Cutting. Weeding. Heat Pressing. These are the three basic steps to decorating a garment. Of those steps, weeding heat transfer vinyl tends to be the most challenging. But it doesn’t have to be. We have some time-saving tips that help lessen the struggle with this task.
How to Weed Heat Transfer Vinyl Easier:
- Pick Out the Cavities First
- Pull into the Cavities
- Stahls’ EZ Weeding Table
Pick Out the Cavities of the Design first
To start things off, remove the center cavities of the design using your EZ Weeder® or other vinyl weeding tool. Be mindful to do this before removing the outside. By doing this first, you won’t have to go back through to pick them out – especially if there are fine details (smaller elements in a design have a tendency to stick to larger pieces).
Pull into the Cavities of the Material
Once that is done, it’s time to tackle those larger vinyl pieces. Once you’ve pulled up a corner with your weeding tool, grab the vinyl that’s been lifted up from the corner with your fingers. Then, start pulling into the cavities of the letters. This reduces tearing the vinyl, making the weeding process smoother which, in turn, improves productivity.
Using the right tools can be invaluable to the weeding vinyl process. For instance, there simply is no substitute for the STAHLS’® EZ Weeder®. Its sharp hook and comfortable, solid handle are what sets this weeding tool apart from others on the market.
Use Stahls’ EZ Weeding Table to Increase Productivity
The STAHLS’ EZ Weeding™ Table is another essential vinyl weeding tool that can increase productivity up to 80%. The bond between a heat transfer material and its carrier lessens when heated. This patented vinyl weeding table slightly heats materials to promote removal from the carrier. Which results in easier weeding with less material breakage.
The EZ Weeding™ Table has a large surface area for weeding, three temperature settings, and a clamp to hold material in place. It fits most counter tops and production tables.
If you love the idea of the Weeding Table, but prefer to have something lightweight and portable, then the CAD-CUT® Weeding Panel is the perfect solution. It’s a sturdy, less expensive vinyl weeding tool. The Weeding Panel is ideal for those who have a smaller work area and/or heat print on-site at various events.
Check out this video to see these weeding tips in action:
By improving your weeding skills, your apparel decorating business will be come more efficient in productivity. Efficiency is the equivalent to saving money. And by saving money you’ll see an increase in profits.