Vinyl coming off garments ...... ?

Hi all,

I have been experiencing some vinyl comig off garments that I am decorating and wondered if anyone has advice?

I use the vinyl from MDP and to now have never experienced anything wrong with it (so it's most likely me or another factor).

I press the garments as suggested in the temp guide, and pre press at all times. I then place a teflon sheet over the vinyl then press (as I have read and seen others doing this) for the desired time and temperature.

I ensure that I am getting a firm press and if it needs building up (i.e the surface needs raising) I use a mouse mat or something adiquate to raise the surface,

Once done, I remove the teflon sheet and peel off the carrier sheet and have a quick check as I have read that if you can feel any rasied edges then press it again for about 5-7 seconds.

Once done it looks perfect .................. but after a couple of washes the vinyl seems to be peeling away from the surface of the garment.

I mostly decorate t-shirts and hoodies but we had a busy run before xmas adding names onto pyjamas that we sell in the shop for a £1 extra and I am a little worried that they may be coming back to me!

Any advice appreciated.

Adam

hi Adam! Only thing i can think off is that what you already are doing. pre pressing your garment. I Use vinyl from MDP (hot peel) and had this problem only once. after i forgot to pre press t-shirt. now I give 10-15 sec pre pres to all my tee's or longer :) untill I can see steem. If I can see steem it means my tee is dry like pork scrathcer :)

this only thing i can think off Adam. do you pre press long enough?

Hi Paul,
yeah I do pre-press but only for about 5-10 seconds at the most ...................... not sure why, I read it somewhere, can't remember where?

I also use hotpeel.

So, when you say you pre-press for 10-15 secs until you see the steam do you let it cool before applying the vinyl?

Also, do you use a teflon sheet as well?

afeter 10-15sec i lift my press to see if there is some steem. always should be some :)
if not. i press for bit longer. dont forhet is only 160C so you wont burn your tee to easy.
I always let it cool a bit. normaly 30sec or so. it depence. i always use my hand to check if its still to hot. if it's not then i put my vinyl on tee and press it. I NEVER use teflon sheet.

ummmmmmmmm - this may be one of a few problems then,

the teflon sheet I use is taking a bit of heat away from the press (I guess) and I'm not pre-pressing enough!

I suppose using some grease proof paper (or as they like to call it silicon paper!) between the press and the garment won't hurt - I only do this in case of transfer between products.

Now,
if the vinyl is coming off is it just a case of re-pressing it for a little longer or do I need to re-do it?

And Paul, thanks as always for the time you take in replying - it's appreciated mate :-)

you can try pre press for longer as I am sure we can not blame the vinyl. I know is exelent qualitty coz I used it a lot.
when I had bad tee with vinyl coming off I tryed to re press but could't do it :( I think vinyl lost all glue in the corners. so I re do the t-shirt.

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And Paul, thanks as always for the time you take in replying - it's appreciated mate :-)

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thats no problem adam ;) it looks like we the only ones with out hangover today :D

Many thanks Paul,

as I initially said - it's not the product, it's the human interface (ME!) that was the error in the working formula.

Happy New Year Pal

Adam

Just bear in mind that Flex is only a heat activated glue product, so assuming the item being pressed onto isn't coated in a special resin (e.g. some PU coatings on garments can cause adhesion problems), then all you're doing is pressing the flex flat onto the garment for long enough for the glue on the back to melt into the garment and be fixed.

The flex we use is mostly cool peal, washable to 60-80 degrees C and if we peal too early (i.e. not cooled enough) then we just re-press for 10 seconds with a sheet of silicon paper over the flex to re-adhere the flex to garment.

If you're using the teflon sheet then this is thin so it's not going to take any heat away really, but we press at 170/175 degrees C for 20-25 seconds. Never had any problem with going slightly hotter and for longer. Problems can occur by going to short/ too cool so we always go over on time to make doubly sure.

Many thanks Martin - I may do a few experiments tomorrow 'turning the heat' (and time) a little, as you say - the problems occur when too short/cool!

thanks guys

P.S Martin, I'll be getting back to you very soon ref the slates, seen your post ref letting you know ASAP (just remembered sorry).

yep ;) rising the temp a bit wont hurt ;)

I always press with a teflon sheet, so i cant see that being the issue, as others have said pre-press is important, on certain t's there is still a lot of vapour coming off after 5 seconds, although i never press until it stops, just until the steam dies down. I then always re-press, habit and good practice, whether hot or cold peel. i agree with the BMS settings for heat and timewise i am normally between 15/20 seconds, i use magic touch trade vinyl (cold peel) and their other vinyls also dorotape product. beware if customers do bring back pj's if they have been washed with fabric conditioner you might find the vinyl will not apply very well on their washed garments.

thanks guys for all your answers - really appreciated :-)