Testing heat press/plate for cold spots

[Printcess Jen]

Hi, does anyone have any advice on testing my heat press plate for cold spots. I have a swing away press and the plate does not look completely flat, it looks like very light indentations that go in slightly. Hope thats makes sense.

Haven't purchased a temp gauge yet, thought i'd ask for advice first

Any advice appreciated.

[Justin]

I use the infra red thermometers and they work a treat, £10 should get you one off eBay.

[Printcess Jen]

ah thats good to know, thanks Justin, will give it a go!

[GoldRapt]

What justin said

[logobear]

how accurate do the thermometers need to be?
maplin sell one for about £25 that is +/- 3c but the £55 one is +/- .25c so loads better and laser accurate too.....

[socialgiraffe]

I have an interesting take on one of these...

I recently took delivery of a heat press for testing. The press came from TMT and is a new clam shell with a slide out platen. A review will come shortly but one thing I did notice was that the temp was set for 165 degrees yet my thermometer was reading over 180. I spoke with Adam at TMT and he said that this was fine. He said that although digital thermometers are okay, to get a proper reading then you need to get temperature strips and put them under the presses press.

Logobear, I think the £25.00 will be more than good enough. Think of it like this, if you have a bit of vinyl to press on a garment which is recommended at 180 degress for 15 seconds. It will press just as well using 185 degrees at 15 seconds. so +/- 3 is more than accurate enough I think.

S>

[Justin]

He said that although digital thermometers are okay, to get a proper reading then you need to get temperature strips and put them under the presses press.

Surprised to hear that, I didn't think the strips would be as good but I'm prepared to stand corrected I used a very high quality laser therm and tbh not much difference to my £10 unit which seems very accurate.

[JMugs]

We make the assumption that the garment and the medium we are using are consistent, they are not. They will both vary from batch to batch. Lets pick 180 degrees for 180 secs .... is 190 for 190 going to be a problem ... no ..... what about 170 for 170.... probably not. There is a degree of latitude. Consistent heat and pressure across the platen is more relevant. This is where the strips score over a thermometer. The strips are giving a reading indicative of the effects of both.
I add that this is as I see things in my little world. Your world may be different.
Janners

[logobear]

some media is not as critical as others, wow 7.2 (the old one) was super fussy, but i think the issue of uneven heat will make a difference, just like uneven pressure !
the paper temperature strips are VERY accurate, half a c i think.....

[Printcess Jen]

Temp strips sound like a good try too. I do have a feeling that some parts outside of the central part of the plate are not hearing efficiently. However I hope to be purchasing a new press in the near future. I'm thinking a nice clam shell.