Conflicting times for mugs.

[bikertec]

Looking at different times on the web, some say 180 temp and around 180 secs. While others say heat press upto 180 deg place mug in and start press only when temp gets back upto 180 deg then only press for 60 sec. Could any one tell me the correct procedure.

Thank you Mick.

[bms]

Different mug presses operate in different ways hence the different information.

The basic models heat to 180 degrees and have a 'safety' mug in place whilst heating. You put your mug in at 180 and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Other models heat to a lower temp and then you put your mug in. When mug goes in the press starts to heat to 180 and the time starts from when the heat reaches 180. In which case it may only need cooking for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes. You'll need to speak to your supplier for the correct operation of your mug press.

[smitch6]

i found with mine if i put it in anything above 180 the tape burns into the mugs

so i've found 180c for 300 secs works well

although the colours aren't as vibrant as i'd like them to be

i'm going to have a try with a test pic on a mug and see what it comes out like on a waste mug

[JSR]

i found with mine if i put it in anything above 180 the tape burns into the mugs
Have you tried using different tape?

[smitch6]

nope not yet but have been told mugs should be done on 180c

[JSR]

nope not yet but have been told mugs should be done on 180c

I've done mugs at 200°C before (my mug press is old and the blanket's a bit patchy). Tape shouldn't burn into the mugs at these temperatures, unless it's the wrong kind of tape.

[bikertec]

Thankyou for your reply just been trying it. It seems to work better if I let it heat up to 180 deg then put the mug in, it drops to around 150deg then goes upto 180 thats when I set the timers all told it takes around 180secs. So I suppose it doesn't matter if I set it for 3min as I put the mug in.

[swimwivsquid]

I do my mugs at 200 in an oven so I wouldn't think that the temp was too high for the tape. I use the blue and lately the green coloured tape. Both seem to work fine.

[smitch6]

its brown tape i use and what came with the kit
i will get some dif sort soon when i get near the end

but since i have been doin my mugs at 180c they have been coming out loads better
its juts my profile i need sorting now and i have a man helping me :)

[JSR]

its brown tape i use and what came with the kit
i will get some dif sort soon when i get near the end

If it's the right "brown tape" (of the type sold by Revolution Transfers), then it should be good stuff. I use brown tape and find it's much better than the coloured tapes. I haven't found a definitive comparison chart but my investigations suggest that the coloured tapes (blue, green, transparent, etc) are polyester tapes while the brown tape is polyimide. Polyimide tape resists much higher temperatures than polyester tape and so is much less likely to mark a mug.

I recently bought some of this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380186817512. Just finished doing 100 china mugs with it and it's been great.

[Dave S]

I do Mugs at 180 degrees for 180 seconds, never had a problem yet (touch wood) in 3 years!

[Kaz]

180 for 180 here aswell.

Smitch, I think maybe the tape is burning becuase you have it in for 5 minutes instead of 3, have you tried reducing the time?

[phoenixalpha]

I have only ever done mugs at 180 degrees for 180 seconds and things go well. Anything over or higher than that tends to scorch the paper, marking the mug and the blanket.

[John G]

The love cut mugs I was doing at 160 degrees and 160 seconds, brought the time/temp down and this had little/no effect on the finished mug. The BMS/Xpres mugs I think I'll have to increase back to 180/180 as the print was a little on the light side - still looks good though!

[phoenixalpha]

After using many suppliers in my early days of sub work, I settled for only using mugs from BMS as they were the only people who could supply quality mugs cost-effectively and on time. I've been using BMS now for nearly three years and it would take a lot to convince me to buy mugs from anyone else.

[John G]

I'm impressed with the BMS one too! had the standard and b grade and like them both.

[JSR]

The love cut mugs I was doing at 160 degrees and 160 seconds, brought the time/temp down and this had little/no effect on the finished mug. The BMS/Xpres mugs I think I'll have to increase back to 180/180 as the print was a little on the light side - still looks good though!

This may have to do with the coating. I find I have to bring the temperature right down for colour change mugs, otherwise the coating turns yellow where it reacts with the paper. RN and Orca coatings seem to tolerate much higher temperatures (and so probably don't like the lower temperatures).

[boristrump]

180c for 5mins! isn't that over the time cooking?
isn't 180c time @ 180 sec but depending on how much colour you have very important here if your template is an full wrap of colors then temp 180c time @ over the 180 sec is needed has anyone here been do full colour wraps around the mug Please give the setting they use thanks
Different mug presses operate in different ways hence the different information.

The basic models heat to 180 degrees and have a 'safety' mug in place whilst heating. You put your mug in at 180 and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Other models heat to a lower temp and then you put your mug in. When mug goes in the press starts to heat to 180 and the time starts from when the heat reaches 180. In which case it may only need cooking for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes. You'll need to speak to your supplier for the correct operation of your mug press.

[boristrump]

im going to say this this but isn't there to many variables with mug press stating that press at 180c for least 180 sec! does that imply to an full wrap colour template round the mug?
suppose a customer comes to me with an design measured at 22cm by 9cm an full wrap and its an full blown colour design. does everyone here believe that putting into an mug press going for 180c temp and time 180 sec is going to do it? anyone care to comment on this here Please give your Experience to share

[Andrew]

22 x 9 is on the very limit for the best presses out there and will probably take longer in my experience. It takes longer to get enough heat to the print either side of the handle. Also I always personally never print at as low a temp as 180. 195 for 170 is a starting point that I use and this is accross a few different brands of press.

[Lee]

My heat tape is never in the mug press...i tape it under the handle, and have never had an issue with marks.... I tried 22x9 designs and found it really hard to get the edges to take without over cooking the central area...so now I just do 21 max....

[boristrump]

hi thanks andrew as you say 22x9 a bit on the limit what size of template would you go for for instant the size mostly suited to the 180o temp @ 180 sec?
22 x 9 is on the very limit for the best presses out there and will probably take longer in my experience. It takes longer to get enough heat to the print either side of the handle. Also I always personally never print at as low a temp as 180. 195 for 170 is a starting point that I use and this is accross a few different brands of press.

[Andrew]

Many will go for 200 x 85 but it's entirely upto what your press and mug are capable of. 180 is still low in my opinion.

[dj_doubler]

Im using 170C at 150 ricoh timings etc... great results... only had a little "browning" of blacks... in regards to template size... im running 210x90 which I think gives great coverage and 9/10 do cover all area's with a great finish