Laser transfer experimentation

[sam]

Objective: Use a laser printer to transfer via transparent material instead of paper. Paper works just fine for many things, but there are times when being a to precisely position the design is critical.

I believe most people transfer directly from the parchment to the workpiece. While that works, I found the parchment too slippery and difficult to handle.

So here's another way to do it, although it might require an extra step or two. I don't do much transferring in my daily work, but for this job I have to engrave artwork supplied by the customer.

Someday I hope someone finds a magic solution to transfer directly from laser transparency sheets to the workpiece.



1.) Print on baker's parchment (well documented elsewhere on the forum).


2.) Using a piece of transparency sheet (any type should work), I apply a good coating of transfer wax.


3.) Position over parchment and burnish.


4.) Design is picked up onto waxed transparency sheet.


5.) Apply transfer wax to workpiece.


6.) Burnish lightly to transfer.


7.) Completed transfer.

 

[Big-Un]

Now, that make's sense. I'll try this with a project requiring multiple applications of the same design.

 

[matthew.townsley]

Great idea Sam! Thank you!! I have used the parchment method, and found working with it quite difficult, especially with small pieces.

 

[airamp]

Hi Sam,

Very nice work and great idea...
Sam go to a bakery and get a few sheets of commercial parchment. It transfers much better than store bought stuff..
Looks good
Thanks,
AirAmp

 

[sam]

jbrayout@yahoo.com

Hi Sam,

Very nice work and great idea...
Sam go to a bakery and get a few sheets of commercial parchment. It transfers much better than store bought stuff..
Looks good
Thanks,
AirAmp

What specifically is better or different about the commercial stuff?

 

[airamp]

Hi Sam,
Well I got some from the church and it transferred (came off the parchment) 100%. Others tried it with store bought and it transfers similar to what you have in your photos. The Commercial stuff I had worked much much better.

SO I contacted a factory that makes baking parchment and had them send me samples of the different types of parchment they made. There has to be about 10 types they sent me to test. Only one would release the laser print 100% and it was like a decal. There were 2 others that worked pretty dam good. Others they sent were about 75% release. So there are differences in the parchment wetting formula these company use.

I thought about buying the 100% sheets but they are large reams of 1000 sheets and are the size of commercial baking pans. I still have some of my original sheets and what would I do with that much paper??

Well that is the difference from experience as described.

Moral is not all baking parchment is the same and even all the commercial stuff might not be the same..

AirAmp

 

[dlilazteca]

My experience with parchment was that even if you find one that works and I ran out of toner, inserted a new one and it did not work, did what you called a 65 to 70% transfer, nothing is perfect and you just have to try and try again until something works. I guess that's why many quit, they don't want to figure it out, they want it to work the first time.

 

[monk]

beautiful ! did you have to turn off the heat to do this sam ? if not, i have a rather new laser just screaming to be used. thanks for this.

 

[RDP]

Thank you Sam this is a great idea, this should be in the TIPS ARCHIVE, I could have used it not that long ago, also I just got my transfer wax, excellent product,

Thanks,

Richard.

 

[sam]

beautiful ! did you have to turn off the heat to do this sam ? if not, i have a rather new laser just screaming to be used. thanks for this.

No, I didn't turn off the heat monk. A piece of clear tape will also lift the toner off the parchment nicely, but it doesn't release it for a transfer. The clear sheet w/transfer wax seems to do the trick, and it's 100% transparent. The parchment I have is maybe 25% transparent.

 

[Belprime]

Just wondering, has anyone tried artist tracing paper?

 

[sam]

Just wondering, has anyone tried artist tracing paper?

I was hoping to print on tracing paper and then transfer with acetone, but acetone doesn't soak through tracing paper like it does with regular paper and I couldn't get the design to release. I only have one type tracing paper so maybe there's a different one that will work.

 

[thughes]

Sam,
I've tried it with 3 different brands of tracing paper, and no love. Like you said, the acetone jus doesn't seem to soak through.

Todd

 

[Brian Marshall]

Two thoughts on the tracing paper w/laser printer... spray the acetone lightly on the printed side? Or suspend the paper in a tall jar with an inch of acetone at the bottom - not touching the paper. Seal the jar and let it sit. Maybe a few hours, maybe overnight?

I'm in the middle of constructing a greenhouse and moving the plants inside before we get another batch of frost - or I'd try it out...

Wouldn't be "instant gratification" but might possibly work for a crisp, clear transfer like I get with the inkjet I use at the moment?

Always looking for backup methods...


Brian

 

[bartelfitzneel]

It seems that there is some variation in how parchment paper is made. According to this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parchment_paper
It is made using either sulfuric acid or or zinc chloride. And that sometimes it has a release agent put on it (like silicone) to make it even slicker. Any idea which kind of parchment paper is the one that works 100%

 

[Brian Marshall]

I would bet on the silicone variety... at least that is what I use. Mine comes from a restaurant/bakery supply.

B.

 

[airamp]

Hi,

I am not trying to keep any "secrets" when it comes to progressing engraving and the transfer process since this helps everyone and the art.

I have sent the information and experiment results to Sam for the simple reason that the company that makes the parchment would not like a few hundred requests for samples.

If we can work out a way to get a ream and have it cut to 8X10's and share the cost that would be ok with me. Maybe any profit would go back to the site..??

So sorry Sam for putting this on you but I am sure you can handle it.

Don't bother Sam too much let him take care of making this product available to us all.

AirAmp

 

[sam]

I'm spoiled by transferring with crystal clear tape. The parchment transfer works, but it's a last resort for me, and my laser printer is printing really dirty copies of everything now. I suspect there's loose toner floating around in there that wasn't there before I started printing on the parchment.

 

[airamp]

Sam,
that is usually a sign of a bad fuser (not burning the plastic onto the paper).
Print something on paper and try to rub off the letters. If they come off or smear the fuser is bad in the printer.
If not you have a dirty drum/cartage is doing bad..

AirAmp

 

[Georgey]

I have found acid free tissue paper works really well, it releases images easily with acetone,is translucent to aid placement , and easy to shape on curved surfaces .........we also use it to wrap jewellery up after repair.