The short answer: set your iron to medium-high, which is roughly 150 degrees Celsius (about 300 degrees Fahrenheit) on most irons. Turn steam off completely. If your iron has no temperature numbers, use the cotton or high setting but do not max it out.
Too low and the beads barely stick; too high and they melt flat, closing the holes and sticking to the paper. The right temperature melts the surface of the beads while they keep their tube shape underneath.
How to find the right setting
- Dial with numbers: aim for 150 degrees. Some irons need slightly more, some less.
- Fabric labels: the cotton symbol (three dots) is usually right; silk and wool are too low.
- No labels: start lower and test on a few spare beads.
Test before you commit
Place five spare beads on a corner of the pegboard, cover with paper, and iron for 10 seconds. If they fuse but keep their holes, the setting is right. If the holes close or paper sticks, lower the heat. If they barely change, raise it. Ironing technique and times are covered in our ironing guide, and the exact settings per brand differ slightly, which our brand comparison explains.