Mug Press Problems....

[Spike1865]

Hey folks
I have been knocking out a few samples, 11oz mugs settings 180/180 and many are faded around the edges. Burnt or just not taking I'm unsure, lighter brownish finish. Sometimes its one edge, other times its another. Can't find the happy medium.
I'm also getting a cracking sound at the end of press. Like the enamel finish is cracking. Can't see much but one had a spiders web like pattern through the middle. The outside and inner looked cool, but the inner when held to the light had a crazy paving type effect in it.
Ideas?
Spike

[Paul]

where you got them from? ebay?

bin those cracked as one day you may end up with hot coffee over your legs
try do only medium pressure. no need for more.
extend time to 240 and see if its improved.

[Spike1865]

Hi Paul
They came with a starter pack from Coralgraph.
How do I gauge medium pressure fella? Should the mug still turn in the press, but stiff? Noobin on!

[JMugs]

If you can close the press with 2 fingers you are on light pressure, then add a bit. I don't use a lot of pressure. Just enough to press the paper against the mug. If you think about it, the process is heat and gas, therefore a seal between paper and substrate is all you need.
I use coralgraph 11oz mugs and print at 170 for 200 sec's. My mugs are cold when they go in. I do not print top to bottom.

The above time and temp works for me with both my Ricoh and Epson printers with Sawgrass inks on tru pix paper.

Janners

[Spike1865]

Cheers Janners. That might be one of my problem. A couple of my designs had a black rim across top and bottom and one of them would be scorched or faded. Should I stay away from printing top and bottom?

[JMugs]

Should I stay away from printing top and bottom?

In general probably a good idea. Top to bottom is do able, but you need very good (ie very straight mugs). Do a search and all the bumf will come up. You could be reading for days!

Janners