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Heat Press problem – what am I doing wrong?
I have some Xpres Super Flex, I am trying to heat press my logo on to a t-shirt. I have followed the instructions, it says 150 degrees for 10 seconds, medium pressure.
I have done all this, but when I let it cool and then go to peel off the backing, it doesn’t leave the logo on. The backing paper and the vinyl all just comes off without sticking. I’ve tried higher temps, higher pressure, lower temps, lower pressure, all with the same results.
You are supposed to let the thing cool, right? Do you let it cool on the open heat press or do you move it off o it cools quicker? How long do you let it cool for?
I am baffled. I rang Xpres, they asked me what pressure I had it on, I said I don’t know the press doesn’t tell me. It’s manual, with a screw that you twist. I have no idea if its too much pressure, although it is quite stiff when I go to release the clamp.
Aaaargh! It’s just one set back after another….
Any input greatly appreciated..
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26 Replies
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Hi i press at 160 degrees for 15 seconds remove the item from the press wait till its cold to the touch and peel. Not to sound funny but have you cut the vinyl the right way as i have done it in the past and cut the carrier instead of the vinyl
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When weeding the vinyl are you finding that there are two layers of material, the top one been a thin milky coloured layer?
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Are you sure you haven’t got the degrees celcius mixed up with degrees farenheit?
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it’s one of those things that seems so tricky to start with, but with a bit of time and practice it will be ok.
My suggestion is that as soon as you have pressed as per their instructions, peel when the item is cooling (rather than when it is cool).
Also, once you get one edge peeling ok, you should be ok.
Oh – also, I press super flex at 195 and have no problems on a medium to firm pressure – when I open the press, I count to 10 and peel.
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quote Lorraine Clinch:Are you sure you haven’t got the degrees celcius mixed up with degrees farenheit?I did wonder this. My heat press does have C for celcius printed on it, just below the electronic reading so I would imagine that when it says 150 it does mean 150C.
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quote Nigel Pugh – Grafityp:When weeding the vinyl are you finding that there are two layers of material, the top one been a thin milky coloured layer?
Um, no, just one layer of vinyl as far as I can tell. And the transparent backing, of course.
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quote Dale_2005:Not to sound funny but have you cut the vinyl the right way as i have done it in the past and cut the carrier instead of the vinyl
I am pretty sure I have done this part right, it’s defnitely the vinyl that I have cut and weeded.
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quote Martin Forsyth:it’s one of those things that seems so tricky to start with, but with a bit of time and practice it will be ok.
My suggestion is that as soon as you have pressed as per their instructions, peel when the item is cooling (rather than when it is cool).
Also, once you get one edge peeling ok, you should be ok.
Oh – also, I press super flex at 195 and have no problems on a medium to firm pressure – when I open the press, I count to 10 and peel.
I will try doing it exactly as you’ve described, thanks for your input. I’ll let you know how I get on!
One last thing – does it matter how little backing you have around the vinyl image? I only had a about 5cm of backing around the whole of my design….
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I usually only have a few mm around mine, and use a very small piece of heat tape to hold in place.
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If you are layering colours don’t let the heat tape touch the vinyl below-I find the tape sticks to it 😥
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Cheers guys. I haven’t actually got any heat tape yet, I figured that the heat press pressure would be enough to keep it in place.
I am going to have another go on it tonight. Fingers crossed!!
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The tape is to stop it moving before getting the lid down-it does happen!
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Gonna buy some tomorrow, once I’ve actually achieved getting the design to stick (I don’t mind if the first one isn’t straight, as long as it sitcks!!!) 😀
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I know it sounds daft but have you mirrored the image before you cut it and placed it the correct way, ie vinyl side down onto the t’shirt and backing sheet facing the heating plate?
Another thing if it’s an old heat press the temp. gauge might be dodgy, i had an old press and used xpres materials – nightmare, 1st t’shirt was perfect then the next one would peel off completly. Bought a new press courtesy of hong kong and bobs ya uncle – perfect.
Cheers John -
Yeah, definitely doing the vinyl part right. I think it might be the press, it’s second-hand although the seller said it was brand new and unused when they sold it.
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Might be a long shot, but it worked for me!!!
The softish rubber on the bottom plate of the press (the one you put the garments over!), is it fairly hard to compress?
I’ve got a heat press and the results were really inconsistant. Some parts stuck really well and others just lifted. Any print needed about 4 presses to get something reasonable. After alot of thought, I decided the rubber was too hard so I sourced some 10mm silicon foam rubber(heat resistant upto about 200’c) Cost me about £40, but the results are amazing. 1 press every time. Best £40 spend for ages!!
Worth a try!Jase
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i have had the same prob before and tried everything, i just put it down to a bad batch of print vinyl, and got a new lot in and it worked fine.
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hi john, i work in hong kong and is now looking for a heatpress. so far not much success. would it be possible to know where in hk you got it from, and what the maker or model is?
appreciate your help very much!
cheers,
joseph
(P.S. if this is the board rule not to mention product names, could you please email me? jhk1999@gmail.com)quote John Gregson:I know it sounds daft but have you mirrored the image before you cut it and placed it the correct way, ie vinyl side down onto the t’shirt and backing sheet facing the heating plate?Another thing if it’s an old heat press the temp. gauge might be dodgy, i had an old press and used xpres materials – nightmare, 1st t’shirt was perfect then the next one would peel off completly. Bought a new press courtesy of hong kong and bobs ya uncle – perfect.
Cheers John -
Hi Joseph,
It was bought through ebay but came from HK – it lasted for around 4 years but have since bought a swing press. -
Looks like you are doing everything right. Have you tried another vinyl? Maybe yours is faulty. You could also buy some temperature test strips to see what the temp really is.
Earl -
Earl. I’m not familiar with temperature test strips, have you a link to a supplier?
Alan D -
Target Transfers sell them . They are small strips about 6cm long with temp makings on the side. You put them in the press and close it. After about 15secs the strip will show the temp at the spot where the strip was placed. Very good to see if the press is colder or hotter over the whole platten.
Earl -
quicker to use a laser temp gun, can get em pretty cheap now i think.
just looked at first page and this thread is 4yrs old!
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4 years old, never saw that…..
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Thanks Earl. I have a laser device but I was told by my press manufacturer they can be inaccurate on relatively shiny surfaces ie the Teflon coated heat platten. I have had two of laser thermometers and the read out vary enormously even when used side by side.
Alan D -
thanks! John. guess 4 years is not bad for a heat press machine. if you recall the brand of the machine please do let me know. certainly a big help!
quote John Gregson:Hi Joseph,
It was bought through ebay but came from HK – it lasted for around 4 years but have since bought a swing press.
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