How to use a heat press?
So, you've decided on one of the many heat presses? You unpack your press and then… OUCH… you wonder how on earth you're going to get this thing working!
Okay, we're nice and we'll tell you everything: settings, pressing, maintenance, your press will soon hold no secrets for you.
First, carefully unpack your heat press and place it on a flat, stable surface in a well-ventilated, dry room. Ideally, your heat press should be positioned at mid-height (slightly higher than waist level). This will make it easier to handle.
Plug it in, choose the heat transfer vinyl you want to use to, for example, personalize a t-shirt. If we take the Hot'flex PU as an example, start by referring to the instructions on the product page on our website www.creadhesif.com regarding the use of this vinyl.
The settings can vary considerably from one heat transfer vinyl to another. If you regularly use the same two or three vinyl vinyls for your creations, you'll soon know these settings by heart.
Créadhésif Tip : If you use a wide variety of heat transfer vinyl, we recommend creating a reference chart showing the different settings for each type. Hang it above your heat press in your shop or workshop: guaranteed to save you valuable time!
For the Poli-Flex Turbo, you must apply the following parameters:
– Medium pressure
– A temperature between 130 and 160 degrees Celsius
– A pressing time of 3 to 5 seconds
– Perform hot peeling
The pressure is adjusted using the pressure knob: turn it to the right to increase the pressure, and to the left to decrease it. Medium pressure means being able to close the heat press with slight force. You shouldn't be able to close it too easily, nor should you have to use all your strength to close it! The key is to find the right balance.
To adjust your temperature and pressing time, use the indicator buttons located below the digital display (see photo above). The buttons vary depending on the press, but operation is generally intuitive: use the arrows to increase or decrease the time or temperature, confirm, then repeat the same process for the second parameter (time or temperature).
Once your heat press has reached the correct temperature, press your t-shirt or other item to be personalized. Don't forget to protect your t-shirt with a Teflon sheet.
Once the time has elapsed, you will hear an alarm beep! Remove your t-shirt from the press, and perform your peeling, cold if you are using Hot'flex.
Now clean your press. Simply use water on a soft cloth once your press has cooled down; the platen should be warm to the touch.
Créadhésif Tip: You can also use a heat press cleaning stick to remove ink residue and deposits stuck to your upper heating platen.
Well done! You now know everything about hot pressing!
Need more information about flocking? We offer free online training (webinars), Facebook Live sessions, and exclusive videos on YouTube:
- Webinar - The Flock Printing Technique
- Webinar - Our Cutting Flex
- Facebook Live: Flock Printing Creations with Siser Flex
- Facebook Live: Flock Printing Creations – Easter Special
- Creative Tutorial – Personalizing a Placemat with POLI-TAPE Flock Printing
Find all training dates and register for free by clicking on this link.
Also check out all our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.
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See you soon,
The Créadhésif Team
