[Skobtees]

Hey folks,

Apologies if there's a better place to post this!

Myself and a friend are hoping to start screen printing onto hockey pucks. It'll just be a one-colour job, and it's a fairly simple logo. However, we tried printing them a few nights ago (using waterbased inks), and the process worked perfectly, but the ink could be rubbed straight off. It basically just sits on top of the rubber puck, even when you apply heat.

So, my question is, what kind of ink would we need to use for this process? Basically we need an ink that won't rub off the rubber puck... is there such a thing?

Thanks for your help!

Skob.

 

[RickyJ702]

I have never printed on a hockey puck but there are first for everything. try plastisol with catalyst.

 

[chuckh]

We've done this with mixed results. One of the problems is that there is no way to know exactly what material content actually makes up the "rubber" You should wipe the surface with a solvent like acetone and then print with a two-part epoxy ink. Cal Naz Dar tech support. They will help you out.

 

[20vK]

Sound like a perfect pad print job to me.

 

[Skobtees]

Yeah, I thought the same, but couldn't we just use whatever ink pad printing uses, but do it by screen instead? Do you know what sort of ink pad printing uses?

 

[royster13]

You can either screen print or pad print and you can use the same ink.......You just need to figure out what kind.....IMO it will be a 2 part epoxy ink.....But some discussions with Nazdar could be helpful....

In any event do you you a source for your blanks....I considered doing this a few years ago and ran into a roadblock with the cost of pucks....There are lots of online sellers so make sure you know what you are up against....These folks seem to be the market leader....Custom Printed Pucks

 

[Sunjoa]

Hey folks,

Apologies if there's a better place to post this!

Myself and a friend are hoping to start screen printing onto hockey pucks. It'll just be a one-colour job, and it's a fairly simple logo. However, we tried printing them a few nights ago (using waterbased inks), and the process worked perfectly, but the ink could be rubbed straight off. It basically just sits on top of the rubber puck, even when you apply heat.

So, my question is, what kind of ink would we need to use for this process? Basically we need an ink that won't rub off the rubber puck... is there such a thing?

Thanks for your help!

Skob.

Have you looked into rubberized ink, like what is used to screen print balloons? Balloons are latex, not rubber but it might work.

Hope this helps,
Dane

 

[20vK]

The advantage of most pad print machines is that the ink is encapsulated suiting the print process. This stops the solvent from evaporating out like it would on an open screen.

Typically when you pad print, the ink is dry to the touch almost instantly, so I expect using the same ink on a screen would not be very easy

 

[chuckh]

Though screen printing and pad printing could both be used to print hockey pucks, they are two different processes requiring different equipment and inks. You will not be able to successfully pad print with screen printing inks.

You already have the ability to screen print so why would you invest in pad printing equipment? The expense and learning curve to do so does not justify the time, effort, and money unless you want to also become a pad printer.

Find the right ink and mesh - NazDar is the source that can assist you. You may have to use an overspray on the dried imprint to enhance its durability, something like a Kryon fixative. A little R & D on your part is what screen printing is all about. Good luck!

 

[royster13]

Though screen printing and pad printing could both be used to print hockey pucks, they are two different processes requiring different equipment and inks. You will not be able to successfully pad print with screen printing inks.

Let me clarify.......While you have to be careful with your selection of ink, there are a number of inks that can be used for both screen printing and pad printing......But for sure, not all inks "crossover"....

As far as printing pucks, my research indicates most are screen printed so there is a thicker lay down of ink which adds some durability....