Best way to measure heat press temp?

[Sean]

I am pretty sure the temp dial on my heat press is WAY off, so I am seeking a way to measure the actual temperature. Thanks for any suggestions!

[Loose Gravel]

It should be easy to find boiling. Put a drop of water on your finger and touch it to the platten. If it sizzles, you have boiling. Scale from there.

Also, there are little strips of paper or wax on paper that turn color with different temps. There are used as monitors when you ship, store, or test sensitive electronics.

[RichSBV]

Since I just recently bought a press (used, from here), the first thing I did ewwas measure it's temperature.

I used a candy thermometer (dare I say, a digital one from the supermarket), placed on the pad all the way in (left about an inch sticking out), closed it down and turned up the thermostat. Step by step, measured the difference.

And yes, mine is way off... Something to check into later. It reaches mounting temp and that's all that counts at the moment...

[noseoil]

Meat thermometer, grocery store. Once temperature is set, LEAVE IT ALONE! tim

[Konical]

Good Morning, Sean,

Generally, a fairly precise temperature is required only when mounting RC materials. Absent the commercial temperature-measuring test strips, you can establish a correct setting by using a series of waste B & W RC paper strips. Start with what you think is a correct temperature setting; if the RC paper shows no melting (usually a little surface glazing) at the first setting, raise the temperature in five or ten degree increments and repeat with new scraps of RC paper until you start to get melting. Then just back off a bit, mark the setting, and you should be good to go. Naturally, these tests should be done with release paper to prevent anything from sticking to the platen.

It has been my experience that mounting fiber paper is not very temperature-critical. As long as the press is hot enough to activate the mounting tissue, it shouldn't matter much if it's accidentally set somewhat hotter.

Konical

[Donald Miller]

Some tissues are affected by too high temps. They will fail to adhere. The best way that I have found to check platen temps is with a digital thermometer with thermocouple lead.