polymer mugs - first review!!!

[AdamB]

So - I made some time today to test print some polymer mugs that I had got on my last order from BMS (sample 6 pack plus puck).

Before I start, apologies - I forgot to take photos but I'll try and get some up tomorrow of the mug I did (EDIT: images now added).

Firstly after I had found my mugs (apologies to BMS, they were that light I never knew they were in the box) I realised what people meant by the weight. Although they feel very light, there is a quality feel about them. They are the same size as an 11oz (European mug) and the puck fits inside very, very snuggly.

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A closer examination of the mugs reveal that they have a very glossy outer and the sides seemed very straight (always a good starting point). I noticed the symbol on the bottom of the mug that I believe is the SunFly symbol (if I'm not mistaken?) (IMAGE 3) so I was pleased that I was finally trying something that I had looked at many months ago! My first thoughts of a plastic mug was, well - just that really. What I mean is that I thought the mug would be one piece of plastic that had come out of a mould or something. As I looked at the mug I noticed a seam in the middle that looks like two haves have been moulded to the outside of a mug base to create the smoothed surface area ........................ I wasn't sure if this would affect the pressing or not? (SEE IMAGE 4)

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Onto pressing and as there were quite a few posts regarding times and temps I thought I needed a starting point so I took this from Martin (at BMS) who had given the following times/temps - 125 degrees idle temp, 170 degrees operating temp, 90 seconds cooking time. Although there was no pressure guide I presumed that this would be medium?

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I created some colourful artwork so as I will predominantly be using these for kids mugs. The artwork I created had a small white border at the top and bottom of the mug (I would do a full top to bottom print later).

I placed the puck in the mug, then in the press and waited patiently. I don't know why but I had this horrible feeling that everything would melt in front of my eyes (just like the wicked witch when Dot threw some H2O on her) so the finish beep couldn't come quick enough!

I opened the press, took the puck out of the mug (yes - use gloves as it's hot!) and then ripped the paper off the mug. Usually I do this with bare fingers so I have grown quite accustomed to singing my finger tips ............... but the mug didn't seem that hot - and there was no "shushhhhhhhhh" and "hissssssssss" as the mug hits the (room temp) water (yes - I dunk!).

What I did (briefly) notice was the vibrant colour and what I thought was an excellent transfer of image to mug.

After a few seconds I took the mug out of the water, gave it a dry and a closer examination. The colours were magnificent and the transfer (ink to gas, to mug) had worked spot on. The join (between the two halves that I mentioned earlier) could not be seen at all.

BUT, I did notice that there was a little bit of plastic that had melted on the base of the mug and it looked like the mug press was a little too tight (sometimes you notice the pattern from the blanket on the mug and know it's too tight), but apart from that I was really, really pleased with the first attempt.

SO - SECOND ATTEMPT, and taking all above into account I decided to losen off the pressure a little and reduce the temp down to 160 (or it may have been 165, I will confirm tomorrow) and take the time right down to 60 seconds (30 seconds less).

THIS MUG WAS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. There was no sign of melting, no signs of fadeness - all was fabulous!

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After pressing the second mug and realising that I could now get rid of the other four to people that had enquired about them in the last couple of days (I had initially written off 6 to get things right) - I then came up with a EUREKA MOMENT!

The thing is, these mugs are 100% polyester and unlike normal mugs that have the polyester coating on them all of the mug is subliminal. So, I thought - can I print on the inside of the mug?

I printed a design for the inside of the mug and another for the outside but that's when my EUREKA moment took a nose dive! Because the puck is very, very tight there is literally no room for anything .............. not even a sheet of paper! I tried both ways - placing the paper inside the mug and inserting the puck and wrapping the paper around the puck and inserting the whole thing into the mug but it wouldn't fit and would only go half way in (I told you that the puck was a tight fit). I didn't risk forcing the puck as if I did I might not be able to get it out again once cooked! I did have a feeling that the image wouldn't transfer to the inside properly anyway as the heat on the inside would be a lot less than the outside but I never got to test my theory!

So, all in all - mugs are great and image(s) to follow tomorrow! (EDIT: NOW ADDED ABOVE)

Adam

[John G]

Great review, might be trying these too, price is an issue though!

[dj_doubler]

Great news Adam... good indepth review on the wonders of poly mugs :0) - cant wait to see the photo of these as I have been wanting to give these a go... may I ask what type of press you are using?

im thinking of ways already to get that paper on the inside with the puck lol - mabye get a puck made of wood but to the perfect diamiter? I know this would be abit of a pain in the backside but always worth looking into.

Anthony

[Paul]

great review! now let us see some pics

[AdamB]

Great review, might be trying these too, price is an issue though!

Yeah I know John - £1.50 each (including VAT) and you need to buy a box of 48 (£72). But saying that, I'm looking at shifting these at the same price as my normal mugs as they are the same size and are quite unique. You could also brand them as BBQ mugs (less breakage) and Camping Mugs etc - if they're branded right then they'll sell ............... but getting in smaller batches would be better at this early stage (even cheaper would be a better bonus).

Great news Adam... good indepth review on the wonders of poly mugs :0) - cant wait to see the photo of these as I have been wanting to give these a go... may I ask what type of press you are using?

im thinking of ways already to get that paper on the inside with the puck lol - mabye get a puck made of wood but to the perfect diamiter? I know this would be abit of a pain in the backside but always worth looking into.

Anthony

Hi Anthony, I using (I think) a DF1 at the moment (see: http://www.printerowners.co.uk/hardware ... -press.htm for press). I have another one but I used this one for the poly mugs. Getting a puck made which is slightly smaller would probably work but let's not forget that we don't know if it 'will' work yet. If the outside of the mug is at 165 degrees then the inside will be probably 10-15 degrees less (at a guess), so would the image transfer at that time and temp? If not you'll need to up the settings and risk melting the outside - catch 22!

It would be good to see if it does though as my mind is doing overtime! Think a design on the front as an example a nice ocean scene with boats, colourful fish and a treasure chest etc (this is aimed at kids), but on the inside you could do the same design but shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean with sharks swimming about! (the list is endless).

[AdamB]

great review! now let us see some pics

Will do mate - I meant to today but forgot ................. sorry

And do I get anything for making a review? Maybe a day top of the leaderboard in the arcade section (I was top once, when it first started and no one had seen it).

[dj_doubler]

Will do mate - I meant to today but forgot ................. sorry

And do I get anything for making a review? Maybe a day top of the leaderboard in the arcade section (I was top once, when it first started and no one had seen it).

lol you have to earn the right to be top in the arcade like me :0)

Ref: the colourful fish / ocean etc... I want one! I want one! thats not for kids... its a adult mug lol

You are right in regards to BBQ and camping also worth a go at showing local schools etc... as you can pop on the school logo etc... I would sell them at the same price as the normal ceramic mugs... you cant really put a price on safety... great for kids etc...

[barryslip]

I too have had good results with my first poly mug! I printed identical images on a poly mug and a regular European ceramic mug. The picture looks exactly the same!

I pressed using Martins time/temp settings using TruPix paper and the BMS DF12 press.

Very impressed, and will definitely be ordering more in the future.

I'm trying to think of ways to print on the inside too - I'm wondering if an old mug blanket put inside (folded inside-out) and pressed against the edges with a smaller puck would work. Anyone with am old blanket willing to give it a try???

I've uploaded a pic of my first polymer mug. I didn't try full top-to-bottom on this one, but I reckon (looking at all the other photos in this post) that it's possible. Hope this is useful?

[dj_doubler]

I too have had good results with my first poly mug! I printed identical images on a poly mug and a regular European ceramic mug. The picture looks exactly the same!

I pressed using Martins time/temp settings using TruPix paper and the BMS DF12 press.

Very impressed, and will definitely be ordering more in the future.

I'm trying to think of ways to print on the inside too - I'm wondering if an old mug blanket put inside (folded inside-out) and pressed against the edges with a smaller puck would work. Anyone with am old blanket willing to give it a try???

would this not cause melting? -

@barryslip do you have any photo's you can post?

[chongsta]

where do you get the metal puck from Adam? I dont see them at BMS - Martin?

cheers
Dave