Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
That shouldn't make any difference. These are non-contact infrared guns. I would imagine only poplished aluminum would make any kind of difference..... but heat presses are not made with polished surface. Change your battery and try your gun again. If it still doesn't work, buy a new gun.
Thanks for posting this again. I keep trying to keep track of it. I clicked on the link to Hix, trying to get a price, etc, but I don't see how to order it. Is it right there and I'm as blind as the bats living in my soffits? Thanks for the lead. I'd like to recommend these since folks don't always have luck with the IR guns.. lol. I haven't tried my Pampered Chef thermometer, yet, lol, but I would put it in the press with one of these to see how it does.
Thanks for any help on this. Is there someone who deals in Hix products that you would recommend I can go to, if not the site above?
Thanks,
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Best regards, Kelly
PS: Happy Thanksgiving!!
I think the point is..... and it spells it out on the Geo Knight site.... you can not use an IR Temp gun on a "BARE" aluminum platen.
In all my 35 years in the business, I don't think I have ever come across a textile heat transfer machine without a teflon coating on the heat element.
So, unless you scrubbed the teflon coating off with sandpaper or a brillo pad, the IR Gun should be releatively accurate. Give or take a couple of degrees.
When taking measurements, are you aiming at the platen or the actual heating element? I'm sorry I'm a little new and confused on this. . . I'm just wondering if I buy a gun, will I be able to temp both my press and my flash unit
When testing HEAT PRESS temp, aim the gun at the heating element itself. Check several areas, because the heat won't be perfectly even all over the heat platen.
Yes, you can use the same gun to measure your spot dryer..... but..... since a spot dryer is non-contact, you won't be maesuring the actual heat that is at the shirt level.
The temp gun, really isn't a useful tool for spopt dryers. They're really for measuring ink temperature at a conveyor dryer exit, or for testing dryer panels to make sure they're not burned out.
Temp tapes are a good way to measure heat press temp, however they are a one shot deal. They can't be re-used.
Another drawback of temp tapes is they take time in a conveyor dryer to register. If your dryer is too quick, they won't have time to turn black at the actual temperature. It's not "instant" like the gun.
Anyway, you need to check temperatures often, like every day or, with a conveyor dryer, several times a day. Just to make sure your equipment is operating at the temp you determine is optimal. And at almost $1.00 per label, it adds up quick.
so it sounds like a gun will get me pretty far, but I need something separate for the flash unit. Which method is recommended for gauging the temperatures on flash curers?
"flash" or "spot" dryers are for curing under-colors. If you're looking to cure plastisol inks..... it's not the best thing to use.
In my opinion..... IR guns are the best method to measure temperatures on spot/flash dryers. The same IR gun can measure the "ink surface" temperature, which you can not do with tapes.
Like I said, the temp guns will last for years.... temp tapes are a one-shot deal.
Where to find temperature test strips? 
