jacsma

I have a manual press, with no digital temp display or anything. The spectra cut II vinyl calls for temps of like 302° .

Questions: Should I take this literally? If so ... how do I measure the heat of my press? I'm sure there is something out there made for this, but I don't know what it is.

thanks
Pam

 

Reply With Quote

Moo Spot Prints

You can use something like this.

Your press will never be at exactly the temp you set it at. It will oscillate above and below it. As long as you're close to the specified temp you should be ok though. Try some samples to make sure.

 

Reply With Quote

hammered

I use the Spectra line and have an analog temp. dial. The settings are more like a "guideline" each machine will be that much different.

__________________

 

Reply With Quote

jacsma

Quote: Originally Posted by hammered I use the Spectra line and have an analog temp. dial. The settings are more like a "guideline" each machine will be that much different.

Cool. That's what I was hoping, but with such a specific number (302), I wasn't sure. This will be my first experience with vinyl.

fingers crossed.

 

Reply With Quote

badalou

I know my press runs a little on the warm sid and I just pressed a shirt with spectra and I knew it was close to 302 but I know it was not exactly on 304 and it came out great. Here with you Pam. We can learn together. Lou

__________________
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

 

Reply With Quote

Vtec44

You can use an infrared thermometer.

__________________
vMatches.com - Social networking and dating site.

 

Reply With Quote

dulreich

go to silkscreeningsupplies.com, they sell a temp gun that you aim at the surface you are heating and if gives you a reading.

 

Reply With Quote

mrtoad

Do you point the temp gun at the top of the press, the shirt, where?

Thanks,
Mike

 

Reply With Quote

Solmu

Quote: Originally Posted by mrtoad Do you point the temp gun at the top of the press, the shirt, where?

You point it at the thing you want to know the temperature of.

That might be the heat press platen to see if it's getting to the appropriate temperature to press, or the ink on the shirt to see if it's getting to the appropriate temperature to cure, etc. (depending on what you need the gun for obviously).

 

Reply With Quote

dulreich

Quote: Originally Posted by Solmu You point it at the thing you want to know the temperature of. That might be the heat press platen to see if it's getting to the appropriate temperature to press, or the ink on the shirt to see if it's getting to the appropriate temperature to cure, etc. (depending on what you need the gun for obviously).

Yeah, the temp gun will have a laser on it, so point the laser on whatever surface you need to know the temp of.

 

Reply With Quote

mrtoad

Thanks very much.

 

Reply With Quote

shirtguy

You can go to your local fire dept. They have a device that will measure temps. I can't remember what its called

 

Reply With Quote

Moo Spot Prints

Quote: Originally Posted by shirtguy You can go to your local fire dept. They have a device that will measure temps. I can't remember what its called

Umm... You mean a thermometer?

I picked up one of the guns I linked to above yesterday. It's fun shooting things and seeing how hot they are. I now know exactly how cold my dogs nose is!

 

Reply With Quote