[kdawn]

Hey guys, I'm a beginner silkscreener in the process of choosing some screens. I'm planning on using waterbased inks to use on shirts. I'm just wondering what the best mesh count would be for that. I'm looking to buy one of these packs from eBay.

Anybody wanna' help me out? Thanks!

 

[JCS2013]

Hey guys, I'm a beginner silkscreener in the process of choosing some screens. I'm planning on using waterbased inks to use on shirts. I'm just wondering what the best mesh count would be for that. I'm looking to buy one of these packs from eBay.

Anybody wanna' help me out? Thanks!

230 - 305 is the best depending on halftones you want to print. 110-156 will be too open for the thin ink.

 

[kdawn]

What about 200?

 

[abchung]

What type of water-based inks? (air dry or it needs to be baked for curing).

Air dried inks: I would not go higher than 120T/inch if you are a beginner.
Oven cured inks: It depends on your location. I live in an area where humidity can be as high as 70%, so I can go with finer mesh. Do not go higher than 150T/inch if you are a beginner.
Once you are more experience on the inks you are using, then may be you can try out finer mesh.

Problem with coarser mesh is it takes longer to dry if you are going with print flash print. Another problem is it will lay down a lot of ink that it can spread.

Art work: Do not choose fine detailed arts at first because you will have enough in your hand to play around with.

Good Luck and have fun.

 

[kdawn]

What type of water-based inks? (air dry or it needs to be baked for curing).

Air dried inks: I would not go higher than 120T/inch if you are a beginner.
Oven cured inks: It depends on your location. I live in an area where humidity can be as high as 70%, so I can go with finer mesh. Do not go higher than 150T/inch if you are a beginner.
Once you are more experience on the inks you are using, then may be you can try out finer mesh.

Problem with coarser mesh is it takes longer to dry if you are going with print flash print. Another problem is it will lay down a lot of ink that it can spread.

Art work: Do not choose fine detailed arts at first because you will have enough in your hand to play around with.

Good Luck and have fun.

For most of my prints, I'm basically just using black and white ink. I was thinking either Permaset Aqua Standard (for black ink on lighter shirts), Permaset Aqua Supercover (for white ink on dark shirts), EnviroLine Opaque White (for white ink on dark shirts), or Green Galaxy Comet White (for white ink on dark shirts)

What mesh counts do you recommend for these inks? Also, are there any other inks you recommend? Thanks!

 

[CreativeFingers]

Hi. i use a 120mesh for printing my designs. Im new to screen printing which is why i can't figure out what happened to this.

 

[jgabby]

Hi. i use a 120mesh for printing my designs. Im new to screen printing which is why i can't figure out what happened to this.

I would say too much pressure when flooding screen.

 

[jgabby]

Permaset Aqua Standard (for black ink on lighter shirts),


Permaset Aqua Supercover (for white ink on dark shirts),

(for black ink on lighter shirts)
I love the permaset supercover black. It gives a nice solid black
I print it with a 120

But if you have very fine lines in your design, then it is better to switch with aqua standard.

(for white ink on dark shirts)
I use supercover white, mesh 80 to 120

 

[abchung]

For most of my prints, I'm basically just using black and white ink. I was thinking either Permaset Aqua Standard (for black ink on lighter shirts), Permaset Aqua Supercover (for white ink on dark shirts), EnviroLine Opaque White (for white ink on dark shirts), or Green Galaxy Comet White (for white ink on dark shirts)

What mesh counts do you recommend for these inks? Also, are there any other inks you recommend? Thanks!

I have not used these inks before. I usually use Matsui.
If they dry quickly then I would suggest around 150thread/inch. If you find the ink falls through the mesh to quick. Then try not to do a flood stroke while you are continuously printing. If you do stop, flood stroke it, then when you restart, print on a scrap fabric and clean the shirt side of the screen so you don't waste a good shirt.
That is what we do for air-dry inks.

 

[skitten]

Hey guys, I'm a beginner silkscreener in the process of choosing some screens. I'm planning on using waterbased inks to use on shirts. I'm just wondering what the best mesh count would be for that. I'm looking to buy one of these packs from eBay.

Anybody wanna' help me out? Thanks!

Did you buy those packs yet? They seem great b/c it's less than $19/a screen but those packs work best when you have a 4-6 color press and need to burn several screens for 1 design. If you only have a 1 color press look into GM Graphics. They have the best prices on screens (including aluminum) so far. They have good reviews on the forum. They have free shipping at $75.
GM Graphics

My order is on hold until i finish my research on squeegee's and coaters. I am starting with water-based ink and currently have a 156 wood mesh screen (doing basic line art and words). I know the smaller the number the more ink that passes through (great for large areas of solid color).

 

[rini]

We use 160, and Jacquard inks. It's a good compromise, and works well.

A quick and dirty photo of the style of shirts we do: https://31.media.tumblr.com/4798ddb829e25c0866d9d94f2d36a9ec/tumblr_n3ou84r9A11r50asyo1_500.jpg