I just fired some water slide decals onto some white china teacups. All came out fine, easier than I thought. Would be very interested in finding out about buying the ceramic toner printers. Never seen one come up on the used market.
I just fired some water slide decals onto some white china teacups. All came out fine, easier than I thought. Would be very interested in finding out about buying the ceramic toner printers. Never seen one come up on the used market.
Last edited by sarahjayne; 03-04-2016 at 05:26 PM.
This thread has got even more interesting. Could you perhaps give a brief run down of your current set-up?
I am based in stoke - follow this link - this guy is the best around..
http://www.printceramic.com/
Hope this helps..
Indeed it does. With only sublimation knowledge (and currently hit a brick wall as clients are asking for prints onto substrates not possible in presses) then is the water decal process similar in that you print using special toner onto special paper, wrap around substrate (wet) and then fire for a period of time? Also, the cost of a top quality mug (say European from BMS), paper (say trupix) and ink (say sawgrass) then probably looking around £1.40 without labour. Is the costs of water slide a lot cheaper?
I bought the decals from a company I found online, they print A4 or A3 sheets to order when you e mail the designs to them. Price breaks for quantities but I just ordered one sheet to test them. The cups I bought a joblot on E bay for about 16p each including delivery! I am a hobby potter/craft teacher rather than a printer business but play around with sublimation as well. I fired them in my trusty old kiln to 800 degrees on a rapid fire schedule, it was only about 4.5 hours I think - if you were to go the decal route pick up a used kiln before investing in a new one. They always sell on pretty quickly if you upgrade, as you will only be doing one type of firing you could manage without a digital controller and manually control the kiln, which would be a cheaper way to start off.
Hi, My setup is: digital printer using ceramic toner - print onto waterside paper - then cover coat the paper using a laminator - once laminated - soak paper in warm water - side decal off backing paper and place onto item ( ceramic ) - then fire in a electric kiln to 780.. the guy in the link will do all this for you - we are for to busy at the moment..
Thank you to both of you. We are really frustrated with the cost of sublimation substrates and although sublimation offers more long lasting prints onto ceramic we are asked by clients for printing onto items such as tea pots and jugs. We hold little knowledge but thanks to you both we shall slowly start to look into water slide decals and kilns. Always happy to trade advice and suppliers we use in exchange. Olly
Hi Olly, No problem - I have had a manufacturing unit in stoke for 30 year - have all the contacts and info - if you ever need help pm me..
That's super and very kind so thank you. If you're dipping your toes into sublimation and needing equipment/substrates then certainly pay £10 to become premium member as lots of suppliers on here give 10% off for DSF members. You'll get your money back on your first order no doubt!
Thanks for offer - all sorted thank you..