Very bad fading on 1st tries at a place mat please advise (picture shown)

[MREDD]

Hi All

At Martin's suggestion I pre-pressed the place mat for about 12 seconds or so, and whilst there is some improvement towards the right hand corner and bottom middle , the clan badge is more faded than pic 1 and that mat went in cold.

So folks what now please, 3 place mat ruined so far. Pressing at 190 for 60 firm pressure, baking sheet to top and bottom.

Do I pre-press for longer? is there a point where the substrate is rendered useless if I pre press to long? or do I crank up the operating temp & increase time.

Please advise this is frustrating.

Regards

Eddie[ATTACH=CONFIG]1428[/ATTACH]

PIC 2 IN FOR ABOUT 12 SECONDS PRE PRESSING

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1423[/ATTACH]
PIC ONE IN COLD

As you can see little difference

Please help

[bms]

Do you Pre-press to remove moisture? Looks like steam is impacting on the ink transfer. Was there a moist patch around the placemat?

[MREDD]

Do you Pre-press to remove moisture? Looks like steam is impacting on the ink transfer. Was there a moist patch around the placemat?

Hi Martin

No I did not realise I had to, I did notice that when I ran my finger over the mat (after pressing) that where the transfer had taken my finger was slow going over it but when I reached the faded area my finger slid across it & there appeared to be the slightest of dampness / moisture on my finger if that makes sense?

So with regards to pre-pressing is that done with the protective film on or off and what heat & time should I allow for that pre-pressing.

Thanks

Eddie

[MREDD]

Hi All

Well this is still unresolved. I have now increased to 195 for 70, I have pre-pressed for 70. There is improvement around the edges but towards the centre is still very bad, see pics. (prior to improvement)

One thing I am not sure about is this; after I have pre-pressed do I let the place cool right down before applying the transfer and pressing. In these pre-pressing attempts I have put the transfer straight onto the hot place mat & pressed it. Also Martin said when I pre-press I should see some steam, I did not see any, but when I put the hot place mat on the cutting mat there was a very small amount of water on the cutting mat, but only a very nominal amount.

I feel I am going in the right direction as it is improving but still a long way off being right, any help welcomed, 7 place mats down the swanee so far!

Regards

Eddie

[mrs maggot]

first thing, cut your place mats up into strips, and then you will get 4 tests for the price of one mat! place the strip in the centre of the press when you press it, to replicate the centre of the mat. its all a learning curve.

[John G]

Looks like your press isn't flat, if this is the case replace baking sheet with silicon sheet and increase time. Not saying this is the answer but if your heat plate is warped this will even it out a little.

[Paul]

Is baking sheet same as silicon? If so then you don want to use that. Us normal paper to protecpress but nothing thick as silicon or something. Lover your time down to 60 sec. And bump temp to 200C. Pre press your placemat UPSIDE DOWN till you see some steam coming out. Open your press. You should see.moisture on press base. Flip your placematt over whait few seconds for moisture ewapurate eand print your transfer then for correct ammount of time. As i said i would use 200c and 60sec for start.

[MREDD]

Thanks for your support everyone but this is still not resolved. I have tried all suggestions, latest attempt included warming the transfer under the open plate as someone thought the moisture might be in the paper, also pre-pressed the place mat upside down for 70 seconds (did not see any steam come out or moisture on the base)

Pressed at 190 for 70 As you can see from this latest photo there is signs of improvement around the edges, but still really bad towards the centre, this has also started happening with coasters. Machine was only bought around late October / early Nov and has only had light use. Paul suggests 200 for 60

With regards to pre-pressing upside down what kind of time limit is there on the pre-pressing time, should I keep going until I see steam coming out, Martin at BMS feels this is a moisture issue, but someone else says a warped platen or cold spot. At the moment I am just wasting product.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1431[/ATTACH]

[Paul]

any way you can get infrared termometer and check real temp of your heat plate? I think our press is not hot enough. NO WAY there will be any moisture after 1min pre pressing you should prepress only 10-15 sec and this should be enough.

[Red5]

Dont shoot me for asking this, but... have you removed the protective coating on the matts? on some brands its coloured on others its clear.