Dunking Mugs - It works!!

[UK Printed Mugs]

I can't believe it. After an early start then we went ahead to press about 45 mugs for an early morning pick up and after 15 good mugs came out the press we went to pack them. SHOCK!! HORROR!! They had all 'bled'. Never happened before.

The ink had basically continued to sublimate on the hot mug after coming out the press.

So what we thought were perfect mugs turned out to be duds. After a few minutes of what the hell went wrong someone mentioned dunking. Never thought we needed to before but we went and got some water in a bowl.

Next mug out the press, peel paper and dunk slowly into water (Hisssssssssss) and out it comes. Waited a few minutes and ...

PERFECT!!!

I can only think things started to go pete-tong because things come in threes hey. Last week our Adkins press blew, yesterday our 7100 was printing crap and today the mugs bleeding.

I do expect that now all three have been resolved it will rain gold and someone will make me a coffee damn it.

Ps: For those interested then we were using an Adkins studio mug press, Xpres mugs (top grade) at 180c and 145s.

[Earl Smith]

I used to dunk ( straight from the press with the paper still on) but my then wife couldnt stop mixing the prints with the water before they were put in the press. After that and many ruined prints, I let them cool on their own. Mugs with sharp detail and a lot of black in the print I still dunk. I put the mug in quickly, filling the inside as well, so the temperature is more even and stops cracking.
I found the solution. Divorce. Now I dont have this problem.

[GoonerGary]

Or you could reduce the time by 15-20 seconds, place on cooling rack to allow the heat to escape underneath and that will reduce the bleeding. Not all designs require '180' seconds.

[UK Printed Mugs]

Indeed but we do. At the end of the post we said that our temp was 180c but time is 145s. Oddly this doesn't happen using our DK3 press and the same mugs (and design). Just seems to happen recently on the Adkins.

[Andrew]

Sounds like your Adkins is running hotter than the DK3. Should try one of them laser thermometer to see the difference and what temp both actually are when setting at 180c.

Dark blue and green are often colours that will bleed more than others. If you have a decent mug and are using the correct press settings then dunking shouldn't be a problem really. It is only if you have a dodgy batch of mugs that cracking occurs we find.

[RogerC]

Always done the 'dunking' thing after visiting BMS.....works for me.........and no chance of 'hot fingers'...:biggrin:

[UK Printed Mugs]

Do you dunk therefore with paper on? This isn't something we are use to even though we have been printing mugs for nearly two years!

[RogerC]

Do you dunk therefore with paper on? This isn't something we are use to even though we have been printing mugs for nearly two years!

Yes paper on....I use an old (small) paint roller handle ...short length of a 'hook' to lift the mug from the press and slowly but 'sloshingly' dunk so I never have to touch the mug hot from the press.

[KathG]

Do you dunk in hot or cold water.....I really hate the noise the mug makes if I dunk.

[Andrew]

Room temperature is usually fine.