Klcris, if 100% cotton is scorching with those settings you heat press thermostat is wrong. Plastisol will cure at 325 degrees in 25 seconds. Get a heat gun and shoot your iron on the press.

 

Most cotton tote bags have starch added to them, that is why they scorch. Make sure they are made for heat pressing. Toppers is a good brand.

Also, cotton scorches at 400F so that may be adding to your problem.

 

where would I find toppers bags, and how do I know if they are rated for heat pressing?

 

GIYF - Google

Home: Toppers - Travel, Sport, Corporate Promotional Products

 

I have been using the neenah image clip laser light transfer paper. It has to be on the substrate for 375º for 25 seconds, are there cotton tote bags that can stand that heat time without scorching or other material if anyone else has has proven to work. I looked at toppers but they don't have any info if they are heat press friendly. I found some basic totes at bestblanks.com that say they are made for heat transfer but not alot of options there, if anyone knows of good bags with a variety of styles that will not burn at that temp. please let me know.

 

I agree ,check your temp, Harbor Freight just had heat guns on sale cheap.

Make sure you use a paper or teflon sheet on the top also not just in the middle of the tote bag that should help....

 

It's not the material scorching, it's the sizing they spray them with to keep them looking neat, and well pressed. If you take one of the bags you scorched, and run it through the washer, the marks should go away, but then you get a limped, wrinkled up bag. You still should check the temp too.