How To Remove Print From A Mug

One of the biggest advantages of sublimation printing on ceramic mugs is the durability of the print. It volition resist scratching, and the image will be of photographic quality. So figuring out how to remove sublimation ink from mugs will be a difficult thing to practice.

How Does Sublimation Printing Work?

Sublimation printing involves a chemic process in which ink is superheated from a solid form to a gaseous land and and then at a molecular level the particles are embedded into a polymer, generally a polyester coating or cloth. Sounds complicated, but in reality, it is a simple process.

This chemical process occurs at temperatures of 400F and higher and becomes durable afterward the substrate (a ceramic mug with a polyester coating) cools to room temperature.

The theory behind how to remove sublimation inks from mugs likewise as other materials, such as shirts, would exist to oestrus the finished mug to a temperature above 400F for a pregnant length of time.  For a more in-depth look at sublimation bank check out this article, What is Sublimation Printing and How Does it Work?

There are two methods you can endeavour to remove print from ceramic mugs.

The Dishwasher Method

The start is to put the coffee mug in the dishwasher at the high-temperature setting on the lower rack. This process is likely to accept quite a few cycles, but eventually, information technology will fade and disappear. It won't be perfect, but if the logo or moving picture on the mug needs removal, it volition be unrecognizable afterwards a few cycles.

Although this procedure works, information technology will have time to brand it happen. You may have noticed fading, and something almost like the design was running down the mug from normal twenty-four hour period to twenty-four hour period washing of dishes (encounter the image for this post).  If the removal of the logo is non time critical, place the mug on the lower rack everytime you wash information technology, and eventually the logo will exist gone. If yous are looking to speed up the removal process the next method will work better for you.

Check out the prototype in this post and you volition see a sublimated mug that was done on the lower rack of the dishwasher twice.  It is significantly faded and has a washed out await.

The Oven Method

Using your oven to remove sublimation inks will exist much faster and easier. All you have to practise is place your mug in a toaster oven or your regular oven. Set the temperature to something above 400F and let it broil until you have the results you want. One thing though, do not have food in the oven at the aforementioned time. Information technology may alter the taste of the food due to the olfactory property of the fumes that are coming off of the coffee mug.   I do recommend that yous purchase a toaster oven that is but used for sublimation, that fashion there are no problems with food and fumes.  You can purchase an oven Amazon, just click here.  The toaster oven can also be used with cactus wraps when press your mugs, click hither to get yours.

After you have heated the mug and removed information technology from the oven, you can let the mug cool to room temperature. This will give it more time to release any remaining ink.

Neither of these methods will be perfect, but if y'all are trying to save money by reprinting mugs, it can be price-effective just probably not worth the fourth dimension. Sublimation mugs are pretty cheap compared to the effort required to remove the ink. You tin purchase a example of 36 on Amazon for around $70, check the price and options here. I would recommend merely reprinting a new bare. In reality, you can never accept as well many coffee cups.

Blank Sublimation Mugs $72.00

How Should I Remove A Sublimation Blanket From A Mug?

This is a much dissimilar process than removing sublimation ink from a mug.  This would involve sanding away the polyester coating or use of a stiff chemical to remove the coating.  Neither is recommend and its likely to damage the mug.  Don't waste your time with this and go out and buy a new uncoated ceramic mug.

Removing Sublimation Inks From Textile

Removing sublimation ink from shirts and fabrics is not recommended or even possible every bit far as I know. The typical home dryer reaches a temperature of 135F which is not nearly hot enough to re-activate sublimation inks. This is why sublimated t-shirts are so great they hardly fade, and they terminal a long time without the heavy and thick feeling of screen printing.

Source: https://tshirtprinterschool.com/remove-sublimation-ink-mugs/

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