Can You Sublimate in a Toaster Oven

When you go to a gift shop, you will find a lot of tumblers and mugs with different sublimation on them. This makes you want your own personalized tumbler or mug. But it seems a lot of work.

You might think you will need a lot of equipment and fancy stuff to do a sublimating on your favorite coffee mug. But the case is very much different.

Sublimating doesn’t really require much experience or effort at all. It can be done with some of the things you already have in your home. And a quick stop at the dollar store, you will get all the necessary items.

The funny thing is, once you start, you can’t stop doing it. But the question arises, can you sublimate in a toaster oven. 

We are going to give you the answer and walk you through the steps of how to sublimate in this article.

Can You Sublimate in a Toaster Oven or Do You Need a Special Oven

No matter what the occasion is, someone’s birthday, party gift, or simple artistic touch to your coffee mug, a sublimating is a great gift and artistic approach to anything plain. But instead of running to the sublimate store, you can do it in the comfort of your home. All you need is your toaster oven, and that’s it! Let’s dive into the article and learn the things you will need to do before using your oven.

Sublimating in a Toaster Oven

Some might think that you will need a special oven or equipment to sublimate. Which isn’t true at all. 

All you need is a toaster oven, and it will do the trick. You don’t need a lot of heat to sublimate. And not a specialized oven. 

But the things you do need can be found at any dollar store or online. And they are really inexpensive.

Once you have done this, you will be known as the sublimate king or queen. And you will never go back to the gift shop for any sublimating crafts.

How to Sublimate in a Toaster Oven at Home (Step by Step)

To sublimate in a toaster oven, you will need a few things. They are crucial and every sublimating artist needs them. 

It is an art itself that you will need to perfect over time. And with the right equipment and practice, you will be amazing at it.

So let’s talk about the things you need to sublimate. The following things are necessary to do any sublimating in your home or business.

• Sublimate paper or parchment paper.
• Sublimate ink drums.
• An inkjet printer.
• Heat tape.
• Clear or white Shrinkwrap.
• Heat gun.
• Toaster oven.
• Mug, tumbler, or whatever you want to sublimate.
• Kitchen gloves.

If you do not have any of the equipment or missing a few, the online store is one tap away.

Step 1: Start by setting up the printer with the sublimated ink. You will need an inkjet printer of any kind that you might want. Some might think that the expensive sublimate printer is the only equipment. Which is not the case. The ink is the main thing. If you have an inkjet printer at home, you can also use that to set up with the sublimate ink drums.

Step 2: Print the design you want on your tumbler or mug. Remember to take measurements before you print the design out. Otherwise, it will either be too big or too small for the mug or tumbler. If you don’t have sublimate paper, your parchment paper from your kitchen can also do the trick. It is just the holder for the design, nothing more.

Step 3: After you have printed the design, put it on the tumbler or mug that you want it to transfer to. And use heat tape to secure it on the tumbler or mug. When it is all nice and tight, we move on to the next step.

Step 4: Put on a shrink wrap on the mug or tumbler. Clear or white, they both do the same thing. So use the one you feel comfortable working with. And use the heat gun to put the shrink wrap in place. Nice and tight from top to bottom without any bubbles in it.

Step 5: When you are ready with all your mugs and tumblers, put a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of your toaster oven tray. This will help the plastic wrap not to stick on the oven grill. 

Step 6: Place your mug or tumbler in the oven and set it to 375 degrees. You don’t have to preheat the oven. And it takes just 4-5 minutes to sublimate. So keep that number in your mind. And set your oven to 5 minutes.

Step 7: Sit back, relax, and let the toaster oven do its thing. After 5 minutes, you can wait for the oven and the mug and tumblers to cool down a little. Wearing a set of oven kitchen gloves, take them out of the oven. 

At this point, your sublimating is done. Unwrap the plastic wrap carefully and take off the paper on your mug or tumbler. You will find that the design is sublimated on it. 

Note: The best thing to do is use a toaster oven just for sublimating. Never use that oven to cook food. Either the food will taste plastic or the food grease will ruin your sublimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do sublimation Cups in a toaster oven?

Yes, you can. You will need sublimation ink, an inkjet printer, and a quick stop at the dollar store for the shrink wrap and some parchment papers and you are good to go. Remember to check for any cracks in the cup before you put them in the oven. Otherwise, it will damage the design and your time.

How long do you sublimate a tumbler in a toaster oven?

Some might think it takes a long time to sublimate a tumbler. Especially in a toaster oven. But it isn’t true. You just need 4-5 minutes at 375 degrees to sublimate your tumbler in the toaster oven. More than that and your sublimation will be burnt.

Can you use any oven for sublimation?

Yes. Any oven that goes over 350 degrees can be used for sublimation. But it is not wise to use an oven that you cook your food in to do a sublimation. It is not that it won’t work, but the outcome will be bad. The plastic smell of the sublimation will linger around the oven and the next time you cook it will have the same smell on it ruining your dish. And the food grease might affect the sublimation process too. So better use a dedicated oven only for sublimation.

Conclusion

Sublimating is not only a form of art but also a soothing process to endure. You will feel accomplished with just some small steps that will cheer up your mood. And when you gift the item to your loved ones, they will also share the same happiness that you went through when you were sublimating it. But remember to practice caution when removing the hot item from your oven. Otherwise, you might injure yourself and it will be a bad memory.