Are you new to sublimation and trying to figure out the best way to make sublimation tumblers? Deciding between a convection oven or a mug press can be tough, so let’s explore the differences between the two methods so you can decide which is best for you.

When I started out with sublimation, I went with the convection oven

because it seemed like the cheaper and easier option. Now, a year later, I prefer to use a mug press because it is more reliable, faster, and ultimately more cost-effective.

If you’re going to use a convection oven to make sublimation tumblers, here are the supplies you’ll need: a convection oven (preferably separate from your cooking oven), sublimation blanks, sublimation tape, masking tape, shrink wrap, silicone bands, heat gloves, and a small thermometer.

Sublimation items require a certain temperature and pressure to turn out correctly. When I was using a convection oven, the hardest part was making sure the temperature was correct and that I had a consistent pressure around my design. I tried all the different methods that are out there, but in the end, the most consistent method that worked for me was as follows:

Using a Convection Oven

First, take your design and make sure it is taped in place. You don’t want your image to move or shift as this will result in ghosting or a blurry image.

Next, use some butcher paper and tape it in place. This will help protect the tumbler from the masking tape.

Then, use the masking tape to pull it tight and wrap your tumbler to create some pressure. This can be done with any size masking tape, but a thicker one will take less pieces.

To get a consistent pressure, I prefer using silicone bands over shrink wrap. This is a bit more difficult to get on, but it gets the job done. Once your tumbler is covered in silicone bands and ready to bake, put it in the oven at 385°F for about five minutes, rotating it halfway through.

Can you get a convection oven to work? Absolutely, many people do it and recommend it. However, it was very frustrating for me personally and I wasted a lot of tumblers, materials, and time trying to get consistent prints. If you want to streamline the process of making good sublimation tumblers, I highly recommend that you get a mug press.

Using a Mug Press

My mug press is the Trans Pro Plus Mug Press from Pro World. It is a lot more reliable and my tumblers turn out perfectly almost every time. The temperature and pressure is consistent around the entire tumbler, making it easier to get a perfect design when you press it.

The two main differences between using a tumbler press and an oven are that it takes less time to prep your tumbler and it bakes for less time.

When prepping your tumbler for a mug press, you don’t need as much tape or effort. It will take you a lot less time and materials.

When baking in the oven, it takes four to six minutes, but in the mug press, it only takes one minute.

So, if you want to save time and money overall, a mug press is the better investment. However, it is more expensive and if you are just getting started with sublimation, a convection oven is the cheaper and easier option.

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