Heat Presses

[k_fawver]

Ok..so I'm not having a lot of luck. I was having some trouble with my transfers peeling and such. I used ribbon along the edge of one of my shirts to hold the transfer down and it turned out really nice, but I obviously can't do that with all of them. I've followed every step in the "how-to" threads and it's just not turning out the way I want it to.

I'm considering buying a heat press. I've been doing some research and have found one for $279. It's not a heavy duty press by any means. I researched the model and found that it's good for hobbyists (me...lol) and not meant for a business...sounds perfect to fit my needs.

The only reason that I'm considering this is that I've had family and friends ask me to make t-shirts for them for various events and we're planning on having a family reunion soon and I'm considering designing the shirts for that. I don't want to make shirts for others and not have them hold up. I know that I could probably order them somewhere, but I'd really like to do it myself.

You guys were right! This is addictive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway....any opinions on a heat press? Good investment or not? Think it might help with the peeling transfers?

[heartbeeps]

are you sure you had the iron hot enough and on the tee long enough?
I just did my first real batch of light transfers. I prepared about 12 of them. The first 4 I did CRACKED! (Is that what you mean by peeling?) The rest are fine. I'm thinking that even tho' the iron was HOT enough, maybe I didn't iron long enough! Otherwise, why would 4 peel but not the rest of them? And, why didn't I have this problem with the dark transfers? (I'm thinking - again - I took my time with the dark ones, I was trying to rush through these 12.)

Sorry, can't advise about the heat press except to say that's a lot of money to spend on a hobby in this economy.... and, that 1/2 my family never wore the 60 I made for them so I wouldn't invest heavily in an unproven product unless you're doing it out of personal enjoyment only and have the $$$ to spend.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

[k_fawver]

They didn't crack or anything. The edges just started to pull away. I ironed for about 2 minutes with a lot of pressure. I'm just not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I thought about getting a heat press because my daughter was invited to join a cheer team and they do a lot of competitions and I thought it would be nice to make shirts for her and a couple of their friends as well as for the moms. Also, i have a large family with several small children. A lot of family members are requesting personalized shirts for birthdays and such (not necessarily Disney). I just don't want to make something for someone else and have these problems. :(

I look through all of these threads and see pics of shirts that look great! Mine look pretty good too until after someone has worn them for a few hours or they're washed. Just thought a heat press might do a better job.

The only reason I'd consider investing in it is because I will probably have a lot of other craft projects as well. My daughter loves personalized things...shirts, bags, etc. I just thought since I had already invested so much in shirts, transfers and ink that spending a little more on something to make it look better would be worth it. What do you think?

[lisabelll]

I have been watching this thread because I want a heat press so bad!!! I know exactly what you mean about the edges pulling away. That happened to us last year. The shirts look FABOO :rotfl: then half way through the day the DISigns started to peel off :( The year before that I kinda burned some of the DISigns (the white turned a little brown). So last year I thought I must have just not ironed them hot enough. I did use different paper though. My first year the DISigns stayed on and only started cracking and looking bad after I stopped washing them inside out and started drying them. I bought that paper off ebay. Last year I got together with some Disers and used paper we all bought together. Maybe I should just go back to the ebay paper!

I wish I could talk DH into that heat press though ;)

[heartbeeps]

They didn't crack or anything. The edges just started to pull away. I ironed for about 2 minutes with a lot of pressure. I'm just not sure what I'm doing wrong.

I thought about getting a heat press because my daughter was invited to join a cheer team and they do a lot of competitions and I thought it would be nice to make shirts for her and a couple of their friends as well as for the moms. Also, i have a large family with several small children. A lot of family members are requesting personalized shirts for birthdays and such (not necessarily Disney). I just don't want to make something for someone else and have these problems. :(

I look through all of these threads and see pics of shirts that look great! Mine look pretty good too until after someone has worn them for a few hours or they're washed. Just thought a heat press might do a better job.

The only reason I'd consider investing in it is because I will probably have a lot of other craft projects as well. My daughter loves personalized things...shirts, bags, etc. I just thought since I had already invested so much in shirts, transfers and ink that spending a little more on something to make it look better would be worth it. What do you think?


I'd be curious to know what brand transfer paper you used - and whether light or dark. I used 90% dark HP & ~10% light Avery in my first batch of 60+. Can't say I had that experience but did have one crack (Avery light).

Just did a dozen more last night (HP light) and 4 cracked... I "THINK" it was b'c I didn't iron long enough (I know it was hot enough).

[k_fawver]

I have been watching this thread because I want a heat press so bad!!! I know exactly what you mean about the edges pulling away. That happened to us last year. The shirts look FABOO :rotfl: then half way through the day the DISigns started to peel off :( The year before that I kinda burned some of the DISigns (the white turned a little brown). So last year I thought I must have just not ironed them hot enough. I did use different paper though. My first year the DISigns stayed on and only started cracking and looking bad after I stopped washing them inside out and started drying them. I bought that paper off ebay. Last year I got together with some Disers and used paper we all bought together. Maybe I should just go back to the ebay paper!

I wish I could talk DH into that heat press though ;)

I think I'm going ahead with it. I'll let you know if it's better than the iron. :)

I'd be curious to know what brand transfer paper you used - and whether light or dark. I used 90% dark HP & ~10% light Avery in my first batch of 60+. Can't say I had that experience but did have one crack (Avery light).

Just did a dozen more last night (HP light) and 4 cracked... I "THINK" it was b'c I didn't iron long enough (I know it was hot enough).

I used dark transfers because the colors are more vibrant IMO. I got them from Coastal Business Supplies. They're professional grade transfers. I thought at first that they may not have been made for a regular iron, but there are directions for both ironing and heat presses.

[SusieStone]

I bought a heat press right off the bat and never tried a real iron.

I absolutely love my heat press.

I ordered mine from printonit.com and ordered their transfers as well.

[k_fawver]

Thanks for that! Do you ever have trouble with peeling transfers?

[SusieStone]

Thanks for that! Do you ever have trouble with peeling transfers?

none at all.