Discuss the various aspects of heat press technology. Transfer paper, inks, plastisol transfers, vinyl cutters, printers, commercial usage, durability, suppliers, etc.
I am very new to this business,in fact. this is my first order and I am not sure how to press it! I would appreciate some advice. I have a front left chest design from Transfer Express on the front of a tshirt and on the back a picture and 2 words (over the picture) from Transfer Express. Do I press the front for 1/2 the time,and turn it over and press the back? I have to do 80 of them ,so I do not want to mess this up! Thanks so much in advance !
I have done thousands of heat transfers and have always done full time on front, then come back and do full time on the backs with no pillow. I own all the pillows which I use for sublimation but I don't think I would get the desired pressure with plastisol transfers. Many people repress a second time just to get a shiny or matt finish. It doesn't overcook your design or shirt. I also do Ink transfers which take 375deg for 30sec so that answers any doubts that the shirt might be effected.
I would avoid pillows. But if you decide to use pillows, when they flatten out don't throw them away. Cut the teflon open and replace the foam pad with Vapor Foam. You will save a ton of money. The teflon lasts 10 times longer than the foam. I cut the Vapor to fit in all my pillows. I love the pillows for reducing paper lines and press lines with sublimation but I don't think it is a good way to go for Plasticol Transfers.
I also press all the front and then come back and press all the back. I do not use the pillows and don't own them as it has never been an issue for me.
I need these done by Saturday, so I do not have time to buy a pillow ! I do have a teflon sheet.But I do not know how to use it. If I do the front for the full time,with no teflon, do I let the whole shirt cool off before I do the back? Won't that do something to the front transfer? Can I just tape the front on with heat tape and do both at the same time?
You should definately have a teflon cover on your lower platen. if not use your sheet on the bottom. you can use uncoated butcher paper on the top. This is also useful for removing moisture from the shirt during pre-press. Since I have both, I use butcher paper for the pre press to warm the shirt and remove moisture then I use the teflon sheet for the actual transfer. but you could use the butcher paper twice. I don't just so I get more presses out of the butcher paper.
I am pretty sure you want your teflon underneath when you are doing the second side. I have teflon pads on all my presses so I always have the second side on teflon but that might be why I never have had an issue heating both sides without a barrier.
Doing both at the same time? I have not heard of anybody doing this. You shouldn't have any problem doing the shirts one at a time. Of all the processes I use to make shirts, the plastisol transfers by far are the easiest and most forgiving.
Just pre-press your shirt 7-10 seconds with paper on top to absorb moisture, apply transfer and cover with teflon or butcher paper for the time and temp suggested. repeat until all shirts are done on one side. Then start second side with finished side facing down on teflon and repeat transfer process on the front with butcher or other large paper covering top of shirt.
No need to pre-press twice. You will be fine. Transfer Express did all the tough stuff. That's why I love Plastisol transfers. No Fuss! No Muss! No Mess!
Just in case you didn't notice They sent you several extra transfers. So try them out on some other shirts. You will still have enough to fill your order and you will have the confidence to go forward.
I got some from Cond'e and and from Coast Graphic Supply out of Ventura CA. They both are about the same and work just as well. I believe Cond'e had the best price but only if you were buying other stuff from them. I get all my Sublimation, and ink transfer stuff through them so I just add them to my order.
Put the uncoated butcher paper over the garment, press for 8-12 seconds. You will see the steam bellow out the edges of your platon and if you have signifacant moisture in the shirt you will even have the paper edges outside of the platon shrivel from the moisture escaping. Some people even put butcher top and bottom to get even more moisture. The teflon pad and cover sheet do not remove the moisture, infact, they probably just send it back and forth between top and bottom. I have noticed my bottom teflon pad getting wet around the edges because I only use paper on the top so the moisture on the bottom gets pushed into the teflon pad which does not absorb.
This is extremely important when doing sublimation transfers where you will have all kinds of problems when there is moisture in the garment. Not quite so much with other transfers but a dry shirt is always better. You never know how much moisture is there til you press it and actually see the steam coming off.
How to press 2 transfers on a t shirt ???? 
I have a front left chest design from Transfer Express on the front of a tshirt and on the back a picture and 2 words (over the picture) from Transfer Express. Do I press the front for 1/2 the time,and turn it over and press the back? I have to do 80 of them ,so I do not want to mess this up! Thanks so much in advance ! 
Re: How to press 2 transfers on a t shirt ???? 
