[STONEKOYOTE]

CAN I USE AN IRON TO HEAT SET?

 

[thutch15]

Can you share some more details? Light on dark, dark on light, plastisol ink?

If it is light on dark plastisol then I would say you are not curing at the correct temp...or you are press the ink into the shirt. If pressed in something like a heat press it will lock in the color by making it look just like a plastisol transfer.

If it is a dark on light and you are print/flash/printing then it could be a different set of issues.

 

[Teamwear]

in the absence of screen printing equipment I would try the oven before the iron-but I would go to Home Depot and buy a $30 heat gun and a $30 infra red temp gun to make sure it gets cured properly.

 

[mrvixx]

fading? what type of ink??

 

[STONEKOYOTE]

I am using water based inks. But I am real new at this. Maybe my ink is not going deep enough into the material. And I was trying to do it on the cheap, but want to do it right, of course. Would the oven really work?

 

[STONEKOYOTE]

so I would need to buy both items?

 

[STONEKOYOTE]

It is dark ink on light shirts. Guess I should have given more info. I want to keep it simple and economical. Is that possible

 

[STONEKOYOTE]

washing out is a better term.

 

[thutch15]

I would say your problem is that the ink is not curing properly. Waterbase ink does not cure at a certain temp like plastisol, but rather after the moisture has been removed. I have heard of people using hair dryers if you do not have another way to cure the ink. Also they make additives that will help the curing process. I really don't think an iron would work to well in this situation... Dryer would also help with the final curing.

 

[STONEKOYOTE]

i have been doing some research today, and found out about the additive. Do you think it will help. and to use the hair dryer as opposed to the iron?

 

[thutch15]

i have been doing some research today, and found out about the additive. Do you think it will help. and to use the hair dryer as opposed to the iron?

Will for sure help, but it will also increase the chances for drying in the screen. Heat gun would probably be better than a hair dryer, but both will output hot dry air... which is what you want.

 

[Teamwear]

I do not print water based-only plastisol. With plastisol if it does not get to 320 degrees it will wash out a lot.

We started out as cheaply as possible using a flash unit to cure. It works-but you will likely miss the corner of some of the designs and your quality will suffer and you will not grow your business over the poor quality.

We have been there and done that.

We bought a relatively inexpensive conveyor dryer and it has paid for itsef many times over and 2 years into doing our own production we need either another one or an upgrade.

You do not have to have the most expensive pieces of equipment-but some of the methods you are suggesting have very little chance of producing shirts you can build your business on.

At least buy the $30 heat gun and cure it until it survices the stretch test.

Be prepared to only be able to produce 30-40 shirts per hour even on a 1 color design.

Check out you tube too. Lots of videos on "alternate" ideas that work.

 

[thutch15]

Here is a good article on curing waterbase inks:

http://www.t-shirtforums.com/screen-printing-inks/t116775.html

I am pretty sure that the "stretch test" only applies to plastisol ink, but I could be wrong. The ink actually absorbs into the shirt fibers which makes it extremly soft.

 

[arum]

you can try 1or 2 500 watts floodlight. Use as a Flash Cure. hehe! 15-20 seconds curing. depends on the ink used.

 

[STONEKOYOTE]

you can try 1or 2 500 watts floodlight. Use as a Flash Cure. hehe! 15-20 seconds curing. depends on the ink used.

Mucho thanks. it is water based.

 

[ChameleonPrints]

With water based ink, you must reach curing temperature and maintain it for the length of time the ink manufacturer recommends for the ink to cure. The water based inks I have used say to get it between 300 and 320 for 2.5 to 3 minutes. A household clothes iron typically only gets to around 200 degrees so that would not be a good option. I would recommend getting a heat gun from home depot or lowes and you need a temp gun to know when you have reached curing temp and start the timer.

 

[STONEKOYOTE]

everyone on this forum as been great. I want to thank ya'll muchly for the advice, I am very encouraged now that I can overcome the problems and continue with my artwork.

 

[arum]

Im using waterbased inks, three brands, on separate shirts. all is tested and cured with my single 500 watt floodlight for 20-30 seconds for about 1-2 inches distance. and after curing i throw the shirt on the washing machine that is on the high wash and let it twist for 10 minutes just to try if the ink will fade or if it will lose on shirt.

Inks still on the shirt and the water is still clear ^_^ no marks of inks on the water used. hehe! and i also tried washing it with laundry soap still good. hehe!

But bro, search the net and look for the proper curing for your ink that is the nicest advice from our friends here.

 

[thutch15]

all is tested and cured with my single 500 watt floodlight for 20-30 seconds for about 1-2 inches distance.

I am shocked that works, but good for you!

 

[arum]

hehe! try it sir and you will surely see. ^_^ just give it a try. hehe