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Help Me Out! My 1st Heat Press.

860 Views 3 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  sunnydayz, 
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First off Hi! Im new to these forums. benn trolling around looking for answers, answers i cant seem to find.

So here goes.

The company I work for recently bought a Hotronix Heat Transfer Press and I have the task of figuring it out. We do alot of sign graphics and motocross graphics using Gerber Edge Printers. My question is do I need a teflon cover sheet? We dont currently have one. Will it destroy the press if I dont use one?

Material I would be printing on: White Smart Block Heat Transfer Vinyl.

Also, On the Product Characteristic Sheet it says to use standard application masking. We use Masking to apply vinyl to signs or vehicles....is this the same masking? or will the masking melt in the press and kill it?

I dont really want to screw this up and ruin the machine cuz my boss will kill me!

Thanks for your help!
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Girlzndollz
Attamusk said:
First off Hi! Im new to these forums. benn trolling around looking for answers, answers i cant seem to find.

So here goes.

The company I work for recently bought a Hotronix Heat Transfer Press and I have the task of figuring it out. We do alot of sign graphics and motocross graphics using Gerber Edge Printers. My question is do I need a teflon cover sheet? We dont currently have one. Will it destroy the press if I dont use one?
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Hi and :welcome:

Here are some great threads on using teflon with vinyl. You'll get a variety of answers and reasons why folks say yes and no.

T-Shirt Forums Search Results

Personally, to me, it's not going to hurt anything and guarentees your press stay squeaky clean. If it's a concern, it's worth getting one.

Also, if something does get on the upper platen, there is a product called E-Z off platen cleaner. That is NOT the EZ Off oven cleaner from the grocery store. This product is for cleaning upper platens.

It might be a good idea to buy some to keep on hand in case of an emergency. It's relatively cheap, about $10, and if there is an accident, like someone forgets to use the teflon and for some reason, something gets on the upper platen, you'll have the stuff around to quickly reverse the mistake and keep production rolling along without skipping a beat. :)

It has taken folks hours to clean a bad mistake on upper platens. :(

I dont really want to screw this up and ruin the machine cuz my boss will kill me!

Thanks for your help!
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Haha, no doubt!
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C
I use a cover on 3 of my press' for the comfort of knowing they are protected. It's a cheap price to pay considering the cost to replace a ruined press or having to replace the rubber pad. .... JB
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sunnydayz
As far as the making that is on the vinyl. Heat press vinyl is different then the vinyl you use on signs. It is a thermall vinyl where the sign vinyl is not. Make sure to get heat press vinyl for any vinyl you are going to apply with the heatpress. The way the heat press vinyl works is that it already has a mylar sheet adhered to it when you buy it. Once you cut and weed it, you then should only be left with the vinyl design on the mylar sheet, this is what you put on the garment and press. Once you press you peel off the mylar sheet. I would cover it when pressing just to protect the heat platen on the press.

A couple of good places to buy vinyl would be Imprintables, heatpressvinly.com and specialty graphics supply. I hope this helps some :)
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