Irons
#11
I use my Black & Decker iron with t-shirt transfers made on my ink jet printer. In recent years they haven't been coming out very well and I'm guessing that the iron isn't getting hot enough. Which irons, in your experience get hotter than others? When I press seams for piecing with the Black & Decker, it's fine, but on its hottest setting it would never scorch anything.
Does anyone have any suggestions for t-shirt transfer ironing?
Does anyone have any suggestions for t-shirt transfer ironing?
#12
I read on Nancy Zieman site that you should use filtered water in your steam irons and they won't start spitting and leaking. NOT distilled, filtered, like running it through a Brita pitcher before using it in your iron.. I know this is not about the iron getting hot, but just a FYI. I have a cheap iron I have been using filtered water in for awhile and it seems to work. Also make sure you empty the water out when not using your iron.
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,335
I read on Nancy Zieman site that you should use filtered water in your steam irons and they won't start spitting and leaking. NOT distilled, filtered, like running it through a Brita pitcher before using it in your iron.. I know this is not about the iron getting hot, but just a FYI. I have a cheap iron I have been using filtered water in for awhile and it seems to work. Also make sure you empty the water out when not using your iron.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Pikesville, MD
Posts: 720
On the few times I tried doing this, I had very little luck. We have a local embroidery shop that has one of the big presses like you see in t-shirt shops where they put various decals on the shirts. The shop owner graciously pressed my printouts on the t-shirts for a small fee - I think it was about $1/shirt. Well worth it. Those particular shirts' decals have lasted for decades through some really hard wear and washings. Perhaps you have something like that near to you that might be worth your while?
My only other suggestion would be to try to pick up a vintage dry iron at a yard sale. Those things seem to get really hot.
My only other suggestion would be to try to pick up a vintage dry iron at a yard sale. Those things seem to get really hot.
#16
I needed an iron to get to 150º to melt the glue in a project. I had a new Rowenta so I called them and asked them what the temperature settings were on it. Well, the mfg does not set the temperatures to a specified hotness on their irons. So, one iron could get hotter than a different at the same setting. My iron only got to 140º so it wouldn't get hot enough for what I needed. So I understand your concern about the glue not melting. I had a friend who loved to go to garage sales. So I had him search for an old iron that did not have holes. He found one for me. I took it to a shop that replaced the cord for me and it really gets hot!
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Live Oak, Texas
Posts: 6,133
I found a Maytag iron at Sam's Club yesterday and liked the looks of it and have been thinking of going back for it. I have never seen or heard of one before. Do any of you have one and if you do, how well do you like it you like it?
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Midwest
Posts: 5,051
I read on Nancy Zieman site that you should use filtered water in your steam irons and they won't start spitting and leaking. NOT distilled, filtered, like running it through a Brita pitcher before using it in your iron.. I know this is not about the iron getting hot, but just a FYI. I have a cheap iron I have been using filtered water in for awhile and it seems to work. Also make sure you empty the water out when not using your iron.
sandy
#19
After I had two really expensive irons die rather quickly, I decided that cheap would do just as well.
I was right.
I bought a little Rival iron at WalMart, for $12. Used it daily for several years. When it finally died, I went back to WalMart and got another one just like it...for $6!!!!!!!!!!
Does it get hot enough? Well, considering that in a moment of distraction, I managed to scorch some fabric, I would say "YES!!"
I NEVER use any water in it... if I need moisture to release some really stubborn wrinkles, I have a spray bottle of water, set on fine mist (got the bottle in the WalMart Garden center).
Just my 2 cents worth.
I was right.
I bought a little Rival iron at WalMart, for $12. Used it daily for several years. When it finally died, I went back to WalMart and got another one just like it...for $6!!!!!!!!!!
Does it get hot enough? Well, considering that in a moment of distraction, I managed to scorch some fabric, I would say "YES!!"
I NEVER use any water in it... if I need moisture to release some really stubborn wrinkles, I have a spray bottle of water, set on fine mist (got the bottle in the WalMart Garden center).
Just my 2 cents worth.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Pikesville, MD
Posts: 720
On the few times I tried doing this, I had very little luck. We have a local embroidery shop that has one of the big presses like you see in t-shirt shops where they put various decals on the shirts. The shop owner graciously pressed my printouts on the t-shirts for a small fee - I think it was about $1/shirt. Well worth it. Those particular shirts' decals have lasted for decades through some really hard wear and washings. Perhaps you have something like that near to you that might be worth your while?
My only other suggestion would be to try to pick up a vintage dry iron at a yard sale. Those things seem to get really hot.
My only other suggestion would be to try to pick up a vintage dry iron at a yard sale. Those things seem to get really hot.
I love this board!
Thanks again,
Carol
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