MaderDesign 3 Posted December 9, 2009 Well as most of you know, I won the Vectorfest 2009 contest and won a 15x15 Clamshell heatpress and Black and White Siser Easyweed shirt vinyl. I know to cut mirrored. I'm looking to do mostly motocross jerseys but i'm sure a lot of garments are the same. How long is everyone pressing the first layer when doing a 2 layered design? @ what temp and press time. How many layers are too many? As in layering on top of each other. Are you using teflon sheet between the shirt and press? I have a sheet of 18x20 from Signwarehouse they threw in with my order. What is the best vinyl to use? And what is the best "no feel" vinyl. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 9, 2009 Mader - first layer just press 5 sec to get the backing off. I have never done more than 2. I got tired of messing with my Teflon and bought 4 neodymium magnets that hold mine in place all the time now. I love siser - on sale right now at Alpine sign in Lansing,mi for 28.00 roll. yes they ship. at some point you will probably want a TSquareit tool sold on heatpressessentials.com Have a ball Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr300s 1,272 Posted December 9, 2009 Well as most of you know, I won the Vectorfest 2009 contest and won a 15x15 Clamshell heatpress and Black and White Siser Easyweed shirt vinyl. I know to cut mirrored. I'm looking to do mostly motocross jerseys but i'm sure a lot of garments are the same. How long is everyone pressing the first layer when doing a 2 layered design? @ what temp and press time. How many layers are too many? As in layering on top of each other. Are you using teflon sheet between the shirt and press? I have a sheet of 18x20 from Signwarehouse they threw in with my order. What is the best vinyl to use? And what is the best "no feel" vinyl. Although I think I know most of the answers I am to new to be giving anyone advise LOL. But just wanted to say congrats on winning and I think you will enjoy the heat press. My siser easy weed comes tomorrow and cant wait to try out some of my own designs.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr300s 1,272 Posted December 9, 2009 If you join Lou's forum you get a 10% discount off the T square I bought that plus the Logo it. Still getting use to all this but slowly getting there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaderDesign 3 Posted December 9, 2009 After I press for 5 sec how long are you pressing the final layer? What pressure do you guys use? I'm hoping this press is worth a sh*t and isn't warped giving me uneven pressure. How many layers of vinyl is too much? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 9, 2009 each vinyl has it's own time and temp Mader. The Easyweed will have a sheet stuffed in the middle of the roll saying 302 degrees I think and 20 seconds if I remember correctly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midwaste 4 Posted December 9, 2009 each vinyl has it's own time and temp Mader. The Easyweed will have a sheet stuffed in the middle of the roll saying 302 degrees I think and 20 seconds if I remember correctly Exactly, each vinyl has it's own temp, but they are all pretty close. Siser and Thermoflex are pretty close, but I would say Siser has less "feel" and is thinner. I have never done two color, but everything I have ever said is to do both layers at the manufacturers specs. If it's a poly jersey or something, maybe blow on it to cool it down a bit. I wouldn't want to take the chance of screwing up the first layer by not pressing it enough and having the backer pull it up on fine lines, etc. I just got a teflon sheet, haven't used it yet. For the last year, I have been using two pieces of backer paper stuck together and haven't had any problems at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 9, 2009 if you fully press the first layer it will shrink slightly and you will not be able to line it up right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest sciondrgn Posted December 9, 2009 One thing you need to look out for is the material of the jersey. I do jerseys and some are Nylon/Spandex and other materials and you may want to use EasyWeed Extra. Easyweed is primarily for Cotton/poly only Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RPM Graphics 6 Posted December 9, 2009 Mader, everybody here has good input. Your pressure, time and temp go according to whatever brand you use. I use Eco-film and I can do every layer for only 1 second until the final layer and then I go full time. 3 layers max, but usually 2 according to the design on the jersey. BUT eco-film was designed for that 1 second flash time, it usually will not work for other brands. Watch for slight shrinkage if you do the 1st layer for the full time. Teflon is a must. ..... mr300s .....Don't think of it ADVICE, think of it as INPUT. You are sure to have done something a specific way or experience something that we could all learn from. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muddywaterpirate 1 Posted December 9, 2009 I've seen a lot of questions about layering with 2 or more colors, so let me ask if anyone has done this and if it would work. I've done this with my window stickers and it works great! What if you cut 3 different colors of vinyl, put them all on whatever type of transfer tape you use for heatpress, then put them under the heatpress? Wouldn't that work just fine without having to press one color, then press additional colors? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midwaste 4 Posted December 9, 2009 Heatpress vinyl has an adhesive backer paper rather than the vinyl, so that isn't possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muddywaterpirate 1 Posted December 9, 2009 Heatpress vinyl has an adhesive backer paper rather than the vinyl, so that isn't possible. Got it! Thanks for that info. I"m looking to get a heatpress, but don't know too much about it yet. Learning! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest crshirts Posted December 10, 2009 I've done 3 colors first two 10 seconds and the last 20 seconds. I only use thermo flex (local supplier) pressure should be heavy, you will get a feel for that with your press they are all different. there are pictures on here of 2 color presses I have done couple different peace signs and a cross country shirt. Carl Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaderDesign 3 Posted December 10, 2009 What's the best material to print on heat transfers? If i wanted to print sponsors logos and contour cut them and press them onto the shirt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midwaste 4 Posted December 10, 2009 Jet Pro Soft Stretch (JPSS) is the only thing that "pros" use that I know of. They make a separate paper for lights and darks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RPM Graphics 6 Posted December 11, 2009 What's the best material to print on heat transfers? If i wanted to print sponsors logos and contour cut them and press them onto the shirt. Not sure how well that Jet Pro stuff will work with the sublimated inks in the jersey. I have some generic brand transfer paper, I just haven't tried it out yet. But I guess we will do more science projects over the winter. However, I have been doing SOME sponsor stuff, with the same vinyls that are used on the numbers. Check out the my samples page http://www.facebook.com/pages/RPM-Graphics/185332137709?v=photos&ref=mf#/album.php?aid=124401&id=185332137709 you can see the logos for Mototricks, Nineonenine Designs, ASR4 Suspension works on some of my son's shirts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaderDesign 3 Posted December 11, 2009 Heat Press should be here any minute now Kinda excited! Anything I should do before I start? Kinda like before buying a USC MH series cutter? lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BannerJohn 1,324 Posted December 11, 2009 any minute now? You sure have confidence in FedEx (or UPS). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest fivestar Posted December 11, 2009 Heat Press should be here any minute now Kinda excited! Anything I should do before I start? Kinda like before buying a USC MH series cutter? lol Make sure it's on a big enough circuit breaker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaderDesign 3 Posted December 11, 2009 Fivestar, what do you suggest? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dakotagrafx 7,297 Posted December 11, 2009 usually a dedicated 20 amp circuit works well Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaderDesign 3 Posted December 11, 2009 Ok, I have enough for that We beefed up my office so that I wouldn't blow stuff running multiple things, We have 2 circuits for this room. Also, EVERYTHING JUST CAME! WOOOO lol I wish I had a camera whenever Fedex arrived, cause right behind him, UPS truck pulled in. I was like wtf? lol Both jockying for position of my driveway. Fedex was carrying the heatpress, siser boxes, and some other goodies, and UPS had my deliver for 3M Window Perf Vinyl. Opening the boxes i was like, hmm this black looks blue haha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BannerJohn 1,324 Posted December 11, 2009 pics expected of your first pressing by 5pm eastern Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr300s 1,272 Posted December 11, 2009 pics expected of your first pressing by 5pm eastern :thumbsup: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites