Plastisol Images on Underside of Heat Press

[screenxpress]

I bought a used Hix Heat Press a few years back.  There are print images on the underside of the heat plate from the previous owner.  I always use a Teflon or Silicon sheet.

Anyone have a good idea how to remove the images from the underside?

[Frog]

I clean with press wash. CG-2 from CCI to be exact

[screenxpress]

I clean with press wash. CG-2 from CCI to be exact

Thanks, I tried press wash, 701 Ghost remover and Renew (serious Emulsion/Ghost remover). 

320 grit sandpaper/sander ended up removing all the old images, lol.

[Frog]

I clean with press wash. CG-2 from CCI to be exact

Thanks, I tried press wash, 701 Ghost remover and Renew (serious Emulsion/Ghost remover). 

320 grit sandpaper/sander ended up removing all the old images, lol.

The platens on my Insta press has a teflon-ish coating. Current George Knight hat press seems to be coated. My George Knight label press has a teflon sheet (like our cover sheets) mounted over it.
30 years ago, my Hix Hat Press had a teflon sheet suspended like a hammock between the heat platen and the hat platen.

[screenxpress]

I clean with press wash. CG-2 from CCI to be exact

Thanks, I tried press wash, 701 Ghost remover and Renew (serious Emulsion/Ghost remover). 

320 grit sandpaper/sander ended up removing all the old images, lol.

The platens on my Insta press has a teflon-ish coating. Current George Knight hat press seems to be coated. My George Knight label press has a teflon sheet (like our cover sheets) mounted over it.
30 years ago, my Hix Hat Press had a teflon sheet suspended like a hammock between the heat platen and the hat platen.

I could tell the underside was just metal without a coating, unless it had previously been removed somehow.  I do use a Teflon or Silicon sheet over the transfer.  I also have an old Hix hat press tucked away somewhere and it has the suspended hammock, lol.

If I start doing more of this, I'll probably have to upgrade the heat press.

[screenxpress]

In looking ahead, I've always like a Swing Away. 

Whats the pros to a Clamshell?  Is there any?  Burned knuckels?

[Frog]

In looking ahead, I've always like a Swing Away. 

Whats the pros to a Clamshell?  Is there any?  Burned knuckels?

To me, the advantage of a clamshell over a swing away is the savings in real estate. Takes up half as much room.
The disadvantage can be uneven pressure with the back hitting first unless the design somehow compensates for this.

[royster13]

2 clamshells here.....Did not like the swing away I used to have......

[Sbrem]

I have a pretty old Insta swing-away, which I prefer, real estate isn't a problem, but if cramped, it would be of course. I just put a new thermostat in it, so I expect it will outlast me. I've never seen a heat press without the teflon surface, and I go pretty far back. When I read "320 grit" the first thing I thought of was "OMG, no, no, no!" but apparently it had been done already.

Steve

[ABuffington]

We had 12 Insta presses at one point for delicate foiling on high end fabrics.  Good even temp and pressure across the platen for puff foils (foil adhesive over puff ink) and the pressure and heat had to be perfect to work.  Built to withstand years and years of use.  We were way over a million impressions on a couple of the older ones.  Sold every one of them for what we bought them for.