · June 20th, 2008

Hi all,

So I have navigated my way through setting up my company, the website (almost done), ordering my t-shirts (American Apparel - 2001 style) collaborating with my artist and then finally working with Dowling Graphics to create my plastisol heat transfers.

So I now come to creating my first 'official' tees for my product pictures for the website, and I have suddenly ground to a halt.
My plastisol transfers are not fully transferring onto the t-shirt. The blacks, greys and whites are transferring ok (so a couple of my designs that have no other color are ok), but several of the other colors are only partially applying themselves and giving a very washed out look, with the t-shirt color often visible through it.

My current process (after reading many threads and from my own tests, some of those with Dowling plastisol samples) is;

Heat press up to 375F, left on for 30 mins to make sure even tempreture.
Close the heat press and heat the silicone gel pad for 60 seconds
Pre heat the t-shirt for 5-6 seconds
Apply transfer and press for 10-12 seconds

After the first transfer came out ok (pure black and white) I was all smiles.
Then I moved onto some color transfers and disaster.
I have tried slightly hotter 385-390F and to press for longer 15-18 seconds but no noticable improvement.

Attached are a couple of examples of what I am getting. The orange and flesh colors are not fully transferring onto the t-shirt and there is a decent amount left on the transfer paper.

The one cost cutting exercise I did was to buy a $300 heat press off of eBay (chinese it seems). Would the heat press be the culprit here? I am VERY reluctant to buy a brand new expensive one without knowledgeable advice from some vets

I was on a tight budget before (hence the eBay heat press), but a little debt and sellable t-shirts is better than debt free but no sellable product.

Anyone have any experience with Dowling's plastisol transfers?
What is your process for quality results?

Any and all help / advice here is very much appreciated as I am very disheartened currently

--Ben--

COEDS · June 20th, 2008

I USE WWW.ACETRANSCO.COM AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS i'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THEM. I DON'T THINK THE ISSUES IS THE PROCESS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER. ...... JB

shirt10 · June 20th, 2008

Thanks for your reply JB.

Will be interesting to hear from others (especially those that use Dowling) (or have suggestions on improving my process or suggestions to test things) as I have heard nothing but great things about them and would put money on this being a 'me' thing and not a 'them' thing, but you never know.....

COEDS · June 20th, 2008

I always tell my rep what type of garment and color or colors I will be using. I'm not sure if the material is the issue or the transfer itself. .... JB

sjidohair · June 20th, 2008

Wow,
Dowling transfers have always went on my tees and hoodies like butter, are you peeling hot,? right away?
Was this one they made for you or a stock transfer?

deChez · June 20th, 2008

What type of fabric is that you're pressing on?

shirt10 · June 20th, 2008

Yep, peeling immediately.
Those two pics are actually on $2 Hanes from Wal*Mart bought this afternoon as I didn't want to ruin any more of my recently purchased American Apparel stock.
The AAs (style 2001) come out the same way

Perhaps if this thread doesn't yield a solution I could snail mail over a transfer to one of the Dowling customers and they try it for me?

sjidohair · June 20th, 2008

i have to ask, what kinda of press?
Actually I will just come right out and ask , is it a Illumapress?
Stock or custom transfers.
Stock could be old, red or orange and old transfers are a terrible team.
Did you tell them you would be putting on a red tee if this is a custom, Red to me is considered a dark tee for pressing I would only press a transfer on red that was made for a black tee, do you know what I mean?
Unless it says all colors.
I hope we can get to the bottom of this for you, but I do believe Dowling will stand behind the transfer if it is there mistake.
Do you have a heat Gauge to check heat of Plates on Press?
Sandy Jo

shirt10 · June 20th, 2008

Ok, some answers

Make of Press: Well, actually harder to answer than it should be (should probably be a sign for me). No make or model text in English I can make out. On the back the sticker gives a company name (Shenzhen Microtec Technology Co Ltd) and a quick google leads me to this product page on their site - this is the press - PRODUCTS

Custom transfers, made around 2 weeks ago for me. A week or so in transit and a week or so filed away here.

Yep, made them aware that they transfers would be pressed on lights and darks, and they actually suggested changing from my original orange choice to the one I used due to this.
(Their instruction insert for each transfer batch reads "Hot Split Transfer Instructions for Light or Dark Garments.........")

Heat Gauge / Thermometer. I do not have one. After searching a few other posts about them, I found this one which is reasonably priced ( Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices ).
Recommended I buy one (not necessarily this one, but a heat gauge)?

I really do appreciate all the help and support being provided here

mrdavid · June 20th, 2008

I would check your press that may be your problem.

sjidohair · June 20th, 2008

Ok, some answers

Make of Press: Well, actually harder to answer than it should be (should probably be a sign for me). No make or model text in English I can make out. On the back the sticker gives a company name (Shenzhen Microtec Technology Co Ltd) and a quick google leads me to this product page on their site - this is the press - PRODUCTS

I checked the kind of press you have and I am not sure, what brand for sure.

Custom transfers, made around 2 weeks ago for me. A week or so in transit and a week or so filed away here.

The Transfers are new, that should not be the problem, then, Where are you? Are any of us by you? so we could test your transfer?

Yep, made them aware that they transfers would be pressed on lights and darks, and they actually suggested changing from my original orange choice to the one I used due to this.

Ok, they are for all garment colors, cant be the problem!
(Their instruction insert for each transfer batch reads "Hot Split Transfer Instructions for Light or Dark Garments.........")

Heat Gauge / Thermometer. I do not have one. After searching a few other posts about them, I found this one which is reasonably priced ( Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices ).
This is a good place to get the heat gun, it is to test the heat in the plates to make sure it is even and no cold spots.If you had cold spots it would not transfer all the color over and it would lay on top of the garment not go into the fabric. I know from exprierence , I got one of those bad presses. Of the transfers you did, is it always in the same spot that does not take well, or a color thing?
Recommended I buy one (not necessarily this one, but a heat gauge)?
Really the more I think about this , it sounds so familiar to what I was dealing with, with a bad press. and cold spots.
I wish i could help you more, as it is so frustrating, when you have all your stuff ready to go, and you run into something like this.
Let us know what state you are in, and see if we have anyone by you, that can help! with pressing a transfer, it is almost the only way to tell, do you have any transfer paper, you could print off, and press that and see how that goes?
Or any other transfers?
Sandy Jo

shirt10 · June 21st, 2008

I live in central Ohio.
Would be more than happy to mail out a couple of transfers to anyone (anywhere) who could test them out on their heat press for me.

PM me with your details and I will get them out in the mail tomorrow (heading out to a wedding for the day here in a few minutes)

Thanks!

sjidohair · June 26th, 2008

Ben,
Ok I tested your transfer and here is what i found,
It transfered like a dream, i thought great color, and released very well.
I am afraid you have cold spots on your heat press.

I think it is time to contact the seller,
Let me know if I can help any more, I also sent you a private message too.
Love the design,
Sandy JO

sjidohair · June 26th, 2008

oops here is a picture of the pressed design sorry

Sandy JO

rfbf · June 27th, 2008

My first thought is, you are probably pressing them for way too long. 8 secs at most for cotton tees @ medium pressure. Time can kill your print.
Maybe you might want to think about having an underbase for the designs, looks like your coverage is weak.

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