Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I am getting ready to start my pressing and I planned on setting up shop in the back of my basement where the furnace, washing machine and dryer is located. I am also in the mist of getting a small bathroom put in that area as well.
My question is . . . Is it dangerous to try and use the heatpress in an area such as this. I have a 16x20 pro world heat press. Also, I live in a house that was built in 1920 and the electric is old. Everytime I try to use the heatpress the circuit breaker trips. What can I do to fix this so that I can use my heatpress?
*Don't store your paper and shirts in the same area you plan to set up the press. That environment won't be good for them. The heat, humidity and temp changes will mess with them and then, affect the final outcome of your product.
*Get an electrician in to set up a dedicated outlet for your press. My hub set up a heavy duty (15 amp?) outlet for mine and ran it directly into the breaker box for me. It's on it's own line.
*Stop trying to use your press until you fix that, or shut everything else on that circuit off while you use it. If you're tripping the circuit, your setting off the safety feature.
There are a few others on here that have their presses in their basements/laundry/utility area, so unless someone has a reason they know of that that's not good, other than what I've listed, hopefully they'll chime in. It seems okay to me since I know a few with that same set up, just keep your supplies (I'd include printer in that list, along with paper, and shirts) in a climate controlled area and only bring them to the press when it's time to press them. Keep your paper in sealed plastic bag even if it's in your "living area".
Don't forget to pre-press your shirts for a few seconds to remove the moisture naturally in the fabric prior to applying your transfer. Best wishes.
Thanks for the quick reply. Hopefully someone else will give me some feedback . . . if not, then I will assume it's okay to work as you suggested. Thanks again for the tips. By the way, I don't know much about cutters but it seems that everyone has one for their business. Why can't I just use scissors? Can someone recommend an inexpensive/used cutter or tell me where I can get one in the Baltimore City, Maryland area?
You can use scissors, or even an exacto knife. Many people use this method, it's just that a cutter can be more precise and much faster. If you get into some volume, hand cutting can get tedious and time consuming.
If you want a cutter for cutting the designs out, you want one that can "read" the design, and that means you need one that does "contour cutting".
There are a few brands that do contour cutting, and the price tags vary. "Roland" - look at the "GX-24", "Graphtec" - look at the "CE-5000" series, "Us Cutter" - look at the "laser point". Those are the names I hear most. If you research those, you will find out whaat the $$ gets you and the differences in how the "registration" / "ARM" "automatic registration marks" are set up, etc. Also, search on the forum for "contour cutting" you will learn everything you need to know to make an informed decision on what you may want to spend, and why you want to buy a particular cutter.
Not everyone that does this has a "cutter" to contour cut. I use boxes or shapes that are easy for me to cut. I do have a cutter, but it doens't "contour cut", it just cuts. If you are talking low volume, it's not really a necessity. Sometimes, if you get a volume order with quite a few, it's just as easy to order "plastisol transfers" then it is to invest in a cutter.
HOpe this helps. Search any terms in quotes for volumes of information on that topic.
I have my set up in the basement I have no problems with it I have heat press and 24" laser vinyl cutter from uscutter and computer the only thing I do is keep all my transfers and paper in zip lock bags.
I keep all the t-shirts in 18 gallon tubs with the lids on them and pre heat the shirts to get the moisture out..
like Kelly says have an electrician set up new line I have mine set up on 20 amp line and I run all from that with no problems...
__________________ Never say "no I can't" when you can just takes time and patience!!!!
HEADS UP......
If your breaker box is older that the 80's the breakers that are in it can and will, after being tripped many times, FAIL. I have recently had to have the entire breaker box replaced in my
Mothers house due to an electric heater she was using. It had tripped the breaker about a dozen times and that is all it took for that breaker to fail and cause the breaker above and below to have problems as well. I suggest following Kelly's suggestion of having a dedicated breaker for that circut. It may save your house... The electician that came to replace it said I was lucky nothing happened already....
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heat press work area 
