That's a lot of shirts. With a heat press you can probably only put out about a hundred shirts per hour.
Close the heat press onto the t-shirt. Use medium pressure. Set the temperature to 340-345° Leave for 90 seconds on dark t-shirts, 45 seconds on lights (using the Triton Heat Press, Hotronix machine, or George Knight)
Our ironing guidelines are: 10 shirts for 1 hour, 5 shirts 30 minutes. 8-10 t-shirts for 30-40 minutes. 1 set bed linen 30-40 minutes.
You can usually print at least 180 shirts per hour and because the Trooper is an automatic t-shirt printer, you can print 180 - 6 color shirts an hour.
If your heat press continually heats up without stopping, this could be an indication that your solid state relay is not shutting off when it has reached the desired temperature.
If the time is set too long, it can lead to overexposure of the materials to heat, potentially causing scorching, discoloration, or even damage.
The fabric ink I recommend for screen printing, Speedball Fabric Ink, is about $10 per jar, but one jar will last for a bunch of projects. Depending on how generous you are with your usage, an 8 oz. jar could make 50 prints. That's just $0.20 per shirt!
How many designs do I need to start a t-shirt business? The number of t-shirt designs you need when you open your online t-shirt business depends on your target market and starting budget. As a good rule of thumb, expect to offer between five and 10 of your own t-shirt designs when your online store opens.
How long it takes to iron a dress shirt mostly depends on how experienced you are. If you're only just starting out, expect somewhere between 10-15 minutes for a properly done ironing. When you've worked up your skills a bit you should be down to 3 to 5 minutes. Practice makes perfect!
Ironing costs per hour
Some ironing services will charge by the hour, rather than by item or weight. On average, ironing costs per hour sits between £12 and £18. To weigh up whether this is good value for money, you'll have to ask the service how many items they typically get done per hour.
HOW LONG WILL HEAT TRANSFERS LAST? With proper care of your garment (wash inside out on a cool wash, dry inside out on a washing line and iron inside out - no tumble drying or dry cleaning) the manufacturer recommends around 50 washes for the vinyl heat transfers, which do eventually crack and fade.
Medium Heat Presses (15x15 inches): Suitable for standard t-shirts, tote bags, and smaller garment items. Offers a good balance between versatility and space efficiency.
Screen printing generally offers superior quality and durability compared to heat transfer. The ink used in screen printing penetrates the fabric, resulting in vibrant, long-lasting designs. Heat transfer, on the other hand, can fade or peel over time, particularly with frequent washing.
I often get asked how many shirts will a gallon of ink print? But that answer varies wildly on exactly what you are printing and how you print it. But the bottom line is you should get hundreds of prints out of a quart and thousands out of a gallon and the ink should make a lot of profit for you.
Design size for center-chest print: 8-10 inches. Design size for full-front print: 10-12 inches (width) x 10-14 inches (height). If you want to cover the entire front with large designs, or only the chest with a cool graphic or a logo – these placement options are a perfect choice.
The longevity of a screen-printed design on a t-shirt depends on several factors, including the quality of the materials used, the care taken when washing and drying the shirt, and how frequently the shirt is worn. In general, a well-executed screen print can last for several years if properly cared for.
If you're buying 50 or more, you'll pay between $5-10 per shirt – and if you order in bulk (100+), it's closer to $5 each. So it's best to maximize your purchase - but you also need to be careful. If you buy way too many, you can come in at a loss.
Printing T-shirts at home can be one of the most cost-effective options for custom T-shirts as it will eliminate the need for a professional printer or equipment.
Screen Printing
Screen prints are known for their durability and vibrant colours that last many washes. The ink used in screen printing is thicker than other methods, which results in vibrant colours that hardly fade over time, making it an excellent choice for both dark and light garments.
A heat of at least 190 degrees for at least 5 minutes and strong pressure on a solid worktop (not an ironing board!) will ensure long lasting results. Be sure to iron all the surface area of the print.
Q: Does a heat press use a lot of electricity? While heat presses do consume a considerable amount of electricity, heat pressure manufactured by reputable brands, such as VEVOR, are highly energy efficient and do not consume much energy once preheated to desired temperatures.
Do preferably not use an extension cable. Extension cables or their connectors may not be suited to the high currents of a heat press and may overheat.