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Timduncan86 · January 4th, 2009

I am totally new to the t-shirt business but will be selling some at a horror convention in March. I have always just assumed that iron-on was the only method. However, my question is if there is another method to make these shirts with just an iron. If not, the shirts I will be making are going to be black and so cutting out every single thing will be most tedious and possibly sloppy looking. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to avoid this?

Thanks so much
-Tim

Daniel Slatkin · January 4th, 2009

Search threads on plotter cutters for cutting opaque transfers, or use Plastisol transfers,

Timduncan86 · January 4th, 2009

Thank you Daniel for you quick response. I read that Plastisol was not recommended for the use with a hand iron. Is that not true?

Daniel Slatkin · January 4th, 2009

Sorry there really is not anything that will work correctly with a hand Iron. That I know of that is.

splathead · January 5th, 2009

You should really consider getting a heat press, especially if you are concerned with sloppy work. A hand iron will not get you very far.

You can get a passable press for $300.

Timduncan86 · January 5th, 2009

Really? Well, not sure if it is against board rules...but where might one look for a $300 press? If so, what sort of paper could be used and could that paper be printed on a normal inkjet printer?

Thanks

splathead · January 5th, 2009

You could first try local with craigslist. Ebay is an option. And one of the sponsors on this forum, proworld, carries an entry level press for around that price. Iron-On Transfers, Heat Press Machines, T-Shirt Printing Supplies - Pro World

Timduncan86 · January 5th, 2009

Splathead,

I am eternally grateful for your suggestions and advice. Thanks so much.

Girlzndollz · January 10th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timduncan86


	Really? Well, not sure if it is against board rules...but where might one look for a $300 press? If so, what sort of paper could be used and could that paper be printed on a normal inkjet printer? Thanks

Hi Tim,

Even with a press, you will still have to deal with the excess paper around the design, and getting rid of that.

If you do not want to remove it by hand, then you will need to use a cutter (aka plotter) to remove the extra paper for you.

You will need one with contour cutting capabilities. There is a US cutter model, the " US Cutter Laser Point", that can do this. It is pretty much a low end model, and I would recommend at least the "Graphtec CE5000". I hear the "Roland gx24" and Graphtec can compete, but for somethings, the Roland is nicer than the Graphtec.

If you want to look for used models, those are the names you will be looking for. You can search the forum or google the names I put in quotes. Either way, you will learn what the machines are, what they do, what the price points are, and their specs.

I did start out with a hand iron. I used Ironall Light, currently do not use that, I use JPSS (jetpro sofstretch) for lights, and I use Ironall Dark for dark shirts.

All can be hand ironed with success. My husband was what I called the "human heat press". He is a well built guy with big guns. He was able to apply enough pressure to the shirts to rival a heat press. I have shirts that were done by him with an iron, and shirts I've done with the heat press, all over 1 year old, and there is no difference in transfer or performance with the shirts.

It was back breaking work and extremely time consuming to produce hand ironed transfers tho. I would not recommend it for anything other than very light production or hobby use.

Sunie is a lower priced press that folks on this forum have had luck with. If you search the name "sunie" you will find the info and feedback on that.

Good luck to you. =)

Timduncan86 · January 11th, 2009

Thank you, Girlzndollz

I have made t-shirts in the past as a hobby but had no idea all the logistics that were involved. I did see a type of transfer paper at Michaels the other day but the image was already printed. Basically it was on what looked to be like tracing paper and there was no cutting involved. You just lay the paper down and apply heat and only the image would be on the shirt. This was for dark transfers.
I'm not sure what that could be but I'm looking for other options because the iron on sheets just look terrible. I'm really not wanting to go the press or plotter route yet because I'd like to see how far this business goes before making that financial leap. So is there a way to release an image without a background, ie. having a transparent background?

-Tim

Girlzndollz · January 11th, 2009

There is a new product called Imageclip for Inkjet. If you search that name you will bring up the testing threads on it. It requires an inkjet printer and a laser printer to produce, and I think it is only for light shirts for now, but it does apply the image to the shirt without the polymer and without the use of the cutter. Hope this helps some.

PS: I have no idea what the stuff at Michael's was either.

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