Has Orca Coatings changed?

[JSR]

It would be good if all mugs went through this test and also if we new what temperature and conditions the test is at. A standard test to compare the durability wouldn't be hard to achieve.

The company employed to do the tests do seem to be reputable testers. The actual conditions of the test are attached to the report (at least I'm sure I saw them when I "glanced" at it in passing... ).

In many ways, this kind of test is only really going to be useful for mugs that are stamped. For example, if the mug is stamped "Orca" and you have Orca test results, you know what you're getting. If the mug is unstamped, then you only have faith in the people you buy from as to which coating & process is used. For example, if your customer asks about dishwasher-safe tests and you say "we use RN mugs, here's the test result" then how do you prove that the mugs are actually RN mugs?

I wouldn't put it beyond some nefarious business to claim they're selling RN mugs when they turn out to be nothing of the sort. When I first started out in this business, I bought a box of "dishwasher-safe" mugs from what I believed was a reputable seller only for the coating to flake off. When I queried the seller, the response was "sell them as handwash only". Not only did I not want to stock non-dishwasher mugs, but the coating flaked even if you handwashed. I won't say who that seller was because they're still around today and today they strive to sell good quality products, so it's water under the bridge, but it does demonstrate that it could happen.

In short, this test report goes some way towards providing clarity but there is still more that could be done.

[Panda]

I just found this thread and wanted to thank you for all the information on the different mugs and coatings as this is a critical and also confusing aspect at least for me as someone who is new to sublimation.
Right now I'm looking for the best mug to use, especially for full size printing (panorama + full height). RN / Duraglaze sounds good, but if the problem with the white spots still exists this would be a no go.

@JSR
Have you tested the RN mugs again and if yes, what can you say about the white spot issue?

@Martin
The European RN mug from BMS is claimed NOT MADE IN CHINA, does this refer to the mug itself or just to the coating?

[JSR]

@JSR
Have you tested the RN mugs again and if yes, what can you say about the white spot issue?

I've mostly been using the Orca-coated mugs. However, since Revolution Transfers appears to have stopped selling mugs, I'm looking at my options. I currently have a couple of test mugs in a dishwasher, including the 10oz dishwasher-safe mugs from Coralgraph.

I'm not sure which way I'm going to lean at this time. I'll have to make a decision before I run out of mugs.

[smitch6]

will be good to hear ur results JSR
cos since swapping to orca i love them, not had 1 blemish with them so far
i also have a sample coming from coral so will try that altho we don't have a dishwasher so can't do that test

[bms]

I just found this thread and wanted to thank you for all the information on the different mugs and coatings as this is a critical and also confusing aspect at least for me as someone who is new to sublimation.
Right now I'm looking for the best mug to use, especially for full size printing (panorama + full height). RN / Duraglaze sounds good, but if the problem with the white spots still exists this would be a no go.

@JSR
Have you tested the RN mugs again and if yes, what can you say about the white spot issue?

@Martin
The European RN mug from BMS is claimed NOT MADE IN CHINA, does this refer to the mug itself or just to the coating?

Mug isn't made in China, coating is made in USA. No issues with white spots in last 150,000+ mugs sold

[Paul]

Iam also testong some mugs on dishwasher now. 10oz from coralgraph, 11oz from bms (i dont have any europeans ones) and expres whitch i belive are 10oz too. All of them so far so good. But is only about 5 cycles now so will see in future.

[Andrew]

Why don't you do a concentrated test rather than over a long period. It takes a couple of monthsw otherwise to just get 60 washes done.

I have seen one test where you boil the mug in water with a dishwasher tablet for 1 hour. Harsher conditions than what any dishwasher will throw at it. Use the same test for every mug as a reference point. RN and Orca should come out perfect and then see how the others compare. You could double the time and concentration of tablets to find the breaking point of the Orca coating which we know is good and then we have a benchmark.

[mrs maggot]

Why don't you do a concentrated test rather than over a long period. It takes a couple of monthsw otherwise to just get 60 washes done.

are you asking Paul to do this test ?? he is only a member the same as you not a manufacturer

[JSR]

I have seen one test where you boil the mug in water with a dishwasher tablet for 1 hour. Harsher conditions than what any dishwasher will throw at it.

How does that compare with a typical dishwasher cycle?

[JSR]

No issues with white spots in last 150,000+ mugs sold

The thing is that when this subject was first brought up there were a lot of people who said that there wasn't a problem in the first place. Clearly many people are less fussy than others if they didn't see the problem. If everyone who saw the problem has switched over to Orca or another supplier, then we don't know if the issue still exists because those still buying them didn't see the problem before and wouldn't see the problem now (if it exists).

Ideally we need someone who saw the problem before to post here about current mugs.