Because our Heat Transfers can be applied to just about any fabric including Nylon and Polypropylene we run into products that just don’t fit under the traditional heat press. If you check with the company where you purchased your heat press they probably offer interchangeable platens. However, there is an inexpensive alternative that gives you more options than the interchangeable platens and that is the Luan board.
Luan Board
Luan, or it may be spelled Lauan, is a thin layer of plywood veneer and is softer and lighter than most plywood. The surface finish is very smooth and mostly without defects which lends itself to using with a heat press. Luan comes in various thickness and I use the 1/4″. I have purchased 2′ x 2′ Luan boards at Lowe’s for around $5.00. Because it is soft and without defects it is easy to sand the edges round to eliminate any pressure lines on the garment. It also makes it easy to slide the board into sleeves or pockets.
The cut boards in the picture were cut for sleeves, pockets, legs of sweat pants, inside pockets of briefcases, pockets of hoodies and works great between the spokes or ribs of umbrellas. If you do any Heat Printing I would suggest purchasing a 2′ x 2′ Luan board and try it next time you run into a difficult product. Don’t forget to sand the edges round and adjust the pressure on your heat press. Contact me if you want more suggestions on using the Luan or with the cutting. If you do try it please let us know your results.
You must be logged in to post a comment.