Confused by poor instructions.

[Bokeh]

Hello all. Sorry if this seems like a daft question but I am brand new to sublimation so still have loads to learn.
I purchased my first mug press last week but the instructions that came with it are minimal and in poor English.

It cant set an idle temperature you just set your pressing temperature and your time. The instructions tell you to insert you mug with the transfer on prior to heating up and not to heat up without a mug in the machine. Is this correct? It takes a few mins to get to the correct temp and surely during this time the image starts transferring as the element builds up heat so by the time the countdown starts it has already been partly done. Then when you do a mug straight after removing the first one the machine is already at the correct temp so is being exposed for less time (hope that makes sense).

There is also a button on the front that says enter that has no mention in the instructions and is not required when setting the temp or time but must be there for a reason??

I purchased it from signzworld on ebay (link below)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271144105506? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Any help / advice is much appreciated, thank you.

[GoonerGary]

Hi,

Some mug presses use an idle temperature and some have a good old standard temperature. The idle temperature was introduced to try and prolong the life of the mug press but it looks like a pain to me.

So forget about idle temperatures, you don't need it.

You should be able to work out how to set the temperature and time on the press itself. I have the exact press on my bench but haven't switched it on yet!
Set the temperature to 180 degrees centigrade and 180 seconds..this will get you started.
Put in a blank mug and allow the press to reach the temp of 180 degrees.
Put transfer on your good mug.
When press has reached 180 degrees remove the blank dummy mug and insert your good mug.
The temperaure will drop on your press because the mug is cold.
It will eventually rise to 180 degrees again.
After 180 seconds remove mug and switch off timer with front red button.
Insert old dummy mug to help protect the blanket.

Once you have the basics, it's a matter of finding the sweet spot of blanket pressure, temp and time.

[Bokeh]

Thanks Gooner (good result yesterday).

[AlanD]

My mug press is the Listawood Genie and looks virtually the same as that one. Same instructions as Gary has mentioned except Listawood say 170 as an idle temperature and 180 for cook temperature - 180 seconds for time but makes no mention of a dummy mug for heat up and cool down. I'm not really sure what dummy mug protects the heater blanket from. I'm a relatively newcomer too and I have found that different mugs from different manufactureres do vary and as Gary has said finding that sweet spot which may well be different for different batches of mugs.

[GoonerGary]

The blanket can be damaged when opening and closing. Putting in the blank dummy mug will help stop it from closing too tight and damaging the element. Presses will vary in time too so 180/ 180 is a very rough guide.