[bjparker]

Hello all. Today I just did my first screen print. Burned the image into emulsion & away I went. Just have a few newb questions;
Say I have 100 shirts to make but only want to do 50 today, so I start, ink all over the screen etc. when I'm done with the 50 but know I'm coming back tomorrow for 50 more, is it necessary I clean every thing up.? I don't want ink drying in my stencil. Right? But I don't want to have to totally reset my job again either right? What do I do?

Also, the ink seemed way hard to get off, even off the squeegee was a chore. I have ink remover. What am I doing wrong?

 

[ericsson2416]

Are you using plastisol? If so you can leave it overnight and it won't dry in the screen (it takes 320 degrees to cure it). If your ink is really thick and sticking you may consider stirring it better in the container to 'loosen' it up and smooth it out before putting it in the screen. Also, curable reducer can help. I usually use it with most colors except with black.

 

[bjparker]

Yes I'm using plast. Ink. Curable reducer?? Do tell

 

[ericsson2416]

You get reducer from the same seller of your ink. Usually mix 5% in with the ink as it goes from the bucket to screen and it helps smooth it out.

 

[BnC Custom Ink]

Sometimes if I'm going to continue to print in the future, I will leave the ink on the screen, but I will use a can of spray screen opener to clear the image area as the ink won't cure but it can dry on the mesh and affect the print. Especially high opasity whites and yellows.

Sent from my PC36100 using T-Shirt Forums

 

[Celtic]

just be sure to clear the ink from your stencil area with your last print and you'll be just fine.
No worries.

 

[nypdofficer1]

the only time you have to worry about inks drying are when and if you use water based inks but since you said your using plastisol then you are okay.

also, i dont know what your schedule is like but just think about how long it takes you to do the 50 shirts. if you leave the other half for the next night its another time you have to start up your dryer, flash etc.

If for example it takes you an hour for the 50, i would try to push on through and then call it a night. but again, i dont know what your time is like. either way, i wish you the best.

 

[bjparker]

Awesome. Thx guys. So...with the screen opener, do you use it when you're leaving the shop,or upon returning?.....

 

[sben763]

I push all the ink back to my well area of screen sometimes it sits for a day or 2. Curable reducer Ouse it and softhand additive. Although softhand doesn't thin ink much it does give the ink a softer feel. White ink I use 10%CR and 10%SH. Less of each as the colors get darker with most blacks nothing added but every now and then I get a thicker black and add a small amount of each 1-2%.

I don't use screen opener unless it clogged. That stuff will kill a few brain cells if used often I use screen wash in the image area