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Screen printing on stuff other than 100% cotton??

2.9K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  Yuvaraj  
#1 ·
Hey, everyone up until now I have only screen printed 100% cotton stuff and some 50/50 stuff. But I want to start trying 100% poly, spandex, nylon, etc. I have turned down jobs because I haven't tried printing on these types of things and I feel like it's time I figure it out. I use Plastisol ink btw.

So the way I see it is Plastisol I can use on everything as long as it is the right kind or has the right additives.

So 100% poly needs a poly ink or low bleed under base with normal ink on top
Spandex needs stretch additive in a normal ink. does spandex need a low bleed ink as well??
Nylon needs a nylon bonding agent like nylobond added to normal ink?? does nylon need low bleed ink??

I do a lot of stuff for dance/cheer teams and they love the 100% poly and spandex stuff. Up until now I have been using HTV and rhinestones but would love to replace the HTV with screen printing.

Any tips you have on how to print on non-cotton garments would be very greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeron.
 
#2 ·
I print on a lot of cotton/spandex ladies tanks these days. They sell well.

When I used plastisol, I didn't have to add anything special. Suppose it depends on the ink manufacturer.

Funny thing, I experimented with adding small amounts of stretch additives, when I was still using plastisol, and I could get the print to crack every time. Never with straight plastisols. Weird.

Since switching to high opacity WB inks, I also don't need to add anything.

I know that doesn't address 100% spandex, but cotton/spandex tanks are pretty popular these days.

Supposedly also, with the Permaset High opacity inks, you can print on any material - nylon, whatever, and it needs no additives to cure correctly. Of course it is WB and I have not used it on anything other than the cotton/spandex tanks and 50/50 garments.
 
#3 ·
Spandex is actually a woven rubber like thread that is knitted in with other materials to give them stretch capabilities. So you would need to know what the other material is to make the determination of inks to use. I never have had a lot of luck with stretch additives. If a softer hand is needed use a reducer and higher mesh counts. Definitely use a true 100% poly white or gray blocker on colored 65%-100% polyester, don't skimp here. Pretty much gone are the days of nylon but you can use regular plastisol with an additive. However it is best to use a nylon ink and even then catalyst needs to be used as well. I use a LB 50/50 white on 100% cottons as well as the 50/50's. The only thing you have to watch here is that for some reason it take a little more heat to cure on the cotton. Not an issue though. Hope this helps. Good Luck.