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Can You Sublimate on Stainless Steel Tumblers?

Sublimation is a printing technique that uses heat transfer to embed ink in an item rather than on the surface.

This printing technology is commonly used in decorating clothes, signs, and banners.

Sublimation printing technology is also popular in the textile, ceramics, wood decorating, and steel industries.

Companies are using this printing technology because, unlike other printing methods, sublimation offers excellent color gradients, is durable, and is less prone to fade.

If you’re familiar with sublimation on a small or large scale, it’s normal to be curious about what materials you can sublimate.

Typically, people doing sublimation projects use more accessible and straightforward items like fabrics, vinyl, or polymer-coated items.

However, if you want to stand out or create unique craft items for your business or personal use, you can explore other sublimation-friendly materials.

One of the materials you should consider is stainless steel.

Unlike products like fabric and vinyl, stainless steel is not the first material people think of when pursuing a sublimation project. However, it has excellent qualities like versatility, lightweight, and malleability, making it an ideal choice for sublimation.

If you’ve been wondering whether you can sublimate on stainless steel tumblers, the answer is you can.

This post will explore the qualities of a good sublimation printer, the exact steps to sublimate on stainless steel tumblers, and much more.

Can You Sublimate on Stainless Steel Tumblers?

Factors to Consider When Sublimating on Stainless Steel

Before beginning sublimation, there are a few factors to remember. The first is that sublimation dye only works for polymer-coated surfaces. This means stainless steel items, including tumblers, require a polymer coating before sublimation.

Stainless steel products made specifically for sublimation already have a polymer coating. If your tumbler isn’t pre-coated, you’ll have to coat it yourself. You can purchase a waterproof polymer coating online or at a nearby store. 

Stainless steel uses a polymer coating because polymer is one of the most sublimation-friendly materials available. It has light fibers that quickly absorb sublimation dye, allowing you to create any design on a product. After applying the coating, you’ll wait a few minutes to hours depending on the type of coating you use. Then you can proceed with sublimation.

Another essential factor to note is that stainless steel materials are different, and each will give varying results with sublimation. Some stainless steel products will absorb the sublimation dye better than others even with a polymer coating. Additionally, sublimation on stainless steel products might not last as long as on other materials like ceramics, polyester fabric, and polymer-coated products like pens and utensils.

How to Make a Sublimation Coating for Stainless Steel Tumblers

As noted above, stainless steel tumblers require a polymer coating before sublimation. There are different types of polymer coatings. These include powder coating, e-coating, and PVD coating. Powder coating is the most common type of polymer coating for stainless steel. It’s easy to use and provides a durable barrier against moisture and oxygen consequently preventing rusting. Powder coating is cured with heat. Usually, it is exposed to between 125-130 degrees heat for approximately 2 minutes to become sublimation ready.

E-coating is another popular sublimation coating for stainless steel. It provides equally good protection against moisture and oxygen that usually corrodes steel. E-coating is cured with heat from an electric charge and typically takes about 4 hours before the steel material is sublimation-ready.

The final type of polymer coating for stainless steel is PVD (physical vapor deposition). PVD coating uses a vaporization vacuum process to deposit a thin layer of polymer coating on the stainless steel surface. PVD isn’t as durable as powder or e-coating, meaning products with this type of coating might erode faster. However, this coating absorbs sublimation dye well producing high-quality images. If you’re using PVD, you’ll need more time to let the coating cure. This may sometimes be more than 6 hours.

How To Sublimate on a Stainless Steel Tumbler

Sublimating a stainless steel tumbler is an excellent way to create your own vibrant designs and experiment with different colors and words. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to sublimate on a stainless steel tumbler:

  • A sublimation printer
  • The stainless steel tumbler
  • Sublimation paper
  • Sublimation Shrink Wrap
  • The design you want to sublimate on the tumbler
  • An oven

We’ll give an in-depth review of each item below:

A Sublimation Printer

The first item you need for your stainless steel tumbler sublimation project is a printer. Sublimation printers come in different shapes and sizes. The type of printer you get depends on your needs and budget. Factors like color quality, printing speed, size of prints, number of ink colors, and the price will also affect your choice.

Here are a few pointers to help you choose the best sublimation printer for your stainless steel tumbler project:

  • Quality – The first thing to consider when buying a sublimation printer is the print quality. A good printer will produce high-resolution images allowing you to replicate the original image with excellent color gradient accuracy. This is especially essential if you intend to print images on your stainless steel tumbler.
  • Speed – Printing speed is another essential consideration in selecting a sublimation printer. A printer with above-average speeds will make your sublimation process smooth and convenient.
  • Software support – This is one of the most overlooked but fundamental factors in a quality sublimation printer. A good sublimation printer will have online and manual instructions on how to use the sublimation printer. The manufacturer will also have a readily available customer support team to answer your questions in case you encounter problems when sublimating.
  • Price – The last factor to consider when buying a sublimation printer is the price. Ensure you do your research on the printer with the best qualities, but it is still within your budget.

Check out our article on the Best Sublimation Printers for this type of material.

The Stainless Steel tumbler

The next item on the list is the tumbler you will sublimate on. Remember, this process requires a ‘blank’ stainless steel tumbler. A blank is a tumbler without any pattern or design on them.

Stainless steel tumbler blanks are available in various stores and online. Some are pre-coated with polymer coating, while some are not.

Check whether your blank has a coating. If it isn’t one of the polymer coating processes covered in the previous section.

Sublimation Paper

Sublimation paper offers the best results in terms of transfer and color retention. Like blanks, sublimation papers are available in convenience stores and online.

Sublimation Shrink Wrap

A sublimation shrink warp is a thin paper that reforms into the shape and size of the item you’re sublimating on.

They are instrumental in sublimating stainless steel tumblers and other cup-shaped products because they have a unique shape that doesn’t fit the regular tumbler presses.

Design

The next item on the list is the design you want to sublimate on the stainless steel tumbler. You can use online sources to create a custom or an already available design.

An Oven or Heat press

An oven or heat press will provide the heat needed to transfer the design from the sublimation paper to the stainless steel tumbler.

Remember, sublimation is a heat transfer process of transferring sublimation dye into a product.

After verifying everything is in place, it’s time to begin actual sublimation.

Step-by-Step Guide on Sublimating a Stainless Steel Tumbler

Follow the steps below to sublimate the stainless steel tumbler:

Create Your Design

The first step is to create the design you want on the tumbler. The good news is there are a variety of design inspirations and ideas online. If you want a high-quality image, visit stock image websites and purchase the one you like best. Alternatively, use online design tools to create a unique custom design for your tumbler.

Print Your Design

After settling on the perfect image or design, the next step is to print it. Before printing, resize the design to fit the tumbler’s size. For accuracy, use a ruler to measure the width and height of the tumbler, then adjust your design. Design software typically has built-in measurement features, but you can also resize the image after the design is complete.

Ensure you retain the initial aspect ratio. If you overextend the image, the design might pixelate and ruin the quality of the final design. If you’re using an online image, verify the resolution to ensure you can adjust the measurements upwards without causing significant changes in the quality.

Cut The Design

Usually, the design you print will be larger than the tumbler you are pressing it on. To get the exact size, use scissors to cut along the edges. Ensure you leave a small margin on the print so the design is larger than the stainless steel tumbler.

Apply The Design

Place the sublimation paper on a flat surface facing down to apply the design on the tumbler. The printing side should be touching the tumbler. Turn the tumbler around, ensuring the paper wraps around it as it turns. Be steady and slow to avoid any missteps. Secure the paper with heat-resistant tape to prevent it from moving.

Wrap The Stainless Steel Tumbler

After taping it, the next step is to wrap it in shrink wrap. Roll the wrap carefully around the paper. After, use a heat gun to shrink and reform it into the tumbler’s shape.

Sublimate

The final step is to sublimate the design on the tumbler. There are two ways to do this, depending on which tool is most accessible: an oven or a heat press.

Here’s a guide on using a heat press to sublimate a stainless steel tumbler:

  1. Place the tumbler into the heat press. This case will give an example of a tumbler press, which is specialized for cups and tumblers.
  2. Next, set the heat press temperature to 400°F for 30 seconds.
  3. Turn the tumbler to the other side and repeat step 2.
  4. Use heat-resistant gloves to remove the tumbler from the heat press.
  5. Wait a few minutes for the tumbler to cool down.
  6. Remove the wrap, heat-resistant tape, and sublimation paper.
  7. Check to see the results of the sublimation process.

When sublimating a stainless steel tumbler, an oven works similarly to the heat press. Follow the steps below:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 F.
  2. Place your tumbler on the cookie sheet.
  3. Wait for the tumbler to bake for 60 seconds.
  4. Use heat-resistant gloves to remove the tumbler from the oven.
  5. Wait a few minutes for the tumbler to cool down.
  6. Remove the wrap, heat-resistant tape, and sublimation paper.
  7. Check to see the results of the sublimation process.

Tips For Sublimating on Stainless Steel

Here are some helpful tips for your stainless steel sublimation projects:

  • Before purchasing sublimation paper, ensure its purposely made for sublimating on stainless steel products. Remember, the paper will affect the quality of substrate transfer to the item. If you’re working with stainless steel tumblers, blank tumbler sellers usually have corresponding sublimation papers.
  • If the final design isn’t good quality or hasn’t transferred correctly, increase the heat press or oven temperature. Alternatively, let the tumbler bake for an additional 20-30 seconds before removing it.
  • Use heat-resistant gloves to remove stainless steel items from the oven or heat press to avoid burns. Also, give them a few minutes to cool down before unwrapping them.
  • Avoid cleaning stainless steel material you have sublimated on with harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbers or cleaners. Remember, stainless steel’s absorption level isn’t as good as polyester fabrics or vinyl, even with the coating. This means harsh chemicals will strip off the design when used frequently and over long periods.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a different material to sublimate on for your business or DIY project, stainless steel is an excellent choice. Steel is lightweight, malleable, and versatile, making it suitable for different products. One of the critical factors to note about sublimating on steel is stainless steel alone is not sublimation friendly. You’ll have to coat the surface with a polyester film to allow the sublimation dye to sip through. If you’re unfamiliar with stainless steel sublimation, tumblers are an excellent place to start. Stainless steel tumbler blanks are affordable and accessible, and the sublimation process is straightforward if you have the correct information.

FAQs

What Type of Sublimation Paper Should You Use For Stainless Steel?

Ensure you use sublimation papers made purposely for sublimating on stainless steel products like tumblers. If you’re unsure about the paper you’re purchasing, inquire from the seller or manufacturer.

Is There a Specific Ink For Sublimating on Stainless Steel?

Yes, there’s sublimation ink specifically made for stainless steel.

How Do You Wash Sublimated Stainless Steel Products Like Tumblers?

Use mild soap, water, and a non-abrasive scrubber to clean sublimated stainless steel. Avoid using a dishwasher and allow the item to air dry after cleaning.