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rhinestones on t-shirts: are they done on hand or by screen printing?

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11K views 40 replies 23 participants last post by  ImpChief  
#1 ·
I Am Looking Into Starting A Tshirt Line But I Wont Text With Rhinestones Or Something Shiny Any Suggestions And Is This Something Done By Hand Or Screen Printing?
 
#9 ·
Re: Rhinestones?

We use them all the time. The person that mentioned Pro-World and numerous others carry stock rhinestone transfers. Rodney was also correct in stating the some transfer companys will make them custom for you.

Just like regular transfers......heatpress, rub backing, remove backing, press again and its done. We sold a bunch of these at Autorama.
 
#11 ·
Re: Rhinestones?

There are different qualities/price point for rhinestones. Swarovski crystals (from Austria) are the most beautiful and most expensive. There are crystal rhinestones from Korea and China that are less expensive. (Make sure not to use the plastic ones.) You can also achieve a sparkle effect from nailheads. They come in beautiful colors and either come rounded or faceted like rhinestones.

You can buy all of these stones individually and adhere them one by one or you can buy the motif already made and just heat press it on all at once. I have only used motifs so far. I have my screenprinter press them on for me because of my quantities. Actually, does anyone know of someone in the Boston area that does this?...I am paying too much per piece from him.

I found (but haven't used yet) a reasonable resource for individual letters. I can't remember where I ordered the samples from but the manufacturer is www.joysa.com .

I have my own custom designs and words made. You can use any quality stone. There are a lot of resources if you google... I use www.ejoyce.com out of NYC . (No connection to joysa company above.) I work with Glenda. They will do as few as you want but the price goes down substantially when you order higher quantities. There is also a set up charge for your own designs.

I would suggest that you order sample cards of the different stones first. ejoyce has them on white cardstock. I once saw a sample card of stones adhered to clear acetate ...it looked great because you could then hold the acetate over your tee and see how each stone color worked on your blank tee color. If I find that resource I will post it.

Good luck!
 
#13 ·
Re: Rhinestones?

OK is there a trick to these stones? I spent almost two hours making a cross and when I went to put the sticky paper on them, They got miss aligned. After almost an hour and a half setting up the stones again, it does the same and messes up the placement of the stones. HELP . how do you put the sticky paper on without moving the stones around. I don't see well and find it hard to place them upside down on the sticky paper to start with, and it takes like three times as long to do it one stone at a time. Setting them flat side down on a design, I can use a blade and slide them around and make lines of them to place on the design making it faster. What is the trick?
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
Re: Rhinestones?

Dear DT,

Hand settings stones can give you feeling of artistic accomplishment but the time involved and as you said the 2nd time you attempted the design is also out of aliignment. If you are planning to resell your item your 2-3 hours to set 1 design will not be profitable.

Also stones are important. As you well know there is the Swaroski then the Precosia=Czech the DMC korean lead crystal stone the Korean A Korean B and lastly the Chines rhinestones. I am currently in negotiation with 3 companies to supplu me DMC Korean lead crystal and Korean A stones. As you move down the scale the quality does diminish as this is true with any product.

We have a CAMMS robotic machine that sets the stones automatically from design software onto the transfer paper. If you have any questions or need help please let me know.


Regards,

Bob
 
#16 ·
Re: Rhinestones?

Terry,
I hear ya,, that is why i put my pattern mirrored, and sticky on top of that... You put the glue, face side up. then you,put the white non sticky paper on top of that..

It is slower,, but all the studs and stones are stuck good,, you can throw it around like a frisbie,,, lol
 
#18 ·
Re: Rhinestones?

Thanks ya'll. I was afraid I already knew the answer. Like Sandy Jo and Bob said, its one stone at a time. I know this isn't economically feasible but these were supposed to be for the wife to show off to people what we can provide for them. I don't think just doing names will give very many people enough of a thrill to make our shirts a "have to have " item but sparkly stuff does grab a lot of peoples attention. I wonder (hope) if there is a good tutorial to teach/show an effective way to make the "shake and bake" type templates for setting rhinestone patterns that will hold the stones steady to put the carrier sheet on? ( I remember its a carrier sheet and not a sticky sheet) Anyone on the template making?
 
#19 ·
Re: Rhinestones?

Terry
2nd option, go to the classifieds, and post a need for some one to make these for you that has a machine, find out the cost,, it may be less than you think, maybe not, you dont know untill you ask.
I do know we have poeple on this forum who can do this kind of work, or even for very large orders they job it out overseas.. and is still affordable.
Please let us know,, if it works for you
 
#20 ·
Re: Rhinestones?

Terry,
I design with rhinestones all the time. Once I settle on a design that I know folks will buy, I have it mass produced. I have had great luck with Rhinestone Heat Transfer, Custom Designs, Wholesale Hotfix Rhinestones, they have a low minimum for wholesale. I also purchase the more elaborate designs, not wanting to spend 2 hours per design. A great design house to use is zbsl.com. Things I like about them is no minimum on stock orders, if a design is wholesale under $15 you do need to buy 2 of them at a minimum, you can change any stone color out to another which is a feature I love of their program!

A tip on setting large designs When I do a larger design, I put the outline on the white (with my layout underneath), then set the sticky down over the top, I then flip over the sticky paper with the outline and do my detail work mirrored with a mirrored version of my art under it, kind of a pain, but I too have lost many hours bumping my work accidentally.
 
#21 ·
Thanks for all the info I will check out the classifieds. I'm wondering how close the templates can put stones? I don't like the "stock" ones I see with the stones like a 1/4 inch apart(looks like in web pics) What I like to make is with 3 & 4 mm stones. they almost touch each other if not actually touching. Feedback please on this!I did do one for the wife the upside down on carrier sheet and it took me 4 1/2 hours. Its a butterfly I copied from a pic on the web but being not for sale, theres not a problem so please don't start about copyrights. I am thinking about doing them by hand (if I can load the pic, please give opinions of weather something similar to this would be worth like $60 or more)for awhile since I have to stay at home with the wife to make sure she doesn't hurt herself.( she has just out of the blue fallen without any obstacles twice in the last week) till I can figure out how to make the "shake an bake" type templates myself. A cheep drill press to avoid slips wit the spacing and small forstner bits should do the trick or just get the correct thickness material and drill completely through and use a backer afterwards to stop the stones from falling through. This has been mentioned previously here somewhere but I can't find it again.(Rodney. Not my place but maybe a thinning out or older useless posts would make searches easier to sort through) But anyway, I am putting names in rhinestones ( for friends right now) and am wondering what the value, especially at shows and flea markets with to onlooker factor, would be. I pick a few good looking fonts and just offer that with a 5-6 letter (small like left pocket logo size) set price on good gildan shirts. $15 - $20 ? I live in the deep south (mid Mississippi) so location means a lot when it comes to pricing. anyway, I getting lost with thought and options whirling around in my head so I'll stop here for now while I'm still reasonably coherent, But I still need all the help and info I can get so please don't think I have it figured out . Please chip in if you have any ideas . :rolleyes:
 

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#23 ·
I am thinking about doing them by hand (if I can load the pic, please give opinions of weather something similar to this would be worth like $60 or more)for awhile since I have to stay at home with the wife to make sure she doesn't hurt herself. :rolleyes:
The shirt itself and the rhinestones would need to be high enough quality to warrant that kind of price. I've seen people put the more expensive rhinestones on the cheapest tshirts which looks so tacky. Of course unless you're a tshirt person, the average person probably wouldn't notice. ; )) I'd test the waters first with cheaper rhinestones/shirts & a lower price.
 
#22 ·
I had Charles make me two templates and the stone holes are right next to each other like your butterfly pattern. It is an outline, no filled in areas, but, like you, I want the pattern to be bright and clear so no spacing between is a must:) I am not sure if a template for all letters would work very well unless you made them like an old printer where each letter was cut out appropriate for it to be next to another, you could make a slide jig to "load" your word up, shake in your stones, put on the masking and done! Interesting....
 
#24 ·
One of the main reasons there are spaces/gaps between the stones is to allow room for the shirt to shrink when washed/dried... if you set them to close to each other or touching when the shirt shrinks it has no room for the stones to "give" and will cause the design to pucker. If they are spaced correctly after a few wash/dry cycles they will naturally be closer together and give the seamless look you are going for. Hope that helps :)