[retro_lad]

Hi Guys,

I'm finding some of my vinyl transfers when being pressed are leaving a white substance around the edges of the transfer. Is this glue?
When it happens i know instantly because when I open the press I can see it through the transparent part of the vinyl sheet.
It happens roughly 30% of the time and I'm wondering if anyone knows why this is happening. I'm using MDP Hotflex and following the instructions. It doesn't happen all the time which is strange.

Any ideas?

 

[Nick Horvath]

If you are heat applying onto a fabric that is not very porous, such as a woven nylon, and you do tend to use too much pressure, or overapply, you will see glue ooze out the sides.

The glue has no where to go, so it comes out the sides. If you are applying to say a cotton material, this will not occur to this degree.

 

[retro_lad]

Thanks, i should state that my garments are all cotton. I've tried easing the pressure but find i still see the same problem.
This is really annoying me. I'm considering comparing this with using a domestic iron to see if the same problem occurs then too.

 

[retro_lad]

OK, so I had another attempt this afternoon. I tried with less pressure and a few seconds less time. The vinyl didn't really stick to the garment -even after a re-press after peeling. I was still able to pull off the transfer in one piece from the tshirt.
What concerned me more was that when i originally pressed the transfer it look uneven and slightly "lumpy" under the Maylar sheet.
The guide suggests using 160c and I set my press to 165 -just to be sure.

I feel like headbutting a hard surface.

 

[retro_lad]

I took a photo of this to show exactly what I mean. You can see the garment is a burgundy coloured T shirt and my vinyl is a light blue. However there is a fine white edge all the way around the transfer.
I've tried easing off the pressure again and reducing the temp. However it doesn't completely remove it. If I drop any lower the vinyl will stop sticking.

Any more ideas?

 

[gerry]

wow, that looks bad, i was going to suggest the pressure thing too .. So maybe its a bad batch?

 

[Nick Horvath]

I would say the same thing, that it sounds like it is defective.

Excess adhesive should absorb into the fabric, not ooze out of the sides.