[streetpreacher]

I am having problems with peeling and cracking within 6 months of the shirts and jackets I made for myself. I use siser easy weed from with hotronix fusion heat press both from us cutter.

I heat garment for a few seconds then apply vinyl for 15 seconds at 305 degrees at med pressure just like indicated. I hot peel.

I wash in cold water and hang dry trying to be as careful as I can.

Every shirt or jacket I have made has peeled and cracked. If I would of sold these I would have had to replace them all. Any answers. dwayne

 

[splathead]

Very unusual. Post pictures. Have you tested the accuracy of your press temperature guage?

 

[sben763]

Did you pre-press your garment before applying the vinyl. This gets rid of moisture. I pre press for 5-10 sec then let sit for sec or so to let the moisture flash off. Apply vinyl. I use Thermalflex plus I press as recommended then remove carrier cover with Teflon and repress for 5-7 sec. I personally have never used the Siser easy weed but have a few samples of it and many use it with good results.

 

[imhotep9]

Very unusual. I know that is recommended temperature but I always use 325

 

[streetpreacher]

I did not heat test temperature of machine. At almost $2000 dollars I thought I would eliminate heat problems that have happened with cheaper models.Here are some pictures. It doesn't matter whether it is front, back, sleeve they are cracking and peeling everywhere. I am posting the worst one to one of the the least ones.

 

[streetpreacher]

The machine I have hotronix fusion has a digital temperature gauge on it it moves from one degree above and below so it seems to be working. I did preheat the material for 5 seconds or so. I did not press with teflon after I hot peeled.

I have read that many other people have never used the teflon and have had great results.

As for washing, cold water and hang dry.

I just made a great ER jacket for a girl at the ER I work at yesterday and now everybody wants a jacket and I am scared to make them something that falls apart.

 

[sben763]

Get a infrared thermometer. Check your platen temp. It could be off by 10-15F. I have vinyl that is 7 years old washed every week that looks better then that.

 

[streetpreacher]

I will get an infrared thermometer and I am probably going to go with thermoflex plus. I will also press with cover sheet when done.

What would cause cracking more to much heat or not enough?

 

[sben763]

Actually the cracking and peeling could be either. If not enough heat it doesn't adhere which allows it to crack. If heated too much the adhesive can have the same effect and looses its holding strength allowing it to crack or damaging the vinyl itself if way too hot

I found as long as your with in 20F with thermalflex and press around the recommended time it holds very well The second press allows the vinyl to melt into the garment. I charge more for vinyl then screen printing. I have had may customers think I screen printed and charged them more. I have had to show a few that was not the case. They have had vinyl done other places and said they never felt vinyl like that.

 

[Lnfortun]

I did not heat test temperature of machine. At almost $2000 dollars I thought I would eliminate heat problems that have happened with cheaper models.Here are some pictures. It doesn't matter whether it is front, back, sleeve they are cracking and peeling everywhere. I am posting the worst one to one of the the least ones.

That is pretty bad. You can't go wrong with Thermoflex Plus. That is what I have been using and Thermoflex Extra for delicate fabric. My wife washes the laundry with cold water but she throws them in the dryer without cracking or peeling issues.

BTW I don't think you will find Themaflex. I googled it. Haven't seen any.

 

[BrianHahn]

Material is: ThermoFlex Plus Heat Transfer Film

 

[Lnfortun]

Material is: ThermoFlex Plus Heat Transfer Film

That is what I just said.

 

[royster13]

I do not use an infrared thermometer......IMO they are not always reliable.....I like this one:
RPK-PYRMTR : Digital Pyrometer & Surface Probe Kit : Geo Knight & Co Inc

As far as pre-heating and pre-pressing.....I do about 12 seconds to warm up the platten and another 10 seconds with the shirt laid down....If you only pre-press 5 seconds on a cold platten your temperature can drop 20 degrees in a heartbeat...There is little harm done doing too long, however, if too short you may not get all the moisture out...If you take too long between shirts, you need to heat up your platen again...

I use Siser Easy Weed and never re-press.....You only need so much heat and time and pressure to reach the "sweet spot" for the adhesive to adhere.....Too much heat can cause the vinyl to become "brittle"....Vinyl is a petroleum product and too much heat can cause it to dry out and essentially evaporate the oil.....

 

[binki]

We do 75 yards of siser a week. Go to 310 hot peel and cover and repress for 5 seconds

 

[macman29681]

I do not use an infrared thermometer......IMO they are not always reliable.....I like this one:
RPK-PYRMTR : Digital Pyrometer & Surface Probe Kit : Geo Knight & Co Inc

As far as pre-heating and pre-pressing.....I do about 12 seconds to warm up the platten and another 10 seconds with the shirt laid down....If you only pre-press 5 seconds on a cold platten your temperature can drop 20 degrees in a heartbeat...There is little harm done doing too long, however, if too short you may not get all the moisture out...If you take too long between shirts, you need to heat up your platen again...

I use Siser Easy Weed and never re-press.....You only need so much heat and time and pressure to reach the "sweet spot" for the adhesive to adhere.....Too much heat can cause the vinyl to become "brittle"....Vinyl is a petroleum product and too much heat can cause it to dry out and essentially evaporate the oil.....

Never thought about heat pressing when the platten is cold and the temperture drop. Thanks for the tip.

 

[streetpreacher]

Thanks for all the responses. Dwayne

 

[binki]

How are you washing these? It should be inside out, cold water, line dry. It looks like too much heat in the dryer or some type of fabric additive in the wash. Detergent only, nothing else.

 

[streetpreacher]

I wash them inside out, cold water and hang dry.

 

[binki]

I wash them inside out, cold water and hang dry.

Contact Siser directly then. We had extensive conversations with their tech guys on proper care of garments. If those are your shirts and you had total control over them then something is wrong.

 

[woohooguy]

We do 165 celcius for 15 on firm pressure. Try playing around with the settings. Contact Siser. I have had mine over year old. I wash it disregard of any washing rules, it still looks great.

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