Discuss the different plastisol screen printing inks and curing methods on the market. Share tips on getting the best results with the different ink manufacturers.
Re: Would I need to get a special ink for polyester
There is an additive you put in plastisol that needs to be kept in refrigerator after opening. Small bottle and you don't need a lot. Check with your ink supplier. I'm not at the shop so can't look. Wind breakers if they have a inter lining you can only print 1 color without a jacket hold down. Hope it helps.
John
Re: Would I need to get a special ink for polyester
Yes. Use Low bleed poly plastisol and keep the oven temp down when printing black, navy and maroon poly blend shirts to around 320F. Do not add the Nylobond catalyst mentioned. It is only for Nylon and it causes more bleeding on polyester
Re: Would I need to get a special ink for polyester
Quote:
Originally Posted by printing40years
Yes. Use Low bleed poly plastisol and keep the oven temp down when printing black, navy and maroon poly blend shirts to around 320F. Do not add the Nylobond catalyst mentioned. It is only for Nylon and it causes more bleeding on polyester
Second that. Catalyst is for NYLON, so on your windbreakers if they are nylon, use catalyst. If your jackets have a lining, set yourself up for success by using a Jacket Hold-Down pallet.
Second that on low-bleed plastisol for your poly tees, Rutland makes a variety of colors in a low bleed athletic ink, I prefer theirs to other brands because they seem to cover very well on their own.
If you want to avoid buying colors, just run a polyester specific white underbase and over print with your favorite brand of plastisol, Polywhite from Wilflex is a good one, especially for 100% poly goods, it's super viscous though so make sure you pre-stir it prior to use.
Re: Would I need to get a special ink for polyester
Defiantly use low bleed ink. You might want to put a little stretch additive on the moisture wicking shirts too. Depends on how stretchy they are though.
Re: Would I need to get a special ink for polyester
You could change the order to nylon mesh or all cotton shirts if you want to avoid polyester bleeding problems. Otherwise use a low temp low bleed rated for athletic wear. Your supplier should have technical data sheets on all his inks which includes their individual drying temps. Dark polyester colors tend to bleed through light colored inks once you get the oven up over 300F. Even heat transfers will bleed on tese shirts. Low Bleed whites dont work well as transfers. Your customer might have purchased the polester shirts to save money, but he caused you a lot of extra grief. See if he will pay a little more for a nylon or cotton shirt that wont bleed. Your other option would be to talk him into light colored polyester shirts and you print the dark colors he wants onto them. Those don't show any bleeding.
Re: Would I need to get a special ink for polyester
Why screen them.? With poly you can dye sub them and if you don't do dye sub probably still cheaper to outsource the transfers.
And you don't need to worry about adhesives and additives and stuff or temp.
Plus the inks sitting on top defeat the purpose of the moisture wicking.
Of course if the shirts are dark then you have to screen print. We did have one order like that. And while they were happy about the looks they were not happy over the feel of the screen print on the shirt compared to the dye sub hand.
Would I need to get a special ink for polyester 
