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gbail · August 18th, 2009

As I mentioned in my intro post, I found a Seiki 15x15 press (HP4801) from a private seller locally. I wanted to start this thread to let others know of any current issues I may come across and in all my research here, it seems like much of this 'sunie discussion' is from last year, (especially the marathon thread "cheap press") So hopefully we can bring the info more current, if that makes sense?

This press I bought was brand new, originally purchase in May of this year and never taken out of the box and I was able to get it for a bit less than going the alternate distributor routes. $250 with a teflon sheet. (yes I understand that I could run into warranty issues - it was a much needed $100 trade off for the moment)

So, I set it up today to test it out. It seemed to heat quickly and steadily. I do not have a temp tester, so wasn't able to do that.

It reached temp setting and only flucuated a degree or two once it reached setting.

The "User's Guide" leaves much to be desired. For example, this sentence:

"Time: When time is up and the buzzer does not ring or ring continuously, you need to check if the distance of the jiggle switch point is available or not. If it is available you need to adjust it to available place."

Ha. Okay if I knew what the jiggle switch point was? And how do I know if it is available? lol

Anyway, the only 'issue' I see right now, is it is very hard to close shut completely and then get open. ? I'm hoping that is going to change with use? Is this something others have come across? I noticed the timer starts when it reaches a certain 'closed' point but before it 'clamped' shut - does that make sense?

I did do the 'test' that was mentioned on the forum to check to see if I am getting enough even pressure - by putting copy paper at each corner and closing, pulling paper to see if it is secure. (with the press off and unplugged) They all held tight. Are there issues if you have it too tight?

I am waiting for a shipment of JPSS, so I only had one avery transfer handy to test an actual transfer. I did it on a cheapy 50/50 jerzee t with the avery paper and it did not come out correctly - but I'm not sure yet if that was operator error due to timing it wrong, pressure knob not set correctly, or what.

So, I will update this thread when I get my materials in to do multiple tests.

Hope this is helpful to someone and if anyone has any input or answers to the questions - much appreciated!

gerry · August 18th, 2009

ill bet you have to much pressure, loosen it up a bit and see if it easier to close/open. Im an average guy as far as strenght and do have to give it some elbow grease to open and close..but not bad.
I believe if it is to tight the adhesive will spread out from under the vinyl/paper and maybe not look too good from close.
When you get your press and print out your first paper, maybe cut it into strips so you can do a few tests with one sheet.
It isnt to difficult to figure out and when you get used to it..youll be good.
Beat of luck.

Girlzndollz · August 18th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbail


	in all my research here, it seems like much of this 'sunie discussion' is from last year,

Sunie / Seiki / Transpro Press Owners: Are you happy with your press, would you buy it again? Yes or No. Thx =)

This thread has some feedback that is still pretty current. =)

Quote:


	Anyway, the only 'issue' I see right now, is it is very hard to close shut completely and then get open. I did do the 'test' that was mentioned on the forum to check to see if I am getting enough even pressure - by putting copy paper at each corner and closing, pulling paper to see if it is secure. (with the press off and unplugged) They all held tight. Are there issues if you have it too tight?

Not that you seem to have a warranty, but if my press is closed too tightly, it could *void* my warranty because that is known as misuse in my press warranty terms.

You don't need mongo-gorilla force to get a transfer to adhere. In fact, too much pressure can in fact, ruin a good transfer. The glue issue is a good point.

I don't use heavy + pressure, when I press JPSS. I use medium/heavy pressure. Works fine.

Quote:


	I am waiting for a shipment of JPSS, so I only had one avery transfer handy to test an actual transfer. I did it on a cheapy 50/50 jerzee t with the avery paper and it did not come out correctly - but I'm not sure yet if that was operator error due to timing it wrong, pressure knob not set correctly, or what.

I use Jerzee shirts, amoung others, and I "hear" Avery is a re-brand of a somewhat popular paper on the forum that is a pro paper. I'd need to reconfirm that, but regardless, I have used Avery successfully, so it may not be the paper or press. JPSS color lasts wayyy longer than Avery, and it stretched with the garment, but a fresh Avery print in and of itself is not an ugly thing. It just won't last like a JPSS print, imo and experience.

What were the time and temp? We know pressure is ultra heavy. What was your basic procedure?

Quote:


	if anyone has any input or answers to the questions - much appreciated!

No problem.

Hopefull we can help get you to a good place with your transfers.

gerry · August 18th, 2009

ive bought the avery transfer stuff from a local office supplier and must say i was highly disappointed as far as quality, cracked bad after the first wash. I will soon try the jpss transfers but will probably stick to using them on hats or other items that dont need to be washed so often.

Girlzndollz · August 18th, 2009

Yeah, Avery's not the stuff you want to stay with, it's pretty much the lowest quality for staying power and not cracking. But, those problems come "after the washing start" for me.

Quote:


	I only had one avery transfer handy to test an actual transfer. I did it on a cheapy 50/50 jerzee t with the avery paper and it did not come out correctly

My experience with it pressing right from the press is that it presses very nicely. Didn't your transfer look nice when it was freshly pressed? Mine did. This person didn't even seem to get a nice press from the start. That wouldn't usually be the paper, unless it's a bad batch, or that sheet was out of the package and exposed to humidity, dryness, things like that. Didn't that part seem odd to you at all?

gbail · August 19th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerry


	ill bet you have to much pressure, loosen it up a bit and see if it easier to close/open.

Thanks gerry - that seems to be what I had wrong. I'll be able to be certain when I get my JPSS and shirts but I played with it a little after your post and sure enough, by changing the pressure knob, it became easier to open and close. Thanks!

gbail · August 19th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girlzndollz


	Sunie / Seiki / Transpro Press Owners: Are you happy with your press, would you buy it again? Yes or No. Thx =) This thread has some feedback that is still pretty current. =)

Hi Kelly, thanks for your input. I hope I get this quote process in my reply correct lol.

Yes, I did read that thread as well. I think I read every thread that mentioned this press lol, I just realized that I was forgetting to look at date of posts sometimes and was maybe getting concerns over things (like the fuse issue) that was from quite a while ago and perhaps no longer an issue. If that makes sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girlzndollz


	I use Jerzee shirts, amoung others, and I "hear" Avery is a re-brand of a somewhat popular paper on the forum that is a pro paper. I'd need to reconfirm that, but regardless, I have used Avery successfully, so it may not be the paper or press.

That's interesting about the possibility with the re-brand point. I also used one of my avery transfers with a regular house iron and the finished product looked pretty nice fresh, like you said.

And the reason I said the jersey shirt was 'cheapy' was because it was soooo thin, I picked it up at joann's to just test on and I could literally see thru it. Definitely not the shirt of choice, I am sure. I do know that there are better jersee's - just not this one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girlzndollz


	What were the time and temp? We know pressure is ultra heavy. What was your basic procedure?

Here's where my newbie-ness came into play, I am sure. (I'll give all the pros a chuckle with this story and have a post to look back on and chuckle at myself too!)

The avery transfers only had household iron instructions. So, I could only guesstimate time and temp. Not to mention, I was a little nervous.

(ok, quite a bit nervous - this will give readers a chuckle; I made my 4 year old stand way back on my first turning the press on and testing it - hey! I read the post on here of a press catching on fire! hehe. So needless to say, I was a bit intimidated at first try)

So back to time and temp...I set the time at 350 at first with a teflon sheet on the lower plate, I pre-pressed the shirt for about 4 sec. Once I put the transfer on, I covered it with a piece of parchment and pressed for only nine seconds. Tested a corner and could see there was still some ink on paper - so I did that over again a couple of times before turning the heat up to 375 and adding time to 15 seconds.

After about three times at that time and temp (checking corners in between), I removed the shirt and peeled the transfer, which still had some ink on it. The shirt looked pretty poor - uneven and lots of 'pull up fibers' (not sure of the technical term) I'm sure that was from over doing it.

I am sure this was all due to ME and my nervousness. I was more concerned with burning the shirt if I let it go too long and not knowing what too long was for this type of paper, etc.

I knew I was starting at a low temp, but like I said, I was 'trying' to take into consideration that these papers were meant for hand irons, so I didn't know how much heat they could take, if that makes any sense.

And of course, you are both right that I am sure I had way too much pressure.

So a very poor first try, and perhaps should have waited to start this thread after a bit more practice with correct materials before trying to 'discuss' the sunie press. I'll update when I do have JPSS and more shirts.

Thanks again - your input and incredible patience with those of us that just starting out is invaluable.

gbail · August 19th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girlzndollz


	This person didn't even seem to get a nice press from the start. That wouldn't usually be the paper, unless it's a bad batch, or that sheet was out of the package and exposed to humidity, dryness, things like that. Didn't that part seem odd to you at all?

Guilty. lol. After you posted that - I realized that the transfer was out of the package for a few days - so that might have contributed too?

It was a pack of three. First two were used right out of the pack.

First test with home iron - poor result. but I didn't have a hard enough surface below my iron. (on a 50/50 jersee)

Second test on a 100% cotton t, ironed on correct hard surface, worked beautifully, even with hand iron.

Third try explained in this thread, but the last transfer was out of the package for a few days.

Hopefully other extreme newbies like me will get something out of this thread - like what NOT to do. ;-)

Girlzndollz · August 19th, 2009

Gina, great posts. You are doing great. A heat press is an intimidating machine, it was to me and my husband. When you get done reading about blown fuses and fires, yeah, haha, of course I can see how I'd be doing the same thing you wrote in your post! I bet you were waiting for the shoe to drop!

Jerzees can be reallyyy thin. I get them from Alphashirt.com and in my sample of shirts. I ordered over a dozen brands in 100% and 50/50 versions for testing (print, wash, dry, beat up

). I got the Jerzees made in El Salvador for my testing. The 50/50's did the *best* in my color retention (with Ironall light paper that had fade issues - prior to JPSS release) and little to zero shrinkage.

So I place my large order and half the stock is from El Salvador the other from Honduras. They were nearly like two different shirts. The new ones I didn't see in my sample were so much thinner. To the point that they were nearly inappropriate for a young girl to wear without something underneath. Anyway, those I don't like. I did incorporate Gildan's Ultra blend into the line up to avoid that, and by then, JPSS was on the market, and since that does not fade, I could use any blank (almost, haaha) that I want. What I mean is, I can use any blank I want because JPSS does not fade like the Ironall did on me, but, I would not use any blank. Some pill too fast, some shrink too much, even though they are preshrunk, some have those little fibers lift (usually 100% cottons will have the big offenders if the shirts will tend to do that, 100C will likely be the kind). That little fiber lift is called fibrillation.

Hopefully that helps with some of the things you were talking about, and we're all newbies at some point. I think you're doing a great job. Maybe this post will help when the time comes to press the JPSS. There are actually many ways being used to press, no one exact way is right. Some press JPSS from 350*F to 400*F. Some for 15 seconds, some up to 30 seconds. You'll find your groove once you find your correct settings on your press, and the blank you love to work with.

transfer paper tips for lasting image - Page 5 - T-Shirt Forums
Smooth finish on JPSS/Jetpro Sofstretch - as simple as parchment paper! - T-Shirt Forums

Keep up the great job, this is a great thread you have, and happy pressing!

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