Polyester Gym Bags

[adsababy]

I am about to do 250 white polyester gym bags with Dye Sublimation (Sawgrass Inks) and need to know if anyone has a good heat, time and pressure setting that works without ghosting or melting! I have looked on the forum but can't seem to find any settings on the subject. I would also like the option of maybe doing Nylon bags as well if there is any info on those too.

Thanks in advance

[Kaz]

For the polyester bags, Press at 190 degrees Celsius for 50-60 seconds, medium pressure, not sure on the nylon ones, sorry

[bms]

I would also like the option of maybe doing Nylon bags as well if there is any info on those too.

Sublimation inks need polyester to bond, so a nylon product won't be suitable for sublimation.

[mrs maggot]

be careful of the drawstring part of the bag - thats does not like the heat press - ooooops yep i might have melted one before lol

[adsababy]

Wow, thanks for the speedy replies and thanks Kaz for the settings. I did try some at various temps and times and did melt some in the process!!
Would you also recommend a teflon pillow? I have tried some mouse mats but dont want an edge to show, never used the pillows.

[AdamB]

Funnily enough I did a few ployester bags the other day - which ones are you doing asdababy? The sublimation ones offered at BMS and the link or just 100% polyester nylon draw string bags?

I only say this as normal 100% polyester bags still sublimate but have some leather look material in the corners of the bag that don't like heat at all ............... oh and as Mrs M said, watch the draw string as this cooks better than my scalp on a hot summers day!

[adsababy]

They are the Quadra Gymsacs from Pencarrie, 100% polyester, I presume they are very similar. I think I will try a couple of mouse matts to lift the image area up a bit. Oh yes, I have had a couple of meltdownds already, drawstrings and corners!! What settings did you use Adam?

[AdamB]

They are the Quadra Gymsacs from Pencarrie, 100% polyester, I presume they are very similar. I think I will try a couple of mouse matts to lift the image area up a bit. Oh yes, I have had a couple of meltdownds already, drawstrings and corners!! What settings did you use Adam?

I think that I've used the same bags (from a different source though). When I did them I changed the plate on my press to only press to the centre of the bag (you could also pad it out with mouse mats as you say), and temp and time was 160 degrees for 10-15 seconds. Using such a short time you have to get the pressure right, not enough and the vinyl (or flex as some like to say) won't stick.

[adsababy]

OK, I tried the setting at 190 degrees for 60 seconds and it works perfectly.

Problem is that I only have a 38x38 table on my Adkins press and I am getting a small amount of melting at the seams and a visable line at the edge of the area that I raised with a couple of mouse mats.

I have 250 to do and just used 5 up trying to solve this problem. Any ideas PLEASE? need to get rid of the press lines

[AdamB]

First thing is that 190 degrees for 60 seconds is FAR TOO HOT and FAR TOO LONG???

Where did you get this temp and time from?

I do mine at 160 degrees for 10-15 seconds, long enough for the glue to bond with the bag and to avoid any burning.

Ref the marks, try releasing the pressure as this is the cause - I would say you only need light pressure, as long as the vinyl bonds that should suffice.