[DSTAngieB]

Hi Guys!

I just found out that I won my first big order (100 shirts). YEAH!

So in getting ready, I am wondering what is the best way to get it all done given that I am a 1-man shop? The order is for 100 polos with a left chest logo on the front of the polo and a 2-color vinyl transfer on the back.

Up until now, I've done custom shirts that I cut and weed myself and it's usually upon request so it's never been 100 all at once in one order. The most I've done was about 72 shirts but that was with a purchased rhinestone transfer that was ready to go. This is the first time I've been asked to do the whole thing. And while I'm confident I can do it, I'm just wondering how the workflow changes when orders are larger. Right now I cut, weed, take it straight to the press and then send it out the door.

What's the BEST way to get organized to handle the job?
(excited to have such worries)

 

[micleross]

I know how you feel......

I got my shop all set up and my first order is 150 front and back. I have done the front and about to start of the back.

 

[lben]

What I would do is an assembly line type thing. While the second is cutting, the first is weeding. I would weed and place, weed and place until they were all ready to be pressed then I would just press them all in a row.

 

[mfatty500]

Are you cutting and weeding all of them or did you get transfers made? Having transfers made would me cheaper & faster I would think, or least for the bigger prints. Get the loot & scoot.

 

[DSTAngieB]

Are you cutting and weeding all of them or did you get transfers made? Having transfers made would me cheaper & faster I would think, or least for the bigger prints. Get the loot & scoot.

Hmmm...I've never had transfers made. Maybe I will investigate the possibility of having the transfers for the larger print for the back made (which would make my job a whole lot easier, admittedly). Can say, Transfer Express or some other transfer biz make the transfer with a particular TYPE(s) of vinyl or mixed vinyl?? My client was very specific in which vinyl they are requesting which is why I was doing it myself.

 

[royster13]

Be careful with transfers and/or cut vinyl on polos.......Some of the fabrics do not lend themselves to this application.....

 

[DSTAngieB]

Be careful with transfers and/or cut vinyl on polos.......Some of the fabrics do not lend themselves to this application.....

Thanks for the tip!! Would a 100% cotton polo be the preferred way to go?

 

[royster13]

The problem is that most polos are open (course) weave fabrics.......I have never been happy with the results, so I no longer do them with the heat press.....

 

[calhtech]

What I would do is an assembly line type thing. While the second is cutting, the first is weeding. I would weed and place, weed and place until they were all ready to be pressed then I would just press them all in a row.

Hey Loretta, good to see you back The thing that use to get me with the mass production with vinyl, is what to do with the weeded transfers. If I'm are doing a bunch at one time, I run out of space to put weeded transfers to keeping them from sticking together. Then it dawned on me one day. Just stack them on top of each other. It won't hurt the vinyl. So now I make several small stacks so I can do all my weeding at once. Works OK. Keeps me from having to find space all over the house to put them till needed.

CalhTech>

 

[hilogogifts]

hooo. good luck

 

[Decal_Designs]

With a job this big, you will be much happier with the transfers. They are not vinyl transfers though. They will be screen printed plastisol transfers. If you are going to use plastisol transfers, do both the front and back designs so the results look the same.

You mentioned that they specified a certain kind of vinyl. If that is the case then you might have to go ahead with that.

If the chest design is just a shrunken version of the back design, make sure that you would be able to weed it. Some of the elements can get pretty small in that case.

Also, since this is a larger job, make sure you order some extra garments and transfers.

I also agree with others, to get them ready to go before you start up the heat press. If you try to line them up during the process, your heat press is going to be on much longer than it needs to be.

Another tip for heat pressing larger orders, is to group all of the garments by size and make a template out of cardboard or something for each size which will help you easily determine where each transfer should be placed.

 

[winkingpirate]

A number of places, like Howards, will do both cut vinyl for you or printed plastisol transfers. You might want to give them a call and see what makes the most sense since you know what the client wants. And at volume the cost gets pretty good on the plastisol stuff.

 

[binki]

Just wait until you get your first 1000 shirt order! Hire temps, work nights, or contract it out.

 

[elcielo]

The problem is that most polos are open (course) weave fabrics.......I have never been happy with the results, so I no longer do them with the heat press.....

I think Royce is talking about pique polos. Fortunately, it's easy to find polos that are not of this weave.

I'm curious, DSTAngie, how is this project going? That's a whole lot of weeding.

 

[DivaB]

Congrats on your first big order!!!! Hooray for you!!!

So how are you doing, and what did you decide was best to go about getting the job done?

 

[sben763]

With left chest cut them in sheets. I personally would cut 20-25 and be weeding while the next was cutting. Cut and weed all at once. I also would leave space I between each logo so that there was plenty of carrier sheet to hold to the garment. I put logos on shirts while stacking. Then press away.

For polos I use a mouse pad under the transfer area and use very heavy pressure. Then remove carrier and use Teflon or parchment paper and repress for 10 secs. I only use Thermalflex Plus which seems to hold very well to ill regular weaves and is very low hand.

 

[valleyboy_1]

I mainly do family reunions, so I get large orders all the time, I typically send the design out to a transfer company and have plastisol transfers made. Also, i've done a few small orders in vinyl, I brought some wax paper from the grocery store, and stack them on top of each other after weeded.