my T-Shirt Vinyl keeps on bubbling help please?

[Paul Rollason]

Hi (nameless person)

We use easymark from victory but I suspect it’s all the same stuff renamed.

We find each colour has it’s own requirements, some need to be cooled a little before you peel, others you can peel when they are still quite hot.

Quite often we find the vinyl will lift a little when taking off the backing but we just give it a short re-pressing covered with a baking sheet and it will be fine.

hope this helps

paul r

[SublimeDesigns]

Hi Paul, sorry the name is Celia 🙂 Pleased to meet you.

Thanks for the info, I do alway repress after removing the backing paper but once its bubbled, despite repressing, it looks terrible!. (i.e not nice & flat) Im, finding it looks bubbled before taking of the backing paper … 😥

[Dave Bruce]

Is that not a long time to press at that temp? I am no expert but I press at 150 for 12 sec, and have never had a problem using Easymark from Victory.

Cheers

Dave

[SublimeDesigns]

Hi Dave thats the recommended time / temp for ultra cut . I’ve not used EasyMark – whats the approx cost per metre ?

Celia

[Paul Rollason]

Hi Celia

Give Glynn a call at Victory and get him to send you some samples for you to try. 01246 570 570

We have never had a situation where the vinyl would not go back down with re-pressing except when over printing onto gold which I don’t think you are supposed to do anyway.

The guys in the garment dept of victory know their stuff and are always happy to help.

paul r

[Gordon Forbes]

I might be wrong but are you pressing before any applying might be some damp coming out of the Tee while pressing or as mentioned toooo long try samples on another part of a us Tee at different times to see if this is the cause.

Goop

[Simon Kay]

Maybe give it a wipe over with a vinyl squeegee while fresh out of the press on a firm suface. That might get rid of your bubbles and allow the ‘grain’ of the material to show through. Then do your 2nd press.
I’m with Goop, 20 secs seems way too long.

Scoz (one who should be nameless 😀 )

[Leigh]

Hi

I do a fair amount of T-shirts
I use Thermoflex because I like the sticky backing paper for easy registration. (not sure if you have this material over there, for I haven’t heard of the one you are using)

I think Foribe’s got the right idea
It could be that the shirts need to be pressed first for a few seconds to let any moisture escape. I bet the slight bubbling is from moisture buildup trapped between your shirt and the vinyl…..now it’s got no where to go so it gasses out and creates the bubblies. 😮

[Simon Kay]

I find even with pre-pressing you still sometimes get bubbles.
I reckon there must be anomilies ( 😎 ) in the manufacture.

[Jim Clough]

Hi Celia
Although I.ve not used the garment films, I do use heat presses. Your problem could well be the heat press. Even with the new presses and their digital temperature settings you’d be surprised, if not shocked how innaccurate they are. Have you checked with a Temp. Gun?

Cheers
Jim

[SublimeDesigns]

Hi all – thanks very much for all thr replies. I spent most of yesterday experimenting .. with pre pressing there is a definate improvement 🙂 (ty Forbes)

Jim the thought of my heatpress being out has crossed my mind (along with everything else inc the actual shirts!) I dont have a temp gun ? Are they pricey & where can i get hold of one – might be worth a shot 🙂

Thanks for the number Paul – im onto it 🙂

Scoz I dont have a vinyl squeegy thingy lol (only do t-shirts)

[Jim Clough]

Hi Celia
I bought mine at Maplin £49. It is laser guided, just sueeze trigger and aim the red dot at the heat platen. You find as you move it around the temp drops dramatically as you near the outside edges of the platen.

Cheers
Jim

[Simon Kay]

Celia,
Ask your vinyl suppliers to throw one in, or even pay for one 😮 it won’t be that much. It’s a usefull thing to have depending on what material you are applying onto. It even helps on plain old boring cotton t’s. After you do your 2nd press but before you remove your teflon sheet just put the t-shirt on your table top and give it a bit of a swipe in all directions. After removing the teflon you should see that the vinyl has taken on the appearance of the thread/weave of the material. To my mind it stops the vinyl looking so ‘plasticky’.
Good Luck.
Scoz