Vinyl on a ceramic Mug??

[im_mcguire]

Has anybody done this?  I have a customer that now wants me to run her online store for decoration, and that includes mugs.  I agreed to this, thinking I was supplying the mugs, turns out, she found some that she really likes.  They are black ceramic on the outside and red on the inside.

She would like white as the logo color. 

Does anyone know who makes transfers, or what type of vinyl will work for this?  Or even a different decoration method.  She is only doing 12 at a time...

[Frog]

Vinyl seems a little tacky for this, as well as possible to fail in dishwashers (though so do sublimated mugs eventually)
With a cylindrical screen printer, or pad printer, there must be compatible inks.

[Doug B]

  Yes, I have done cylindrical printing and pad printing and both are a bear. The only durable
screen ink must be kiln fired and the special pad ink is no fun to work with. If they are all the
same print, I would suggest buying a gross at a time and doing a fulfillment program of some
sort.

[Frog]

im, how do you usually deal with mugs? What did you think that you were agreeing to. sublimation?

It's stories like this that reminds me how great it felt when I could afford to say "NO" more and more.

[im_mcguire]

im, how do you usually deal with mugs? What did you think that you were agreeing to. sublimation?

It's stories like this that reminds me how great it felt when I could afford to say "NO" more and more.

This is actually my first dealing with mugs.

But yes, originally we were talking about white ceramic mugs.  I was going to sublimate them, and call it a day.  Now with them supplying them, and something that isnt easily transferable ( for longevity ) it now really throws a wrench in things.

The only reason I am doing this for this client, is they are not afraid to spend money on the screen printing I do for them.  I charge a premium for the garments that they order, and they want me to handle their "promotion" work now...

[mk162]

This will probably end badly.  You won't get a product that lasts without a kiln dried ink.  I've accidentally purchased the mugs printed with a superglue like ink and it chips off afters  couple rounds in the dishwasher.

[Inkworks]

1,000,000 plus non-kiln fired pad-printed mugs and glasses printed and sold here and going strong, almost zero complaints so far. I have printed coffee mugs at home that have been used and dishwashed many hundreds of times now and only have a few tiny marks in the prints without any special handling.

Is it as tough as kiln fired? Nope, is it completely fine for promotional use? absolutely. We explain to our customers what the difference is and haven't lost much in the way of orders over kiln fired yet in 15+ years.

Properly done, dishwashing should actually make the print harder as the ink is catalyzed by heat and humidity. We even have commercial clients (Restaurants, Pubs, coffee shops, Wineries and Breweries) who are fully aware of the process, difference and limitations who have no issues with the prints and have been using them and continue to re-order for over the last decade.

Vinyl is a no-go, don't even try it. you just need to educate your customer that 12 pieces at a time will need to be sublimated or the like, or they need to commit to a larger quantity and have them printed properly, kiln-fired or not.

[Sbrem]

My experience with this was to use ceramic transfers. I use a mug company in Rhode Island, show them what I need, they tell me what it costs, it's pretty easy. We did a 4 color on a convex mug, came out great. I'm really glad I didn't try to figure it out myself, LOL.

Steve

If you need my contact, PM me...

[Frog]

My experience with this was to use ceramic transfers. I use a mug company in Rhode Island, show them what I need, they tell me what it costs, it's pretty easy. We did a 4 color on a convex mug, came out great. I'm really glad I didn't try to figure it out myself, LOL.

Steve

If you need my contact, PM me...

Are those the type that are waterslide applied, then kiln fired?

[Sbrem]

I think so Andy, I don't know for sure, I just know that the art was sent in vector format to the 3rd party who made the transfers, then they went to the distributor for application and firing...

Steve

[tonypep]

Outsource to a promo products supplier

[Inkworks]

My experience with this was to use ceramic transfers. I use a mug company in Rhode Island, show them what I need, they tell me what it costs, it's pretty easy. We did a 4 color on a convex mug, came out great. I'm really glad I didn't try to figure it out myself, LOL.

Steve

If you need my contact, PM me...

Are those the type that are waterslide applied, then kiln fired?

This is a great way to go if you have a kiln and know how to use it.