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stitch4you · November 2nd, 2009

I have printed 50 nylon coolers using Nazdar DA series which I was told would air dry. I printed these about 30 hours ago now and they are still not dry. Is there any one with any suggestions? Could I carefully use a heat gun to dry these or is it a lost cause?

JeridHill · November 2nd, 2009

You did not mention anything about adding a catalyst. Nazdar's DA series inks MUST have a DA176 catalyst added for drying. If you don't have it or use enough, it will not dry.

stitch4you · November 2nd, 2009

I did use the catalyst they sent with the ink and weighed it on a digital scale to insure the mixture was right but what may supplier told me. Which they said 90 % ink and 10 % catalyst.

JeridHill · November 2nd, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by stitch4you


	I did use the catalyst they sent with the ink and weighed it on a digital scale to insure the mixture was right but what may supplier told me. Which they said 90 % ink and 10 % catalyst.

At one time, I printed 50 flags using the same ink. At the time, I did the same ratio (or so I think), and all 50 flags were sticky to the touch. I ended up redoing them all.

I'm not sure how you mixed your inks, but it can get confusing. In order to get the 10%, you don't multiply the weight by 10% and then add, because you will use a lesser amount than needed. I don't want to assume you don't know how to do this, but I want to show the way I would do it to make sure I had the correct amount and for others who may wonder how to mix ratios.

If the ratio was 90% ink and 10% catalyst, combined, there is 10 parts. 9 parts ink, 1 part catalyst. So you would take the total weight of the ink and divide that by 9. Whatever the amount comes to, you would add that much in catalyst to the ink.

I.E.: 2000 grams of ink divided by 9 is 222.2 grams. If you add this much catalyst to ink, you will have 9 parts ink, 1 part catalyst. Sometimes people will take 10% multiplied by 2000 which only gives 200, in this case, 22 grams short.

Personally, after my experience, I'd mix 15%. I'm pretty sure I mixed 10% at the time, but it just didn't do the trick, and with their specs, I never could figure out why. In this case, the ratio would be 15% catalyst, or 3/20ths. So since there are 20 parts, 3 are catalyst and 17 are ink. So you would take the 2000 and divide by 17, then multiply by 3. This would give you how many parts you would need in catalyst (352). So the total weight with ink and catalyst would be 2352 grams (52 more than if you multiplied 15% by 2000).

Hope this make sense.

studog79 · November 2nd, 2009

Call Nazdar tech support

stitch4you · November 3rd, 2009

Thanks for your help. I removed all the print from the coolers that would not dry and mixed the ink with your tips and printed a test last night and this morning its dry looks good with no flaking or peeling.
Thanks Again

ino · November 3rd, 2009

You,re spot on Jerid, I think most of us would do the same mistake.

JeridHill · November 3rd, 2009

Just glad to help.

danky01 · December 4th, 2009

I have a question, is this the type of ink you would use for printing yard signs? Also, I have a guy that wants me to screen print on rain coats for the police department. They will not take the heat for curing? Could I use this type of ink for that.

I have a printa system and I am using thier capillary file, inks and ink remover etc, will my film and chemicals work with this type of ink? Someone told me that this type of ink has a very strong odor, is this true? Also is it eco friendly?

I would greatly appreciate any assistance anyone could provide.

Thanks
Danny

tlbays · December 7th, 2009

Hi Danny

No, on the yard signs.

Yes, on the raincoats.

You're correct that the ink for yard signs comes in an air-dry type (for those without U.V. curing)
that is solvent-based to adhere to the corrugated plastic HDPE.
As you've heard, it does smell, and isn't considered as "eco-friendly" as it's U.V. curable counterpart.

For those who previously discussed the DA Ink Series,
below is copy from NazDar's Tech Sheet on correct mixing ratios.

FYI- It's suggestion is much different than the 90/10 percentages put forth.

PRINTING

Ink Preparation: All colors must be mixed with DA176 Catalyst in a proportion of 3.5 parts

of color to one part of catalyst BY WEIGHT. The pot life of the catalyzed DA Series ink is

approximately 3–5 hours.
Add only enough ink to the screen to be able to print for 5-10 minutes. Add additional ink in
small increments throughout the print run to maintain screen stability. Thoroughly mix the
inks prior to printing.
Maintain ink temperatures at 65

°-90°F (18°-32°C) for optimum print drying performance.

Lower temperatures increase the ink viscosity, impairing both flow and drying. Elevated

temperatures lower the ink viscosity, reducing print definition, film thickness and opacity.
Pretest to determine optimum printing performance for a particular set of ink, substrate,
screen, press, and drying variables/conditions.

DRYING/
CURING
DA Series will air-dry overnight for handling. Full resistance to washing and dry cleaning
is achieved in approximately seven days after printing. DA Series may be heat cured at
temperatures of 300

ºF-325ºF (148ºC-163ºC) for periods ranging from 7–10 minutes. The

DA Accelerator may be used to reduce the dry time. (

See additives) Multiple layers of ink
may require longer drying times than a single layer.

Happy trails!

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Nazdar DA series ink not air drying after 30 hours. Should I use a heat gun?