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baseball123 · July 22nd, 2008

I am very new to the screen printing art. I recently silk screened some t shirts used versatex ink. I then ironed it on the back for 2-4 minutes. But when I washed the shirt the color (red) was faded. What am doing wrong so that it fades in the wash?

A Perfect Pixel · July 22nd, 2008

sounds like you need to cure it longer...

try using an curing oven or a flash cure...

if you don't have those, maybe try using your house oven (electric, not gas) at 400 for 1:30 - 1:45

baseball123 · July 22nd, 2008

thank you so much for your reply. is there any way to cure the shirt that you can think of because i have a gas oven?

MotoskinGraphix · July 22nd, 2008

If you are using waterbased ink all you need to do is heatset the ink. You need to remove all the water within the ink. Use your hair dryer or heat gun. If you are getting wash out its simply not cured all the way.

Down The Leg Inc · July 22nd, 2008

I am having the same problem but its washing off(union plastisol)! I have a flash and a eleven foot oven (not hooked up yet) but have been trying to cure with a heat selectable gun and I have got it down to about 50/50 wash off rate. Timing and temp is everything. Are you thinning your ink? I to think you need to try and flash between passes with a heat gun. You can pick one up for about $10.