I recently purchased a workhorse press and dryer, and I have a question regarding my dryer. I have the dryer temp set on 285 but the temperature on my infrared thermometer reaches temperatures up to 350 while the shirt is going through. I wanted to know if this is a common situation with dryers? Also it takes approximately 15-20 seconds for a shirt to go all the way through the dryer with only a few seconds at 320 degrees and above. How long does plastisol have to be at the 320+ temp to cure? Thanks in advance.
Yes, I think that is common. Seems like numbers are only relative gauges.
How do you know the temperature contol unit is calibraited properly?
What is the distance from the heat panel and the shirts?
You should buy one of those infrared heat temp guns. Then you will know what temp the shirt is getting.
For me, and my dryer, the temp AT THE PANELS is 700 degrees. The height is 4 inches, and the time is about 45 seconds. They come out nice and hot and that is what you want - hot.
I would rather have the shirts slightly too hot than under cured.
Experimentation and what works for you is the best solution.
I do have a temp gun. The difference between the dryer gauge and the temp gun is just so different and the temp jumps from 250 to 350 for a second back down to 300 then 320 all in 20 seconds. My main worry is that the ink is not getting hot enough for long enough. It hits 320+ but only for 3-4 seconds. I've washed samples and they come out fine, but the white ink still cracks instead of stretching sometimes when I stretch the shirt.
I think the readings on your dryer should only be used as a gauge. The temp gun for that matter can only be used as a gauge. I have two of them and they both read differently. I would crank up the heat some and slow the belt a little.
Those shirts should be hot coming out of the dryer chamber.
If the ink gets to the curing temp, even for a split second its cured.
That being said, the curing temp for one coat of black ink is different that the curing temp for high density prints where the ink is stacked super high.
I think its better to be on the high side, so you dont get washed out images.
Just dont scorch whites! or lights! pain in the *** doing that!
Have you tried heat tapes? You stick them to the shirt before they go through the dryer. That would be the most accurate method besides using a thermoprobe unit.
The heat tapes have temp readings on them and they black out when they reach that temp. Standard is around 290f - 330f. If it's all blacked out your temp is at LEAST 330f on the shirt.
I have workhorse dryer too. Set the temperature on 338. It jumps up to 350 but no more. The time in tounel is about 35 seconds for color t-shirts and 25 seconds for white t-shirts. And everything is ok.
Last edited by Evgeny; January 19th, 2008 at 12:09 AM.
I have workhorse dryer too. Set the temperature on 338. It jumps up to 350 but no more. The time in tounel is about 35 seconds for color t-shirts and 60 seconds for white t-shirts. And everything is ok.
On my first order, I had it set on 320, and the ink was sticking to itself and smudging when it fell into the catch bucket because it was still so hot. I didn't have a heat gun then, but bought one right afterwards. The temp was reading in excess of 450 at its highest point. Mind you that is on the ink, not the heating elements. I think I'm going to buy some temp strips as well.
Dryer question? 
