yogurtmask

hey guys! i'm new! i have been searching for a post that specifically addresses heat curing of water-based inks with an iron versus a clothes dryer. but i can't find any! thoughts? i have 60 shirts to cure in two days and need a solution other than an iron party (which i've already had--my friends and i had four irons going at once in my living room while watching a movie). pros, cons of each? how long would i have to keep the dryer going?
thanks!
rob

 

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brent

A dryer won't get it hot enough, you're going to have to iron. I know it's no fun at all, I did it for a while before I got a flash cure unit. Now I'm looking to get a conveyor oven.
Anyway, iron all over at the highest setting for 2 to 3 minutes. If it's just 60 shirts you could do it yourself in an afternoon. Just watch a long movie and move the Iron over and over and over ....

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yogurtmask

thanks! that's what i've been doing. ironing on both sides of the design for about 3 minutes. wow.

 

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yogurtmask

what do you think about a conventional oven set to 300 degrees F? has anyone ever tried it? for how long and does it work? i'm testing a shirt right now (300 degrees for 30 minutes). i'll let you know.

 

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brent

Quote: Originally Posted by yogurtmask what do you think about a conventional oven set to 300 degrees F? has anyone ever tried it? for how long and does it work? i'm testing a shirt right now (300 degrees for 30 minutes). i'll let you know.

There's been discussion on this forum about doing that, curing in your kitchen oven. It's not a good idea. People think that water-based inks are clean and green, but it could be releasing a lot of nasty chemicals into your oven that you use to cook dinner. I'd stop doing it immediately.
But even if you still want to do it, 30 minutes is way too long. Generally, the ink needs to reach 320F for just a few seconds. Your shirt will probably get crispy cooking for that long.
And besides, if you're complaining about ironing for 2 to 3 minutes, what sense does it make to cook each shirt for 30 minutes?
If you're going to do a decent amount of volume, you should look into getting a flash cure unit.

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Solmu

Quote: Originally Posted by yogurtmask i have been searching for a post that specifically addresses heat curing of water-based inks with an iron versus a clothes dryer. but i can't find any!

There have only been a couple as far as I know, so they'd be pretty difficult to find. I think Brent covered it. Pros and cons are pretty simple really... an iron works, a clothes dryer doesn't. That said, you can use the dryer to get you started (it'll remove moisture, which is the aim), then finish with the iron.

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