JessXEmoji 46 Posted December 2, 2014 See Photo. The vinyl on the shirt seems like it started to shrink up and bunch the shirt? This happend days after the shirt was pressed. I'm using 100% cotton shirt with siser easyweed vinyl. The pressure on the heat press is pretty strong as i need both hand to unclamp it. I can see the shirt pattern good through the vinyl after it's applied. I used a laser heat thermometer and the heat is within range of what easyweed calls for. 305-315 defgrees. 2 things i havent follow correcty however is i'm using no protecting between the press and shirt when i clamp it. and i keep the heat on it for 20 second instead of 15. Am i over heating the vinyl without protection? I dont know whats causing this problem. thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JessXEmoji 46 Posted December 2, 2014 Also this shirt has been washed and dried on normal heat. can the siser easyweed hold up to dryers? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted December 2, 2014 I've had it happen a couple times and have no idea why. Never been able to reproduce the results when I tried. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wildgoose 4,200 Posted December 2, 2014 Try re-pressing with a cover sheet and it may lay down. I have occasionally had it do it too but like Jay I'm not 100% on what did it. I would say the overpressure is less likely to be an issue as going longer. Sister says 10-15 seconds. The times I have seen it were when I had multiple layers so possibly the press time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stickeysand 13 Posted December 2, 2014 I cant tell exactly what's going on in your picture because for some reason its huge on my screen and wont shrink down. But it looks to me like your fabric was stretched out when the vinyl was heated and applied to the shirt or your shirt shrunk after it was washed and now your vinyl is bunching. My sons shirts do that often. I get the same result when I apply heat to the shirt for to long. The vinyl starts to lift in spots after being worn a few times. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GraphxNMore 282 Posted December 2, 2014 We press 330* for 25 seconds and medium+ pressure, never had that. Might be what molesnsand said, slightly stretched fabric. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SeeJaysPlace 476 Posted December 2, 2014 I press @ 335 for 15 sec and then take off the easyweed plastic and then put the protection sheet over it and press for another 10 sec and as long as i see the tshirt pattern i call it good! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JessXEmoji 46 Posted December 8, 2014 Ive done some test shirts. All the vinyl sticks good however after washing and drying them the vinyl loves to stay wrinkled. And the bigger the vinyl area the more the wrinkles stand out. Ive washed them in cold water and inside out and dried on normal heat. Still the larger designs wrinkle with the shirt. I can iron them inside out after a wash and will look new again. Hate to ask customers to iron after washing. Has anyone here done a larger design and washed it ? Is your coming out wrinkle free? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wildgoose 4,200 Posted December 8, 2014 I think you're just getting differential shrinkage on the large areas. 100% cotton shrinks quite a bit. I would just offer full disclosure to the customer and tell them it's the trade off for a good heavy feeling shirt. Your other option might be to switch to stretch vinyl or pre-shrunk shirts could help too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JessXEmoji 46 Posted December 8, 2014 They are pre shrunk. Giland pre shrunk thick 6oz shirts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JessXEmoji 46 Posted December 8, 2014 Think ill try putting all the blanks in the dryer for 10 minutes before i press them. I think pre shunk shirts still shrink. What shirts do you guys use that are not shrinking? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted December 8, 2014 Port and Co. from Sanmar, All I ever use unless customer specs otherwise. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 8, 2014 Port and Co. from Sanmar, All I ever use unless customer specs otherwise. same here -- used to love gildan until I tried port and have changed over for business and personal shirts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GraphxNMore 282 Posted December 8, 2014 How are Sanmar's prices? I looked and they were extremely cost prohibitive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 8, 2014 About the cheapest I found. . .you just have to set up an account with a sales tax number Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JessXEmoji 46 Posted December 8, 2014 I seen they are 100% cotton too. Still may shrink. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 8, 2014 They sell all different kinds of shirts not just cotton 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted December 8, 2014 They're cotton are preshrunk and have very little shrinkage post wash. I use them with siser all the time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 9, 2014 just curious = have you checked your heat press platen with a ir thermometer? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pshawny 410 Posted December 9, 2014 just curious = have you checked your heat press platen with a ir thermometer? +1 Go to the hardware store and buy a IR thermometer. The heating element on lower end presses tends to be inaccurate and can have cold spots. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JessXEmoji 46 Posted December 9, 2014 Yes I had already bought one from lowes. the heat is within range. I just finished test washing a shirt to compare the size to one that wasnt washed. even though Giland says they are preshrunk the shirt shrunk 1/2 all around. I laid it on top of a new one and it's 1/2 smaller. Wish I had known this before I stocked up on $600 worth of shirts. I got Giland cause t-shirt forums said it was a good brand for blanks. I don't see how they made them work. I'll just have to wash the ones I have to shrink them. then change brands. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 9, 2014 Yes I had already bought one from lowes. the heat is within range. I just finished test washing a shirt to compare the size to one that wasnt washed. even though Giland says they are preshrunk the shirt shrunk 1/2 all around. I laid it on top of a new one and it's 1/2 smaller. Wish I had known this before I stocked up on $600 worth of shirts. I got Giland cause t-shirt forums said it was a good brand for blanks. I don't see how they made them work. I'll just have to wash the ones I have to shrink them. then change brands. well there is your problem - chinese knock offs - next time order Gildan 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skarekrow 1,842 Posted December 9, 2014 How 'bout some other photos, Jesse? I'd like to see the whole HTV decal that was applied. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted December 9, 2014 Not just the cheap presses my old hotronix is off 15 degrees but it is consistent across the platen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 9, 2014 jay there is an adjustment under the black cover for that - had to do it on my latest one! small potentiometer - you can make it dead on 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
