Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
All my fellow heatpress vinyl users I have a question. I use thermoflex plus and cant seem to eliminate a glossy look to my neon vinyls. Seems like the larger the graphic the more noticeable it is...well thats obvious.
Red, Black and White all stay matt finish but the other colors I mentioned look glossy. I dont want glossy results. Is it teflon or craft paper or the actual vinyl that is letting me down?
All my fellow heatpress vinyl users I have a question. I use thermoflex plus and cant seem to eliminate a glossy look to my neon vinyls. Seems like the larger the graphic the more noticeable it is...well thats obvious.
Red, Black and White all stay matt finish but the other colors I mentioned look glossy. I dont want glossy results. Is it teflon or craft paper or the actual vinyl that is letting me down?
Its probably the actual vinyl, however Kraft paper should help to make it more of a matte finish. I've found that the teflon sheet usually glosses it up slightly more. About 4-5 years ago there was a cover sheet product called texturizing paper that would give the material a low luster finish, but I'm not sure if its still on the market or where to source it.
Dave, I started out with T-flex plus then one of my customers need some vinyl cut for polyester and nylon jackets so I did some searching and found Gorilla Grip II which I have started using on everything as it is not tacky like the T-Flex is when weeding and it comes in 20" rolls vs the 15" like T-Flex. It works on 100%, 50/50, Polyester, Nylon, and I have yet to have any problems. It may be something to look into, it comes in 11 colors and is a Stahl's product. Good luck hope this helps.
Dave, I started out with T-flex plus then one of my customers need some vinyl cut for polyester and nylon jackets so I did some searching and found Gorilla Grip II which I have started using on everything as it is not tacky like the T-Flex is when weeding and it comes in 20" rolls vs the 15" like T-Flex. It works on 100%, 50/50, Polyester, Nylon, and I have yet to have any problems. It may be something to look into, it comes in 11 colors and is a Stahl's product. Good luck hope this helps.
When I first started with vinyl I went looking for that gorilla grip but my sign vinyl supply didnt carry it...they had the thermoflex plus so thats what we went with. Does it stay in a matte finish and come in the neon colors? Do they make it with the adheasive carrier?
When I first started with vinyl I went looking for that gorilla grip but my sign vinyl supply didnt carry it...they had the thermoflex plus so thats what we went with. Does it stay in a matte finish and come in the neon colors? Do they make it with the adheasive carrier?
David, I ve usde stahls gorrila and the flex and have never noticed any gloss. Im pretty sure as Josh pointed out that the Teflon will make it glossy.
Thats odd. I dont remember the neon yellow being glossy. Maybe a satin. Ill have to see if I took pictures to see if my memory is right. Im using the Spectra line now and really like it. I havent used the neons yet but if they are as thick as the SpectraCut standard, then prepare to add a great deal of force to the plotter.
Thats odd. I dont remember the neon yellow being glossy. Maybe a satin. Ill have to see if I took pictures to see if my memory is right. Im using the Spectra line now and really like it. I havent used the neons yet but if they are as thick as the SpectraCut standard, then prepare to add a great deal of force to the plotter.
Josh said they were thicker and that doesnt excite me to much. What kind of pressure are you using.
Well I dont use teflon so maybe its just the neons. I use pink, green and orange, they are a bit shiny compared to black or red.
David, did you try it as a hot peel and less apply pressure ? I find that cold peels with vinyl will gloss it up a little and too much apply pressure may also do the same perhaps due to the plastic carrier serving almost the same purpose as the teflon.
I will make a note of this and maybe in the future when im down at the shop test it out again with the Flex anyway.
David, did you try it as a hot peel and less apply pressure ? I find that cold peels with vinyl will gloss it up a little and too much apply pressure may also do the same perhaps due to the plastic carrier serving almost the same purpose as the teflon.
I will make a note of this and maybe in the future when im down at the shop test it out again with the Flex anyway.
I always try and hot-peel or warm peel after a rub down. I might reduce pressure a bit...I dont think its always done the gloss thing so maybe thats it. Good call Lucy. Do you folks press twice or just once?
Another problem with the neons is sometimes seems as if they melt into black shirts. Melt may not be the correct word but you can see the shirt texture sort of with black t-shirts. Another thing is they seem to feel a bit tacky. I think that was due to a higher heat setting. Remember I am doing custom on the fly with vinyl and plastisol transfer. My press temps are changing quite a bit. The plastisol likes it around 385 to 400.
from what i remember, we press it one time at 350F, 10sec and hot peel, no rubbing at all. The Flex. But i would need to double check that to confirm it.
A very nice girl at the Shop is now the Flex-queenie not me.
I always try and hot-peel or warm peel after a rub down. I might reduce pressure a bit...I dont think its always done the gloss thing so maybe thats it. Good call Lucy. Do you folks press twice or just once?
Another problem with the neons is sometimes seems as if they melt into black shirts. Melt may not be the correct word but you can see the shirt texture sort of with black t-shirts. Another thing is they seem to feel a bit tacky. I think that was due to a higher heat setting. Remember I am doing custom on the fly with vinyl and plastisol transfer. My press temps are changing quite a bit. The plastisol likes it around 385 to 400.
The thermoflex neon doesn't have very good opacity at all if memory serves me right. It is thin, but not opaque
Getting rid of thermoflex gloss 
