What are hot fix rhinestones & how do I apply them?
Swarovski Hot Fix rhinestones have glue that melts at about 340 – 375 degrees F. If your fabric is easily damaged by heat, these are not the stones for you. These stones can be applied with your household iron, a heat press or a specialized tool such as, the BeJeweler or the Kandi Kane can also be used. These 2 tools will pick-up round rhinestones, heat them until the glue begins to melt so that you can attach them to your fabric. Its quick, it’ clean and its easy. The weakest link in the rhinestone system is its mirror backing, the coating on the back of a rhinestone is a mirror bonded to the glass. This mirror does not have a very strong bond with the glass and can be pulled free of the glass over time. This is why you may see a silver spot where a rhinestone used to be. When you use heat set rhinestones, only the backing is glued to the fabric. These stones will come loose over time in a washing machine and/or dryer. It is highly advised to hand-wash any items with glued rhinestones
