Hotfix stone
Introduction
Hotfix or (hotfix stones) are decorations like rhinestone, rhinestuds, nailhead, etc. that can be glued to on textiles or other materials by heating them.
“Flatback crystals which are often called rhinestones have a faceted face one side and a flatback on the opposite side usually with a foiled backing. They are available in a range of materials the cheapest being acrylic and the highest quality and most expensive Swarovski Crystal. They come in a range of shapes and sizes the most popular of which being the circular flatback you can see above which are used for crystallizing such things as nails, lips, clothing, footwear, statues, artwork, gadgets and much more…” (Guide to Using Flatback Crystals (Oct 2, 2017).
According to Wikipedia, “Hot fix rhinestones, also called heat transfer rhinestones, are mainly used for apparel. The flat bottom of the stone has a glue backing and when heated melts onto the surface of the clothing. These can be adhered using a regular iron, however, it is recommended to use a heat press, as they are able to reach higher temperatures (standard transfers require temperatures of up to 180–200 °C (350–400 °F), which regular irons are not capable of) while applying heavy pressures resulting in a more professional standard quality.” (Oct 2, 2017).
Hotfix stone sizes
Rhinestones size are either defined with "ss" (stone size) or pp (pearl plate). PP is a more precise measure.
According to Guide to Using Flatback Crystals (Oct. 2017), as general guide, the following sizes are used:
- ss3 – ss7 : Nail art (7 being the more popular size)
- ss8 – ss10 : Generally used for filler crystals, tiny objects or creating intricate artwork with crystals in conjunction with other crystal sizes.
- ss12 – ss20 : Footwear, clothing or accessorising gadgets.
- ss30 – ss48 : Clothing especially dance costumes to add some sparkle.
According to Creative Crystal, customers, prefer 4mm (16ss), 3mm (10ss) and 7mm (34ss) in that order.
The procedure for computing the rough amount of stones needed:
- Compute the surface in mm: width X length if you have a square
- Select the stone size in mm
- Divide surface / stone_size
Example: A filled circle of 10 cm (that is quite a lot !) to filled with stones that have a width (diameter) of 5mm.
- Surface of circle formula: radius2 * PI
- Surface: 3.14 * 502 = 7854 mm2
- SS22 surface: 52 = 25 mm2
- Stones needed: 7850 / 25 = 314
Size table
The following table includes appromixamte rounded mm values. Various source on the Internet include contradictory information. Do not trust these values, verify with other sources please. Also, different manufacturers, may use somewhat different sizes.
| ss | pp | ø mm | Savarovski | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 000 | 1 | 0.8 - 0.9 | |||||||||||
| 00 | 2 | 0.9 - 1 | |||||||||||
| 0 | 3 | 1.0 - 1.1 | |||||||||||
| 1 | 4 | 1.1 - 1.2 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 5 | 1.2 - 1.3 | |||||||||||
| 2½ | 6 | 1.3 - 1.35 | |||||||||||
| 3 | 7 | 1.35 - 1.4 | 1.4 | ||||||||||
| 3½ | 8 | 1.4 - 1.5 | |||||||||||
| 4 | 9 | 1.5 - 1.6 | 1.6 | ||||||||||
| 4½ | 10 | 1.6 - 1.7 | |||||||||||
| 5 | 11 | 1.7 - 1.8 | 1.8 | ||||||||||
| 5½ | 12 | 1.8 - 1.9 | |||||||||||
| 6 | 13 | 1.9 - 2.0 | 2.0 | ||||||||||
| 6½ | 14 | 2.0 - 2.1 | |||||||||||
| 7 | 15 | 2.1 - 2.2 | 2.2 | ||||||||||
| 7½ | 16 | 2.2 - 2.3 | |||||||||||
| 8 | 17 | 2.3 - 2.4 | 2.4 | ||||||||||
| 8½ | 18 | 2.4 - 2.5 | |||||||||||
| 9 | 19 | 2.5 - 2.6 | 2.6 | ||||||||||
| 9½ | 20 | 2.6 - 2.7 | |||||||||||
| 10 | 21 | 2.7 - 2.8 | 3.0 | ||||||||||
| 11 | 22 | 2.8 - 2.9 | |||||||||||
| 11½ | 23 | 2.9 - 3.0 | |||||||||||
| 12 | 24 | 3.0 - 3.2 | 3.2 | ||||||||||
| 13 | 25 | 3.2 - 3.3 | |||||||||||
| 13½ | 26 | 3.3 - 3.4 | |||||||||||
| 14 | 27 | 3.4 - 3.5 | 3.5 | ||||||||||
| 14½ | 28 | 3.5 - 3.6 | |||||||||||
| 15 | 29 | 3.6 - 3.7 | |||||||||||
| 15½ | 30 | 3.7 - 3.8 | |||||||||||
| 16 | 31 | 3.8 - 4.0 | 4.0 | ||||||||||
| 17 | 32 | 4.0 - 4.2 | |||||||||||
| 17½ | 33 | 4.1 - 4.2 | |||||||||||
| 18 | 34 | 4.3 - 4.4 | |||||||||||
| 18½ | 35 | 4.5 | |||||||||||
| 19 | 36 | 4.5 - 4.6 | |||||||||||
| 19½ | 37 | 4.5 | |||||||||||
| 20 | - | 4.6 - 4.8 | 5.0 | ||||||||||
| 21 | - | 4.8 - 4.9 | |||||||||||
| 22 | - | 4.9 - 5.0 | |||||||||||
| 23 | - | 5.0 - 5.2 | |||||||||||
| 24 | - | 5.2 - 5.4 | |||||||||||
| 25 | - | 5.4 - 5.6 | |||||||||||
| 26 | - | 5.6 - 5.8 | |||||||||||
| 27 | - | 5.8 - 6.0 | |||||||||||
| 28 | - | 6.0 - 6.2 | |||||||||||
| 29 | - | 6.2 - 6.4 | |||||||||||
| 30 | - | 6.4 - 6.6 | 6.5 | ||||||||||
| 31 | - | 6.6 - 6.8 | |||||||||||
| 32 | - | 6.8 - 7.0 | |||||||||||
| 33 | - | 7.0 - 7.2 | |||||||||||
| 34 | - | 7.2 - 7.4 | 7.0 | ||||||||||
| 35 | - | 7.4 - 7.6 | |||||||||||
| 36 | - | 7.6 - 7.8 | |||||||||||
| 37 | - | 7.8 - 8.0 | |||||||||||
| 38 | - | 8.0 - 8.2 | |||||||||||
| 39 | - | 8.2 - 8.4 | |||||||||||
| 40 | - | 8.4 - 8.7 | 8.5 | ||||||||||
| 41 | - | 8.7 - 9.1 | |||||||||||
| 42 | - | 9.1 - 9.5 | |||||||||||
| 43 | - | 9.5 - 9.8 | |||||||||||
| 44 | - | 9.8 - 10.1 | |||||||||||
| 45 | - | 10.1 - 10.5 | |||||||||||
| 48 | - | 10.9 - 11.3 | 11 | ||||||||||
| 50 | - | 11.7 - 12.0 | |||||||||||
| 60 | - | 14.2 - 14.5 | |||||||||||
| 63 | - | 15.0 - 15.2 | |||||||||||
| 70 | - | 16.7 - 17.0 | - | 80 | - | 19.2 - 17.5 | - | 83 | - | 20.0 - 20.2 |
Software
Embroidery software
Stich Era includes an optional module for hotfix designs. It can output design stencils or templates that can be printed with different laser and vinyl cutters.
The software allows drawing shapes that then can be filled with slots for stones according to several parameters.
Online auxiliary tools
(to do)
Varieties
Hardware
Hotfix applicators
Hotfix applicators are cheap devices that look a bit like a soldering iron. They allow heating a hotfix stone one by one. It has a removable ends that will adapt to various hotfix forms.
Heatpress
A heat press can glue a whole set. Some heat presses also can be used to transfer other materials.
Iron without holes
A simple iron (without holes also can do)