I cure with a flash dryer...I have the flash 3 inches above the shirt, using a temp gun , it takes about 25 - 30 seconds for the whole image to reach cure temp of 330 degrees. may take more or less time depending on the image size.
Inked
Inked
Curing with a flash dryer
Hello. I'm just getting started in screen printing & was told I can cure plas inks with my flash dryer. I knw a conveyer is the wy to go but I can't afford or have room for one as of now. I'm in my garage. So... I'm wondering how I do it. I knw it needs to reach 330f. But for how long? How do I know when it has? I have a temp gun but it was all over the place. I shoot it at the unit at it bounces from 300-500 so then I thought I'll aim it at the ink, same, bounces from 100-400.
What's the best method for getting this down to a science? My dryer only has a low or high setting. How far above my shirt board should I set it? I ended up curing some shirts & they washed fine but I had no real method. Just let them sit for like 10 or 15 seconds How long should this take? Any suggestions is mucho appreciated.
What's the best method for getting this down to a science? My dryer only has a low or high setting. How far above my shirt board should I set it? I ended up curing some shirts & they washed fine but I had no real method. Just let them sit for like 10 or 15 seconds How long should this take? Any suggestions is mucho appreciated.
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Where are you aiming the temp gun?
I usually point my temp gun at the lighest color ink on the garment.
Temp guns aren't exact as far as what you are aiming at so I will check a few parts of the shirt.
I set the height of my flash so that when I am done printing the shirt on my press the one under my flash is cured. This prevents waiting between prints. I'm slow already so I don't need help making jobs take longer
.
Temp guns aren't exact as far as what you are aiming at so I will check a few parts of the shirt.
I set the height of my flash so that when I am done printing the shirt on my press the one under my flash is cured. This prevents waiting between prints. I'm slow already so I don't need help making jobs take longer
.
I aim the temp gun at different parts of the image.....mainly the 4 corners...if the corners are to temp , then the middle is usually 50 - 100 degrees hotter.
Inked
Inked
I use a flash dryer also. I have the dryer about 6 inches above the t-shirt and leave it on there for about 15 seconds. For insurance I give each shirt a 6 second press on the heat press afterwards. It is more work but I have never had a job come back. I even to this with polyester t-shirts. I can't afford a conveyor dryer either. Hopefully in the near future.
Wow I've heard of curing with a flash dryer 3 inches away from the shirt and for 25-30 seconds. What temperature are you getting the flash dryer at?
When I was curing with a flash, here's what I did:
-Cure station - same height as press, just a simple wooden platform. This keeps your platens from getting warped, and lets you add a second person to cure and can vastly increase your production rate - I was getting 60 - 80 shirts/hour on this setup.
-Flash 3 inches up for 25 seconds
-To check temp, quickly rotate the flash off the garment and aim the temp gun at the center of the print at the exact same time. The goal is to get a reading within a second of the flash leaving the shirt. I found this is more accurate than trying to read temp while the dryer is still on top. Also keep in mind that your cure time will be slightly longer at first, but will get shorter as the curing station heats up.
There's nothing wrong with using a flash to cure while you get started, but once you get some income coming in, the Vastex D-100 is only $1500 new, and makes a world of difference.
-Cure station - same height as press, just a simple wooden platform. This keeps your platens from getting warped, and lets you add a second person to cure and can vastly increase your production rate - I was getting 60 - 80 shirts/hour on this setup.
-Flash 3 inches up for 25 seconds
-To check temp, quickly rotate the flash off the garment and aim the temp gun at the center of the print at the exact same time. The goal is to get a reading within a second of the flash leaving the shirt. I found this is more accurate than trying to read temp while the dryer is still on top. Also keep in mind that your cure time will be slightly longer at first, but will get shorter as the curing station heats up.
There's nothing wrong with using a flash to cure while you get started, but once you get some income coming in, the Vastex D-100 is only $1500 new, and makes a world of difference.
Hi, what temp were you using on the heat press?
I would think that 360* for 4 or 5 seconds would be sufficient. I have seen this work fine for tees.Hi, what temp were you using on the heat press?
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