[InkedApparel]

Hey All

I am having a issue with the ink building up on the shirt side of the screen around the edges of the stencil.

usually this happens after maybe 24 or 30 shirts . today i am printing a 100 shirt order with one color (black). this should be a no brainer. I had to clean the screen off sometimes after only 6 prints , if I was lucky I could make it to 12 prints but no more....here is the run down.

using :

new Newman roller frame with 230 mesh , coated 1/1 ...newly tightened 30 newtons.I figure 30 should be plenty with this being only 1 color , with no registration.

black plastisol ink.

off contact , I tried 1 pennies thickness , then 2 pennies I even tried print with no off contact at all. seems like I would get the build up no matter what way I printed.

I tried both a push stroke and a pull stroke, neither was better than the other.so I continued with a push stroke , only because it is more comfortable for me that way.

anyone have any suggestions?

thank you
Inked

 

[sben763]

I use less off contact for black. I also if having an issue I will spray dry silicon on the shirt side this will greatly reduce build up I will the use a test pallon for 1 stroke. I also use a test pallon sometimes with a dry stroke to remove ink instead of wiping screen.

 

[InkedApparel]

I use less off contact for black. I also if having an issue I will spray dry silicon on the shirt side this will greatly reduce build up I will the use a test pallon for 1 stroke. I also use a test pallon sometimes with a dry stroke to remove ink instead of wiping screen.

the test pellon instead of wiping the screen is a good tip...I appreciate that....

Inked

 

[HumbleShirts]

We've noticed that some brands of shirts have more lint than others. A lot more. We literally have to snap the shirt before loading to get as much as we can off.

 

[Greatzky]

could it be from "mashing" the ink down too much? I will get buildup when I know I didn't create the screen well and can't get a clean transfer of ink with a light stroke.. So when I press hard it will push the ink into the shirt and also around the edges of the design.

Sben: dry silicon.. are you talking about silicon spray? I used to use that stuff on my rubik's cubes so they would move smoothly.

 

[sben763]

Yes there are several supply houses that sell it labeled specifically for wet on wet or ink build up. I use it occasionally when I am in the middle of a job and a problem starts so I don't have to stop. I only buy the stuff labeled for screen printing. Performance screen is the last place I bought some from. I am sure it's the same stuff you can get anywhere but never tried. A tip given to me by an old timer.

 

[stephens411]

I have been having the same problem mostly when printing white ink on dark shirts. I figured it was a combination of a dull squeegee making me have to use more of an angle on the squeegee to cut through the ink. I was gonna try sharpening my sgueegee and see if that helped. Also my emulsion is near the end of its life and thought that might have something to do with it as well. It is only on the bottom of the stencil. I use the push method also

Great post! I look forward to some more input

 

[BillyV]

Sound like to much angle on the squeegee.
Try around a 75 - 80 degree angle, remember that the closer you hold your squeegee to the 90 degree position the less ink it will lay down, the closer to a 45 degree angle the more ink gets pushed through.

 

[InkedApparel]

I tried all different squeegee angles....nothing seemed to help.....

maybe it is a dull squeegee? I will get my squeegees sharpened.

Inked

 

[TYGERON]

I used to use that stuff on my rubik's cubes so they would move smoothly.

Rubik's Cubes as in plural? More than one?

(Nerd)

And who needs them to move? I solved it without making a single turn or twist

 

[TYGERON]

I tried all different squeegee angles....nothing seemed to help.....

maybe it is a dull squeegee? I will get my squeegees sharpened.

Inked

You know the only time I've had a similar issue is when something was inconsistent. Slightly concave platen (from over flash warping). A (too) soft blade, uneven pressure or skewed/uneven off contact.

If none of those are the issue, I've read of printers swearing by triple durometer squeegees for controlling ink flow and consistency especially over longer runs.

 

[TYGERON]

We've noticed that some brands of shirts have more lint than others. A lot more. We literally have to snap the shirt before loading to get as much as we can off.

And some colors seem to also, like ash. We snap all the time now before loading.

 

[ScreenFoo]

Lots of good leads... Are you doing a flood stroke? If you aren't, you're not minimizing the pressure needed to shear the ink, which will push it in directions you don't want it to go--A dull squeegee will more or less guarantee this kind of problem as well.

The other thing that would make me wonder is the 1/1 coating--are you using the sharp side of the coater? Even with the dull side you're unlikely to get the knuckles of the mesh filled in very well on high mesh...

Sbens tip is great--you can keep newsprint by the press for this purpose as well--if you're still getting newspapers, that is.

 

[stephens411]

Thanx ScreenFoo. I am like 95% sure mine is dull squeegee.

 

[InkedApparel]

I think a dull squeegee might be the problem...I have been using these squeegees for over a year without sharpening......I usually coat my screen 2/1 , 2 on the shirt side 1 on the squeegee side.

I need to get my squeegees sharpened.

Inked

 

[HumbleShirts]

A nice squeegee sharpener is an invaluable tool. We put a new edge on ours about once every 2-3 weeks.

M&R Bladeshaper!

Do it!

 

[InkedApparel]

If I dont have a squeegee sharpener , it will probably be cheaper to just get new squeegees...no?

Inked

 

[HumbleShirts]

Short term yes. Long term no. Pick your poison. I think ours was about $1300 brand new.

 

[TYGERON]

If I dont have a squeegee sharpener , it will probably be cheaper to just get new squeegees...no?

Inked

You can make one with some sandpaper and a couple pieces of wood to hold the squeegee perperdicular.

 

[InkedApparel]

You can make one with some sandpaper and a couple pieces of wood to hold the squeegee perperdicular.

I thought about doing this , but was nervous I wouldnt get a clean square edge on the squeegee.

Inked