Samstag, 26. Februar 2005     DIY |  studio |  mail

LAZETRAN

With “lazetran” you could print the frontpanel design onto the speacial lazertran-sheet. You have to do the printout in reverse.
Then the sheet must be fixed with a heatgun or shortly at low temperature in the oven. Then put it into cold water for 1 minute. The lazetran foil could now be removed from the paper. Now you have to bake it in a domestic oven. It lasts 1 hour.
 

Removing protective coating from alu panel

cutting the lazetran sheets

the layout has to be printed reveresed, so that the printing is under a thin layer to protect the printing

the lazetran sheet must be soaked 1 minute with cold water...

...and then you can remove the foil

the manual says:

  • turn on the oven, put in the frontpanel and bake it 15 minutes with the door open (lowest oven temperature)
  • then close the door (lowest oven temperature)
  • increase the temperature slowly about 45minutes to 200°C (420 degrees F)
  • when the transfer becomes shiny it should be finished

 

The lazetran is now baked on the panel.
The transparent parts could now be removed. I used turpentine. Laid it in turpentine so that is could soak with it. After a while you can remove the transparent film.

Lazetran says you could also use:

  • Isoprohylalcohol
  • Terpentine
  • I.P.A.

An email fron Mick (Lazetran):
It is usual to have the foil covering the whole of the piece of aluminium so any difference does not show.. But I noticed you have baked it on with the toners face down onto the metal.
If this is the case it is good because after baking you can remove the clear part with real turpentine or Isopropyl Alcohol, or I.P.A. or 2-propanol or Isopropanol leaving the just the toners on the metal.
Soak the image on the metal with the turpentine or alcohol and you will find the foil will dissolve away leaving the metal clean but the image still there.
Do some tests with turpentine and if the toners dissolve(some of the very new ones do) then use alcohol.
Mick

Other DIY people says the following:

  • Someone recommended rubbing down wiyh glasspaper to get matt finish.
  • I found for my panels the best thing was to remove the glossy finish by gently rubbing the surface with VERY MILD abrasive cream cleaner (as used to clean bathrooms etc). This takes the shine off the finish ..and the transaparent parts look fine.
  • I prefered to remove this gloss. One easy way is to use ultra-fine wire wool and some abrasive cream ..and very gently rub the gloss finish down to a ‘satin’ finish. This may sound crazy..but the toner image is protected (remember you reversed it!) by the clear plastic base of the decal..so there is no danger of damaging it with this process. This process also removes small bubbles in the decal that can sometimes remain near the surface, leaving a smooth surface. You might also find some little pinholes hear and there in the finish. If these are visible on the coloured parts..simply spot them off with a permenant ink pen of matching colour. You can then add a final transparent matt lacquer overcoating if you wish.

 

 

Tips from another DIYer.

Here the temperature was too high and the panel was too long in the oven...

LAZETRAN INSTRUCTIONS:


TO FIX TO GLASS, CERAMIC TILES AND SHINY SHEET METAL AND FOILS.

For non-absorbent shiny surfaces, no glue other than the gum on the back of the transfer is required. Simply soak Lazertran in water and slide the transfer onto the carrier. Expel all air bubbles with a rubber squeegee and allow to dry for 24 hours. The image can be varnished for protection with either acrylic or oil based varnish.

 

 

TO BAKE ON CERAMICS, METAL AND GLASS TO GIVE A HARD, WATERPROOF FINISH.

1. Print your image on the shiny side of a sheet of Lazertran in reverse.

2. Put the printed sheet in a hot oven for a minute or so, or use a heat gun to make sure the toners are completly fused on the paper. The image should go very shiny. This will ensure you do not get any tiny bubbles in the image later in the process.

3. Cut the image to size and soak in luke warm water until the transfer loosens on the backing sheet.

4. Place the transfer face down onto the surface and slide the backing sheet off. Wash away any gum as this may go brown later on during the baking then squeegee flat to remove any excess water and air bubbles.

5. Put into a domestic oven at the lowest possible heat setting with the door open for 15 minutes.

6. After this close the door for a further 15 minutes.

7. Now increase the temperature very slightly and continue to do this over the next 45 minutes until the transfer becomes shiny like a glaze.

This will happen at about 200 degrees C or 420 degrees F.

As domestic ovens are not very accurate, rely on the look of the transfer rather than temperture.

The image will now be protected by the clear transfer.