Just like other materials like leather, nylon and rayon, we can perform sublimation on wood as well. Sublimation on the wooden items such as key rings, welcome boards, and round signs adds style and grace.
A plain and clean surface must be prepared to perform sublimation on wood. Therefore, most sublimation experts laminate the wooden surface with polyacrylic or a shiny polyester sheet.
If you are a beginner, you should buy polymer-coated wood instead of laminating it.
Wood sublimation is popular in the interior design field. Various methods are employed to have the required sublimation design on wood.
All the methods are workable, but we will go with the ones that show better results.
What Type of Wood Is Best for Sublimation?
In sublimation, a wide variety of wooden blanks are available. You have to Choose according to the design requirements and provide better results. Many options include chipboards, MDF, and natural wood pieces.
In natural wood, small pours cause a messy and rusty design that looks dull. Chipboard also doesn’t hold the sublimation ink efficiently. So, the only one left with the MDF. It is safe, holds the sublimation ink more efficiently, and bears high temperatures during heat pressing.
Supplies Required
You need six items to sublimate on wood. They are as follows:
Now, let’s move to the laminating wood sublimation method.
Sublimation on Plain Laminated Wood: A Step-by-Step Process
Arrange the Wood Blank
Arrange a piece of MDF wood and clean it with a dry cotton cloth. Avoid moisturizing the MDF wood. Otherwise warping effect may occur, which twists the wood piece from the edges. So, choose the right wood piece from the trusted wooden blank sellers. Also, check the smoothness of the surface and thickness to accommodate the heat press.
Smoothen the Edges
Arrange a sand paper and smoothen the surface and edges of the MDF wood piece. Then clean the surface with a bit of cloth.
Apply White Paint Coat
The next step is to apply two coats of white paint on the surface of the MDF wood. For this purpose, use the first coat and let it dry for 20-25vminutes. Again, use the second coat and wait for 20 minutes.
Make Ready Heat Press
Now, switch on the heat press, set the temperature to 365 degrees, and set the timer for 90 seconds.
Prepare the Lamination Pouch
Arrange the lamination pouch and cut it according to the size of the wood piece. Keep the size of the laminate bigger than the wood piece. Due to heat, the bonds in the laminate will rearrange and shrink. Shrinkage in laminate during wood sublimation will produce blur images on edges.
Start Sublimation
Now, all the necessary ingredients are available. Place the butcher paper on the pad of the heat press. On the upper side, gently place the laminate while its shiny side is up.
Place butcher paper on the laminate to avoid sticking of laminate with the platen. Apply the pressure, temperature, and time as already mentioned above.
Bravo!
You are done with the sublimation on wood. Remove the sublimated wood piece from the heat press after cooling.
Sublimation on Wood Having Poly acrylic Layer
This is another method for wood sublimation to have vibrant color in sublimation prints. A polyacrylic layer on wood will protect it from environmental effects. It can bear high temperatures and resists moisture and fire. Also, it can be cleaned easily.
The next step is to coat the wood with a light polyacrylic and leave it to dry out and get cured. Sometimes, it takes days to cure and get ready for sublimation fully. The thickness of the coat and temperature decide the time to cure.
When the curing step is complete, please place it in the heat press. Switch on the heat press and set the temperature, pressure, and setting time. Usually, the temperature is kept at 195 degrees for 70 seconds.
Place the design and start sublimation on wood with having polyacrylic layer. After cooling, remove the sublimation paper with water. Don’t worry, as water doesn’t affect such wood.
When the sublimation on the wood is complete, apply a top coat of lacquer to have a more clean and colorful design. Lacquer can be purchased from the market, and it’s not expensive.
Tips to Make Sublimation Wood Blanks?
Related Article: How to Sublimate on Stainless Steel Tumblers?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Sublimate on Painted Wood?
Yes. Painted wood can be sublimated using a step-by-step process to avoid melting and mixing coat and design.
How to Make A Poly Spray for Sublimation?
Using a DIY technique, you can make a sublimation spray by yourself. Mix a tablespoon of water with hydrogen peroxide and one tablespoon of polyacrylic.
How Do You Prepare Wood for Sublimation?
Choose a wood piece that has a smooth surface and tough grain structure. Clean the surface with a cotton cloth, then apply two coats of polyacrylic. The wood piece is ready to be sublimated.
How Long Do You Heat Press Sublimation on Wood?
Heating the sublimation wood to 195 degrees for 70 seconds at medium pressure gives better results.
How Do You Sublimate A Picture on Wood?
It’s simple. Place the required design or picture on the laminated side of the wood and heat press it. After cooling to room temperature, your sublimated wood is ready to make a show.
What Kind of Wood Can You Sublimate On?
You can sublimate on wood with lamination or coating on the surface. The laminated surface should have the ability to hold the sublimation ink perfectly. A natural piece of wood will absorb the ink and gives blurry images.
Conclusion
Different methods are employed for sublimation on wood, but sublimation on DTF stands out. It’s easy to sublimate, and the image permanently sticks to the surface of the wood.
We advise using polyacrylic instead of lamination if you want a custom print on the wooden piece.
I hope you have gained enough knowledge about sublimation on wood. So, what are you waiting for? Go and start your first project.