Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
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Discuss the different types of equipment needed for screen printing. Topics include manual screen printing presses, automatic presses, dryers, folding machines, starter kits and high end machines.
Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
Re: Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
Welcome to the forums!
Hand dryers can be used to cure the ink, but they are very hard to do it correctly. You have the issue were the indirect heat can scorch the shirt in one spot and on the same shirt in a different spot, not cure the ink completely and you'll get a faulty print.
If you are using plastisol ink, use the oven method described above. If you are using water based ink, in most cases you can cure it by simple heat setting it using an iron. Put parchment paper between the shirt and the iron and it should work for you just fine.
Re: Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
If using your home oven the recommended times and temps are 450 degrees for 2 minutes on a cookie sheet. this way you account for the heat loss when you open the door to put the shirts in. There are several ways to sure a shirt and most can be found in the How to Print Tshirts for fun and profit. The oven method is page 63.
Re: Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
Quote:
So the hand gun will be okay?
No. For plastisol ink, this is not recommended at all. The uneven heat will burn some part of the shirt and other parts may not cure completely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sjidohair
i use a blow dryer on water based ink and heat press,,,
Waterbased inks and Plastisol inks are two completely different animals when it comes to curing. If you use the water based shirts you will need some way to heat set them. You can use a heat press as the person above uses. Use parchment paper and an iron (on top of the print) to heat set it. For some inks it is even as simple as throwing in the dryer before you wash it.
Check out Speed Ball Inks. They may be your best bet
Re: Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Epic Clothing
So the hand gun will be okay?
And with the iron method on that ink, Do I put the shirt printed side up or down?
And thanks for the oven method I have never heard of that before.
What kind of ink are you using?
You might want to consider subbing the printing out. Screenprinting is a learned trade and if you want a good product, hire someone that knows what they're doing.
Re: Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
I am going to use a water based ink.
I have done silk screening before.
Not a lot.
But I have one of my friends do it for me.
And he takes a long time and he doesent get the order done when i need it. And i know he over charges me. He does decent work but im kinda tired of being the middle man. Because he has to make some profit too so I am paying more than it would be if i made my own.
Re: Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt?
yeah just make sure its air dry so it doesnt get on the rest of the shirt. I would just look into waterbased inks that state they cure with air. Its just one more step I wouldnt want to deal with.
This is a discussion about Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt? that was posted in the Screen Printing Equipment section of the forums.
Do i really need to dry the ink after i silkscreen a shirt? 
