merc476

Hi,

The issue i'm having is for 1. I can't afford a conveyor dryer right now. and 2. Flashing on my pallet sometimes causes the paint to dry in my screen which drives me nucking futs! Can anyone share any tips that they use to avoid this issue? THANKS!

 

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splathead

Assume you are using a 1 station, 1 color press?

Are you flooding your screen before you flash?

 

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merc476

Quote: Originally Posted by splathead Assume you are using a 1 station, 1 color press? Are you flooding your screen before you flash?

I actually have a 4 color/4 station press. I've actually only been screen printing for about 1 month now. And I must admit that i haven't been using my press to it's full potential. Don't ask me why I only use one pallet at a time instead of using all 4. I guess if I were using all 4 i wouldn't have this problem. Duh....I'm flooding it once and then I do harder pass to clear the screen.

 

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splathead

Quote: Originally Posted by merc476 I actually have a 4 color/4 station press. Don't ask me why I only use one pallet at a time instead of using all 4..

Perfect, put your flash on one of your other pallets away from your screen. Print, rotate your pallet to the flash station, flash, them rotate back for your second pass.

 

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MotoskinGraphix

Try water based inks.

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merc476

Quote: Originally Posted by splathead Perfect, put your flash on one of your other pallets away from your screen. Print, rotate your pallet to the flash station, flash, them rotate back for your second pass.

I shoulda figured this on my own but thanks Splathead for making me see it. It annoys me that I can do 1 job perfect with no issues, and then I get another job and ruin 4 or 5 shirts cause of dumb mistakes like this. Oh well. I chalk it up to the learning process. Thanks again

 

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merc476

Quote: Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix Try water based inks.

I thought water based inks dry quicker? Also, do I have to use a different type of emulsion on my screen if i wanna use water based ink? Lets say for example I have a screen that I already made and used to print t-shirts with plastisol ink, can I use that same screen for water based ink? Thanks

 

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splathead

Quote: Originally Posted by merc476 I thought water based inks dry quicker? Also, do I have to use a different type of emulsion on my screen if i wanna use water based ink? Lets say for example I have a screen that I already made and used to print t-shirts with plastisol ink, can I use that same screen for water based ink? Thanks

Once for sure, maybe a few times. But eventually the emulsion will start to break down from the water.

 

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MotoskinGraphix

Yes you can but as Joe mentioned it is usually for a run and done. There are emulsions available for water based inks. I dont have a flash cure or conv. dryer so plastisol was out of the question for me at this time. I like the water based for easy cleanup but they will dry in your screen over time. With your set-up you should be able to get quite a few shirts done before that became a problem. I just quickly hit the shirts with a heatgun and pull em off the shirt board. The shirts will air dry fine but I heat press them anyway.

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www.motoskingraphix.com
"WHIRLPOOLS WHIRL and DRAGNETS DRAG"

 

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merc476

Quote: Originally Posted by splathead Once for sure, maybe a few times. But eventually the emulsion will start to break down from the water.

Ahh...I see. I just bought some new Holdens emulsion that says "Holden's Photo Emulsion 250 is designed primarily for the textile trade, where the water resistance is a major factor. Holden's #250 may also be used with plastisol inks" Will i be able to use this for both or still not a good idea? Thanks and sorry for the newb questions.

 

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merc476

Quote: Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix Yes you can but as Joe mentioned it is usually for a run and done. There are emulsions available for water based inks. I dont have a flash cure or conv. dryer so plastisol was out of the question for me at this time. I like the water based for easy cleanup but they will dry in your screen over time. With your set-up you should be able to get quite a few shirts done before that became a problem. I just quickly hit the shirts with a heatgun and pull em off the shirt board. The shirts will air dry fine but I heat press them anyway.

So when does the water based ink drying on the screen become a problem? Is it after printing 15-20 shirts...30-50? Would it still dry quick even if i'm using the 4 pallets? Thanks

 

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MotoskinGraphix

The problem or rather the difference is that plastisol never drys. It needs heat to cure. Water based simply needs the removal of the pigment carrier which is water. You have to keep the ink moving. Plastisol you can print...go eat a sandwich and come back to print some more.

Water based cant be left sitting in the screen for no more than a couple minutes unless some sort of drying extender is used. Another factor is heat within the printing environment. I havent done large runs so havent really run into any terrible problems as of yet. Since I dont have all the equipment needed for plastisol and proper curing I started with water based ink.

I plan on getting a flash cure but even then my production without a tunnel dryer is going to be a bit suspect.

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www.motoskingraphix.com
"WHIRLPOOLS WHIRL and DRAGNETS DRAG"

 

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merc476

Quote: Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix The problem or rather the difference is that plastisol never drys. It needs heat to cure. Water based simply needs the removal of the pigment carrier which is water. You have to keep the ink moving. Plastisol you can print...go eat a sandwich and come back to print some more. Water based cant be left sitting in the screen for no more than a couple minutes unless some sort of drying extender is used. Another factor is heat within the printing environment. I havent done large runs so havent really run into any terrible problems as of yet. Since I dont have all the equipment needed for plastisol and proper curing I started with water based ink. I plan on getting a flash cure but even then my production without a tunnel dryer is going to be a bit suspect.

Good info. I'm gonna have to try water based ink to see how it goes. Hopefully it'll work out better. I hate the screen cleaning
process with plastisol.

 

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wormil

Quote: Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix I just quickly hit the shirts with a heatgun and pull em off the shirt board. The shirts will air dry fine but I heat press them anyway.

I was under the impression that water based inks still have to be heat cured. I guess that is what you are doing with the heat press.

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splathead

Quote: Originally Posted by MotoskinGraphix Plastisol you can print...go eat a sandwich and come back to print some more.

Plastisol you can print...go on a two week vacation and come back to print some more.

Moto, what brand of waterbased ink do you use? I heard Matsui's inks don't dry out on the screen as bad as others.

 

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