Mugs: temps and seconds

[SubOnCotton]

Does anyone know if there is a particular reason given for the recommended temperature and time for pressing?

At what temperature does the ink start to "sublimate"?

I've been doing 160 degrees for 120 seconds with better results than 180 and 180, but I wonder if this will affect longevity of the print on the mug.

[bubbleimages]

We use Askins twin-studio mug presses in our setup with settings 180 degrees for 160 seconds.

Mug press warmed up with blank mugs in until coming to temp, half way through the second press.

Once finished pressing, machines turned off then blank mugs back into the press to cool down protecting the elements for longer life.

[Fletcher]

I've been doing 160 degrees for 120 seconds with better results than 180 and 180, but I wonder if this will affect longevity of the print on the mug.

I do 165 degrees for 120 seconds. I also heat the press up with the image and mug already in it. So maybe an extra 30 seconds.

[SubOnCotton]

I do 165 degrees for 120 seconds. I also heat the press up with the image and mug already in it. So maybe an extra 30 seconds.

So your press goes from room temp to cooking temp with the mug and image right from the start?

I do wonder why the advice I got before was to have a "resting temp" of 170 with cooking of 180, as surely the sublimation already starts before 170, so the mug will start to print as soon as it is put in the press, then it will cool down, before coming up to 180.

Does anyone know the science behind it?

I'm using Sublinova ink and Subli-versa paper from Ink Experts, and mugs from Dye Sublimation Supplies.
The Subli-versa is a "high release" paper, so i do wonder if the mug will need so long in the press.

[Fletcher]

So your press goes from room temp to cooking temp with the mug and image right from the start?

Yes. mug and image, turn on machine. it heats up and beeps to say its at temp. then i start the timer. once finished i turn off machine and take mug out. then dip mug in a bucket of warm ish water for a couple of minutes.

if i have another mug to do straight after i just leave it in an extra 20 seconds as that would of been the heating up time.

[SubOnCotton]

Yes. mug and image, turn on machine. it heats up and beeps to say its at temp. then i start the timer. once finished i turn off machine and take mug out. then dip mug in a bucket of warm ish water for a couple of minutes.

if i have another mug to do straight after i just leave it in an extra 20 seconds as that would of been the heating up time.

Groovy tunes.

Do the lower temp and less seconds affect the mug in the long term?
I mean, if guidelines are 180 for 180 seconds, then how would 165 for 120 seconds affect the long term and over all quality?

[Fletcher]

Groovy tunes.

Do the lower temp and less seconds affect the mug in the long term?
I mean, if guidelines are 180 for 180 seconds, then how would 165 for 120 seconds affect the long term and over all quality?

I dont think so. It mostly comes down to how hot the dishwasher is and how often its cleaned at such a high temp.


I do mugs for a local off road vehicle specialist garage, long story but short version. Old company - mugs lasted 3-4 months before fading. mine last much longer (but cost more). The office people at that garage wash the mugs in a dishwasher as hot as it goes to get rid of the grease and oil. Every Evening all mugs are washed at max temperature for the longest cycle.
I now do mugs and workwear for the garage.

[Daninho]

Does anyone know if there is a particular reason given for the recommended temperature and time for pressing?

At what temperature does the ink start to "sublimate"?

I've been doing 160 degrees for 120 seconds with better results than 180 and 180, but I wonder if this will affect longevity of the print on the mug.

It depends on what do you mean with 120 seconds because there are two kind of mug presses. There is the type that starts the timer as soon as you are closing press and the other ones starting the timer after it reached 180C for example. I only know that in my case 120 Seconds "complete pressing time" would be way to low regarding my mug press. I would get white dots everywhere on the print which is comparable to an underexposed image from a camera.

If you mean 120 seconds from the moment the mug reaches 165C it makes more sense to me. In my case the often recommended 180/180 failed. I needed more time and i will also test higher temperature because S-Race recommends more like 205C and 180 seconds, if you go lower on temp +- 60 seconds.

[SubOnCotton]

It depends on what do you mean with 120 seconds because there are two kind of mug presses. There is the type that starts the timer as soon as you are closing press and the other ones starting the timer after it reached 180C for example. I only know that in my case 120 Seconds "complete pressing time" would be way to low regarding my mug press. I would get white dots everywhere on the print which is comparable to an underexposed image from a camera.

If you mean 120 seconds from the moment the mug reaches 165C it makes more sense to me. In my case the often recommended 180/180 failed. I needed more time and i will also test higher temperature because S-Race recommends more like 205C and 180 seconds, if you go lower on temp +- 60 seconds.

Yes, I meant 120 seconds once the mug reached cooking temp.

I tried Fletcher's approach (almost) of heating up the mug from room temp, then starting the timer at 160 degrees, and the results were the same as I was doing before, so I'll stick with this for now since it makes life a little easier.

[SubOnCotton]

Is anyone else using any of the following:
- Sublinova ink
- Subli-versa paper
- 11/15 oz mugs from Dye Sublimation Supplies?