Sublimation
How to Fix a Messed Up Sublimation Tumbler
When you’re first starting out with sublimation, you’re bound to make quite a few mistakes. So when you’re paying $8-$12 per sublimation blank, that starts to add up. After making […]
When you’re first starting out with sublimation, you’re bound to make quite a few mistakes. So when you’re paying $8-$12 per sublimation blank, that starts to add up. After making our first few tumbler sublimation mistakes, we wanted to figure out if there was a way to fix and/or reuse the tumblers that we messed up. Luckily, there is.
In this tutorial, we show you the “bake off” method, where you use high heat (400 degrees) to essentially bake off the old sublimation design. The ink will fade over time until it is light enough to re-sublimate over. The trick that we used to get a good, even un-sublimation is to turn the tumbler every 15 minutes and then flip it, as the heat isn’t consistent throughout our convection oven. We did a total of 90 minutes, flipping it top to bottom after 1 hour.
Check out our video for the best way to fix a messed up sublimation tumbler:
đź›’ Tools and Materials (most links = affiliate links):
Hiipoo Sublimation Ink for EcoTank Printers (new bottles) – https://amzn.to/2R8RWBD
Hiipoo Sublimation Paper – https://amzn.to/3N0YKZy
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Epson EcoTank 15000 –Â https://amzn.to/3gdRKd5
Butcher Paper – https://amzn.to/398q869
Heat Resistant Tape: https://amzn.to/2Phaa2L
Silicone Mat for Cooling: https://amzn.to/3nUNp1D
Light Duty Heat Resistant Gloves: https://amzn.to/3ustM3p
Thin Silicone Mat for Covering Tops: https://amzn.to/3c5WRL5
Heat Gun: https://amzn.to/34wKIKQ
20 oz Skinny Tumbler: https://link.justmightdiy.com/JPP-20ozTum
10 oz Low Ball: https://link.justmightdiy.com/JPP-Sub-Short
Shrink Wrap Sleeves: https://link.justmightdiy.com/JPP-Shrink
🤑 Use code 9PME6 for 10% off List Price at Johnson Plastics Plus.
Promo code valid through 2022 for unlimited usage. Excludes equipment, ink, fabrication and STB subscriptions 🤑
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JZ
Always a writer, sometimes a maker. Love pretty pictures and clever words. Optimist with a healthy dose of realism.
Just Might DIY 
How can I take of a sublimation off on a glitter tumbler?
I bought the tumbler already glittered.
Thank you
Jean
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Hey! Without seeing it, it’s hard to understand exactly what you have and advise.
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Hi,
I’m hoping maybe you can help. My plan was to make tumblers for my & my husbands co workers for Christmas. Two things are happening almost every time, the first is the top & bottom of the tumblers are’t coming out and the second is the seam in the back. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. Any advice would be great.
Thanks!
Stacy
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Hey! Thanks for your question. There are so many variables (including which method you’re using to press, etc.) that it’d be difficult to troubleshoot this in comments; however, we have a few tips: For the seam, your measurements just have to be dead on accurate, and the paper has to be TIGHT on the tumbler. If it’s not, it will bulge up a bit when pressure is applied. For the top and bottom, make sure that your paper isn’t folding at all around those areas. The easiest fix is honestly to find a more forgiving graphic that isn’t a full-color, 360-degree top to bottom wrap. There are tons of cute ones that have a little more white at the top or bottom (think snow or icing/ice cream dripping, etc. that can be a bit easier to work with. Hope this helps!
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Can I fade, or unsub, using my tumbler press? I don’t have a connection oven.
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Hey! We haven’t tried that, and we have differing opinions. I (JZ) don’t think it will work because the pressure of the press will trap most of the ink to the tumbler still. Daniel thinks it’s worth a shot if you keep putting clean paper around it to absorb the ink as it heats (but he caveats with the fact that it could take several rounds of doing that). Let us know if you give it a try!
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