[Mattyd]

Yo!!

So I am going to be buying a used screen printing press soon, and I have a few questions.

I have a heat press right now. Can I use it to cure the shirts? Is it better to have a conveyor dryer? I have heard that in order for shirts to cure they need to be pressed, but I always hear that people just use conveyor dryers and they cure fine. What are your guys experiences with drying?

Matt

 

[ole Jobe]

With the least expensive (about $2000, maybe a little less) conveyor dryer you can do 200 shirts per hour. With a flash dryer, you can do about 60-75. With a heat press you would do good to do 20. How much is your time worth? God Bless.

 

[Celtic]

I agree. Also, if you just heatpress, you could have issues with the ink losing it's sharpness. You know, wet ink....squish potential.

Definitely a conveyor dryer.

 

[Texsource Ronnie]

Production is the key, if you buy a dryer make sure it is a 220 volt, good luck

 

[Mattyd]

Thank you guys so much... seems like a conveyor dryer is the way to go!

 

[Solmu]

I have a heat press right now. Can I use it to cure the shirts?

If you use waterbased ink, yes.

Is it better to have a conveyor dryer?

Definitely.

I have heard that in order for shirts to cure they need to be pressed

They don't.

 

[Solmu]

You know, wet ink....squish potential.

You let the ink dry before curing with a heat press.

Those crazy enough to attempt using a heat press to cure plastisol, which doesn't air dry, tend to hover the top platen over the shirt rather than actually pressing down (very, very energy inefficient).

 

[juanftm]

If you use waterbased ink, yes.



Definitely.



They don't.

Hey Lewis, Apologies to the OP, as I don't mean to thread hijack, but have you ever run into the issue with WB inks, where if you don't press the shirt, the print feels somewhat rough?

Matt, if you do end up getting a conv dryer *AND* are planning on doing WB inks, make sure you check out a dryer with a long belt and some temp control. I've been using a Black Body Little Buddy and haven't had the easiest time curing the shirts. I read somewhere that forced air dryers might suit WB-work better.

 

[RespecttheCraft]

I have a flash right now and wish i had a conv dryer. if you have space, go for that. it will increase your production rates and ensure that each garment is adequately cured. heat press isnt really what you want.

 

[reximages]

Conveyor dryer!