Screen printing heat transfers

SamIAm888 · January 17th, 2012, 12:01 AM

I've been heat pressing vinyl and doing small bits of screen printing on shirts as a side job for a few years now, and I have become curious to the whole screen printing heat transfers. I've read into it a bit, but can't find a no thrills no frills way to just plain jane make them. Is there anyone that can go into detail to how these are done? Can a flash dryer be used to "gel" these, or must you use a conveyor dryer? Any info would be great!

SamIAm888 · January 17th, 2012, 01:08 AM

Nobody?

Sulp · January 18th, 2012, 10:18 AM

I use transfer paper and a product called "white stuff" from Nazdar which is powdered adhesive. You print on the paper (in mirror image of course), and while the ink is wet apply the powder liberally over the entire image. (we use a small storage bin, put the printed xfer paper in the bin, and we made a large salt shaker type can to apply the powder. Once covered, lift the paper out and pour the excess on your next sheet or back into the can. We then "flick" the back of the paper to remove any residual powder from the paper. Then you just put in down your dryer. We speed up our dryer to about twice the speed that we use to cure plastisol on t's. You don't want it fully cured when it comes out of the dryer. It will feel totally dry and the powder will melt into & mix with the ink giving it that familiar rough, sandpaper like feel. Then just cut them out and heat press at about 350° for 10 seconds. COLD peel. Works fantastic and very, very simple.

SamIAm888 · January 18th, 2012, 06:37 PM

Can this be done with a flash dryer instead of a conveyor?

Printwizard · January 19th, 2012, 04:28 AM

flash or heatgun will work touch drying the crystal and ink ready for the heatpress, but dryer is quicker, easier and more measurable / consistent.