A rule of thumb for using a heat press is to add protection to your projects. There is a wide range of options when it comes to protective materials, including parchment paper. Due to the peculiar nature of parchment paper, the question of ‘can I use parchment paper on heat press’ arises quite often.
Despite its different nature from other protective sheets, parchment paper is an excellent choice for a heat press, which answers the question of whether it can be used for the machine or not. However, along with its many benefits, using parchment paper also requires following a few guidelines.
Unfortunately, I had to learn all the dos and don’ts of using parchment paper after incidents and experiments. To save you from this hassle, I have shared all the information that involves a sheet of parchment paper and a heat press in the article below. Therefore, without any more delay, let’s dive right into it.
Can I Use Parchment Paper On Heat Press
The precise answer to this question is yes, and the longer version is stated down below.
Can Parchment Paper Be Used?
Parchment paper is most commonly used in baking different goods as a lining between the trays and the food. However, the benefits of this amazing paper extend far beyond baking. Using it for heat-pressing different designs and images on multiple materials is another common way of utilizing this sheet. Due to its peculiar nature, parchment paper acts as a barrier between the heated plates and the delicate design and materials. So if you have a couple of heat-pressing projects lined and do not possess any Teflon sheet, then slide parchment paper between the platens.
Which Type Of Parchment Paper Should Be Used?
There is no doubting the credibility and amazing performance of the parchment paper. However, to attain the required protection, you need to make sure to use the right type of parchment paper. Picking just any parchment paper from the market and expecting it to offer optimal protection is folly. A heat press uses a relatively high amount of heat and sometimes for longer durations in some projects. Therefore, you need to use non-stick parchment paper or silicone-coated parchment paper to keep your project safe. Otherwise, you will only receive scorched and damaged results. Only these two types of parchment sheets possess the tendency of offering protection without getting stuck to the heated platens.
Benefits Of Using Parchment Paper
The most common benefit of using parchment paper is that it offers the exact amount of protection as a Teflon sheet. Therefore, when the user does not have any Teflon sheets available, using parchment paper will also deliver the same results. Parchment paper does not only guarantee the safety of the material and image, but it also keeps the heat platens safe. It ensures that the colour of the design does not seep onto the heat platens. In case, there is any leakage of sublimation ink, the parchment paper absorbs it and does not let it get to the machine. In addition to that, parchment paper also sees to it that the design gets pressed evenly. Lastly, parchment paper is reusable so you can use the same sheet for various projects.
What To Keep In Mind While Using Parchment Paper
With the multiple benefits this material offers, it is easy to get carried away. However, using parchment paper also requires a couple of guidelines. First of all, while reusing parchment paper always make sure that the sheet is clean. If there is even a drop of colour from the previous press, it will temper with the design that you are about to transfer. Therefore, using a clean sheet is a critical step. In addition to that, you can only reuse a sheet of parchment paper till it does not show any discolouration. The moment the sheet changes its original colour to a shade of pale white or yellow, it is time to throw it. Do not use such sheets that have discolouration as that is a clear sign that it has reached its maximum tolerance for heat and will not offer any more protection.
Conclusion
Heat pressing is a job that will have you making many blunders and mistakes. However, make sure that you do not make the mistake of using the machine without any protective sheet such as parchment paper. Many users are conflicted about using parchment paper on their heat press. So, read the article above to find out all the answers to your questions along with the conditions and limitations of using parchment paper for heat pressing.
I’m Henry Collins and living my happy life. I’m a professional businessman and I own and run 6 Heat Pressing Services stores where I provide my clients with custom Designs on hats, mugs, T-Shirts and a lot more using Heat Press Machine. Been using a heat press for the last 4 years and people love my work. As I’ve got enough information on Heat Press I decided to make a blog on it and share my knowledge with the world. I hope, the world will appreciate it.