[Sterlingtroy]

Hi i was just wondering if anybody had any input on what in their opinion was the best numbering system for quality and speed? Also want to know what would be the most environment safe waterbased inks are out there if any.

 

[tim209]

Good question.... I would like to know the answer to that also.

Any input from the vets? Im sure you guys have tried alot of stuff..

 

[majen]

Inline Technologies numbering press by a wide margin. Fastest and most accurate. The only drawback is the large screen dimensions which can make re-shooting difficult, however when you buy the screens from them they are already imaged. If you take decent care of them you shouldn't need to ever shoot them again.

You can find them used every now and then. When we bought ours (used) we got it with 2"-12" one and two color numbers which was great. Most used number sizes are 8" and 6".

Paper stencils are also quite popular. The downside is that you have a high cost over time when you need to replace them or order more. The other drawback with paper stencils is imprecise placement (interiors of numbers and kerning) which is totally not a issue with an Inline. But they are fast and cheap...at first.

Is the waterbase ink question related to the numbering question? Like are you wanting to print numbering with waterbase inks?

 

[Sterlingtroy]

Thanks for the input on the machine. And yes i was going to try to use permaset waterbased inks for printing on athletic wear such as nylon or polyester and a lycra material what do you think about that.

 

[kriscad]

Best numbering system:

IMO

Get a vinyl plotter, and a heat press. We do a ton of teams, and I can't imagine ever going back to a numbering system based on plastisol.

When your not cutting numbers and names - you can do signs. Another great profit center.

 

[majen]

True, vinyl numbering has it's place and is fast, easy and clean.

Direct printing was a requirement for the numbering projects we did for a couple of large Portland "shoe companies". The perceived quality (whether correct or not) was higher for direct printed numbers.

There still seems to be a stigma attached to vinyl numbering in regards to "peeling off". I know that issues like that have largely disappeared, but we still get asked about it when we mention heat pressing to clients. It's kind of like the old "does the ink get all cracked after awhile?" question.

In regards to waterbase printing of numbers, I'd have to say that I'm not sure it would work well, especially on the fabrics you mentioned. Straight waterbased inks lack the opacity needed for printing on dark. On dark garments you'd generally use discharge ink for waterbase. The fabrics you mentioned won't discharge properly. Not to mention that discharge inks historically have not been very "environmentally friendly". Especially in some shops where they think that since it is waterbased it can get rinsed down the drain. Unfortunately, some shops do this with regular waterbased inks as well.

Unless you have another reason to use waterbased besides environmental I would look at some of the new plastisol inks. There are some offered now that have removed most (if not all) harmful chemicals. In fact the "shoe companies" out here require the use of such inks.

 

[kriscad]

True, vinyl numbering has it's place and is fast, easy and clean.

Direct printing was a requirement for the numbering projects we did for a couple of large Portland "shoe companies". The perceived quality (whether correct or not) was higher for direct printed numbers.

There still seems to be a stigma attached to vinyl numbering in regards to "peeling off". I know that issues like that have largely disappeared, but we still get asked about it when we mention heat pressing to clients. It's kind of like the old "does the ink get all cracked after awhile?" question.

We have never ever had that problem of vinyl peeling off or cracking. We use Spectra Cut 2 from Imprintables Warehouse - great product.