How to press back numbers with image on front

[Du Manchu]

The truck just brought my new/used Heat Press, as I am tired of turning names & numbers away.   It's an older Hix N840 and spliting the shirt isn't going to happen.   So here's my question.....

We are printing a front chest and high back image, and adding numbers to the back.    Since this press will not let me "split" the shirt, what should we do?

Lay the entire shirt on the pallet and press the numbers?  If so, do we need a teflon sheet on the base and between the front/back of shirt to protect the original printed image on the front?

Should we press the cold peal numbers first, then print and run it through the conveyor oven?

Suggestions appreciated.

Thanks-Dewey

[LuxInks]

Hi.
There's a teflon padded "pillow" that you place inside the garment. You can get it from Stahls. This will do the trick for you. They come in various sizes.
Good luck!
Paul

[Frog]

The pillows are especially useful on backs to reduce the impression you would otherwise get from the collar.

They do offer the added benefit of insulation, but the relatively low heat and short dwells of most "vinyls" make damage to the screen point a low risk.

[whitewater]

i just tape a piece of wax paper down to the rubber for just in case...

[3Deep]

If you don't want heat getting to the screened area let that part hang off the heat press and press your number, they should all fall in the same place under your screen printed area.  We just use a teflon sheet and lay over the whole thing and press, all it does is makes the screen print kind of shiny.

Darryl

[Frog]

Dewey's problem was not adding a number to a screen print, but dealing with a heat pressed number on the back of a shirt with a screen printed front.

And, Kraft Paper will work as a cover sheet without adding the shine.

[T Shirt Farmer]

i just tape a piece of wax paper down to the rubber for just in case...

Wax Paper No Bueno... the wax will melt and wick right into the shirt

[Frog]

I have a teflon cover on my rubber platen that also helps protect it from tearing and chipping as it may over time. (That rubber is expensive, btw!)

[whitewater]

i just tape a piece of wax paper down to the rubber for just in case...

Wax Paper No Bueno... the wax will melt and wick right into the shirt

ive never had that happen...

[Frog]

I'd probably go with parchment before wax paper, but if it's been working for you, that's a good thing.

[GaryG]

Can't just load shirt open like on a screen printing platen?
Much quicker that putting something inside.
Front will bunch up some underneath, but we do it regularly.
Smalls are tight but can be done with practice. Make sure fabric lays natural.
Tack names first (with cad cut liner) then add numbers for needed time.
Hope this helps~

[dirkdiggler]

buy the stand from hottronix, that bitch is the jam.  cant believe i ever used a heat press without it.

[Du Manchu]

Conclusion:

That was fairly simple, but I did learn a few things via mistakes.

I gambled, and just threw both layers of the shirt on the pad and pressed the numbers, which created a bad ghost image on the opposite layer. 

I then placed a sheet of kraft paper between the layers, which still created a light ghost image (thicker paper, or two pieces may have helped.

I then split the shirt and just left it bunched up below the numbers and started rocking along at about 30 shirts an hour.

I am digging the cold peel plastisol transfers from 1st Edition.  Not very shinny and pressed well.

Thanks to all for the recommendations.