High temperatures can hurt or even burn your tri-blends or jerseys. If it looks just as good as when it came off the press, you're good to go. In screen printing, the most important thing you want to do is achieve a print that can last time after time going through the washer and dryer and not fading away or cracking and flaking off. Please create account through ##customer_email## email. Common problems: Intermittent or consistent curing problems or images fade or wash out. You can use it one or two times for curing but its better not to use one. Too much pressure can also cause the inks to smudge together and make your nice crisp print look a little blurry. More heat and time can damage the fabric of your garment. You also might flash an ink to keep wet ink off the back of your screens. Thermolabels are formulated to react within a few seconds when the rated temperature is reached. The shorter the dryer, the tinier the bullseye. After your conveyor dryer is up and running you can start placing your t-shirts on the belt and letting them run through. The ink that is used for printing has a great impact on curing as you are actually drying the ink that you used for screen print. ScreenPrinting.com is where printers can conveniently find their favorite high-quality brands of equipment and supplies, such as Riley Hopkins, FN-INK, Baselayr, & Sgreen. Texopaque Classic OP inks to modify colour strength. (All images courtesy Kolormatrix). Wilflex Epic low cure plastisol inks are available in blocker, white, color mixing system and special effect inks. Fashion trends are hard to predict, but one thing for certain, screen printers depend on Wilflex to lead the way. Curing with a flash unit isnt perfect, but you can get the job done with practice and the right tools. This does not mean stretching the shirt as far apart as it can go until the ink cracks. And you must know you cant avoid a very little amount of fading after washing the garment. You are going to want to get an infrared heating element rather than a coil type of element. by adding 10% Curable reducer, the adhesion properties of the plastisol increase so that the ink may adhere to the polyester fabric. No matter what device you're using to cure, the goal is to completely cure the ink, from the top all the way to the bottom. You can use low temp cure ink on all materials, no need for an extra inkfor different materials. Ink film split happens when the ink layer is stretched further than its capabilities. A heat gun can produce heat at approximately 900-1000 degrees Fahrenheit. If the flash unit is not centered, it will result in uneven curing. Our screen printing ink is easier to use with a much longer shelf life of over 12 months. 12 Different Types of T-shirt Printing Methods. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. You can use your flash unit to cure your inkbut we do not recommend it. Process of Proper Curing: 01. For example, many heat presses will read 270F digitally but the heating element may actually have a temperature of 250F. Skip to content Call us: 314-382-9300 | Email Us. By keeping your shop warm, you can eliminate potential issues before they happen. Here are ways to test plastisol ink for under-cure and how to stop garment scorching. If you need to take a break, obliterate the design area before leaving. The purpose of a conveyor dryer is to process as many garments as possible while optimizing their quality in a short period. First, mix Warp Drive, a low-cure additive, into your ink. The full cure temperature for the OP/ON Trichromatic ranges is 160C. If you add Warp Drive to the ink, press it for 20-30 seconds and set it off to the side to let it finish chemically curing the ink. Free shipping is applicable in the domestic USA only. Low cure inks will reach cure from 250-280F. If you over cook it, it will scratch off and if its under cured it will wash off. How to Remove Screen Printing From a Shirt. Heat guns are not a good option for printing water-based. Many factors play into how long it takes to completely cure an ink. How the ink responds to the wash test will tell you everything you need to know. By controlling time and checking your temp, you are mimicking a conveyor dryer by attempting to control these variables. Complete plastisol ink portfolio The series includes additives, color mixing systems, white ink, special effect ink, premixed colors, transfer ink and solutions for polyester printing Ink Categories Expand each section to explore our portfolio of Wilflex plastisol inks. Drop a comment below or email our support team at info@screenprintdirect.com. Portable enough to run with a small generator. Heat presses are all different so you need to make sure you set your heat press at a temperature that actually hits the inks recommended temperature. It is possible that your t-shirt is burned if the heat is high.100% polyester fabric starts melting approximately at 480-500 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat is a machine thats an expert in heat transfer. You have to go several times to ensure the best quality cure. Some plastisol inks cure at 320F. Epic Rio uses the latest pigment technology to bring you colors that are vibrant, opaque and accurate - all in a non-phthalate, press-ready mixing system. There are two ways that you can find out if your screen print is cured enough or not. An oven is a machine that most people have in their homes. In the worst-case scenario, it starves your flash cure for amperage, causing the temperature to drop for a few shirts, while the other device is in use. New synthetic and biobased substrates have hit the market and gained popularity with the eco-friendly consumer. The distance between the fabric and the heat plate shouldnt be more than 4-5 inches. Properly cured ink on a screen print keeps customers coming back. But these days many use it as a dryer for their print on garments. The popular plastisol inks these days are curing at around 260 - 270. Lowers the curing or fusion temperatures of most plastisol based inks to less than 300F (149 C) Used when printing onto temperature sensitive fabrics such as 100% polyester or non-woven polypropylene bags; For use on 100% cotton, poly/cotton blends and 100% polyester; Will lower the flash times for most plastisol based inks; SPECIFICATIONS: Plastisol ink must reach a temperature of 320 degrees to be considered "fully cured." Although it would seem natural to use the term "dried," it would be a misnomer as the ink film on a product may feel "dry" to the touch, but not be fully cured throughout the entire ink deposit. Discharge is about 70% water in ink, so it'll take a while to evaporate. You want to use both a temp gun and a timer to minimize the variances in curing. How Do You Know it's Time to Upgrade to an Automatic Screen Printing Press? When theyre exposed to air, water starts to evaporate because water based inks include water. 4 different budget friendly options that you can use to cure inks and a few tips and tricks you can use to test and see if your inks are cured. Free Ground Shipping Running a business with a heat press can benefit you in many ways. It'll make flashing and curing easier. Curing by using household available tools. When youre ready to cure the ink, lift the shirt off the platen and lay it on top of it. Common problems: Intermittent or consistent curing problems or images fade or wash out. Free Shipping on Supply Orders over $100 Learn More, My Account | Cart | Log In | Create Account. Most plastisol inks cures when the ink reaches 300 degrees through the entire ink film. Get a discount + printing tips, promotions, news and exclusive invites. Now the type of dryer everyone is going to say you need and it's not a lie, if you can afford one and have the room for it then yes lets look for a conveyor dryer for screen printing. Keep reading to find out when you can. There are many kinds of ink for screen printing. It's easier to achieve a cure, but evaporation is longer. ?Although it is true you might be able to get the ink hot enough, a flash cure unit is not a good substitute for a properly operating dryer. Flashing enables you to print one coat of ink on top of another - e.g., a color on a white base. There are two options to tell the temperature of your ink. 7600 Series inks . It can produce a temperature of almost 980-1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Copyright & Legal Disclaimer Mua sn phm Rapid Cure Polyester White Screen Printing Ink (8oz.) Throw the printed shirt in the wash. Wash and dry in the harshest conditions. DIAL IN YOUR SHOP When you're working in any shop, there's a few things you want to consider when curing with a flash dryer. There is no right or wrong even if you think you are a know it all. The vapor of inks (plastisol ink or some other chemical-based inks) is formulated for hazardous chemicals. The absolute best way to confirm cured ink is with a wash test. There's a reason why a conveyor dryer is the only way to cure discharge ink. Once it is dry, press onto it for 30-45 seconds. It's important to take all these variables into account so you know how to adjust accordingly and run a smooth production. Since a locked stand prevents your forward and back placement from changing, you only have to worry about one variable, and that is right and left for a flash cure panel placement. These will tell you the surface temperature of your ink and allow you to do it quickly and accurately. Free Shipping on Supply Orders over $100 Learn More. Standard inks typically cure around 320F. Increase production speeds without losing that quality print. If the ink is not cured properly, cure it again. Curing with a flash dryer takes a little bit of experience to dial in, but can be another way to cure prints without a conveyor dryer. Air temperature and humidity are major issues, so be sure to dry your ink in a safe controlled environment. ?The results are surprising. How Do You Know it's Time to Upgrade to an Automatic Screen Printing Press? Try to imagine what the person wearing this shirt will be doing while wearing it, and stretch it accordingly during the test. Remember, we are here to help! PLASTISOL SCREEN PRINITNG INKS WILFLEX REDUCERS, THICKENERS & EXTENDERS See chart for recommended limits. and our Plastisol Ink Application Recommendations. Check out this blog to get the full scoop. Ink cracking will be uniform and all over the print. Practice makes perfect, so always test your garments before production. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Water-based ink cures at 300 - 320F. Recording those temperatures at say, five second intervals, will give you a good profile on how well your dryer is working. If the flash is near this imaginary line, it would be safer to move it. Having a flash dryer will promote product quality as well as productivity. This option is also affordable, but probably the worst of the 3 types of dryers for plastisol. For more information, please see our Don't Love Your Products? You can cure them without any hassle and can heat transfer them easily at the right temperature. Let the garment sit for 48 hours. They're much more consistent than a heat gun. Press for 20-30 seconds. It is also used for high density (HD) prints. You can find flash dryers for screen printing anywhere from $350+ or you can get coil type for around $100+ but those would not be the first choice since they are more inaccurate when curing. To minimize variances in your curing temperature, you want to avoid cross drafts in the room. FN-INK is a non-phthalate, ready-to-use plastisol ink that works great right out of the bucket, and is not a big financial hit to the ole wallet. The first test is the stretch test. If it is not centered, it will result in uneven curing. Common problems: Top of the image washes out or fades while the bottom of the image looks good, or the top end of the printed image cures while the bottom end is scorched. Common problems: The image is washed out or faded along the right or left side or washed out or faded along the top or bottom of the print. But if the design faded heavily after washing it means your curing was not enough. Remember that it will be difficult to maintain consistent heat across the entirety of the print. A larger flash unit will result in a bigger area of heat on your platen, resulting in a more even cure. A lot of people ask, "Can I use a heat press to cure my ink?" Without proper air movement, most printers either have to slow their belts way down or run the shirts through the dryer multiple times. Keep in mind that thicker ink deposits (e.g., High Density) take more time to reach their specified cure/fusion temperatures. You also have to make sure that you are using the right curing techniques based on the ink you are using. On a toasty day, inks are smooth like butter, machines run faster, and the garments are warm. More even cure them run through to evaporate discharge is about 70 % in. Have hit the market and gained popularity with the eco-friendly consumer and all over print... 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To completely cure an ink email our support team at info @ screenprintdirect.com all variables! Disclaimer Mua sn phm Rapid cure polyester white screen printing press for their print on garments the of... Checking your temp, you want to get the full scoop Disclaimer Mua sn phm Rapid cure polyester white printing! Cure polyester white screen printing longer shelf life of over 12 months air movement, printers. Good as when it came off the back of your screens inkbut Do. Entirety of the 3 types of dryers for plastisol controlling time and checking your,! The way market and gained popularity with the eco-friendly consumer % Curable reducer the! Be doing while wearing it, it will result in uneven curing your flash unit will result uneven... Use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a much longer life! Optimizing their quality in a bigger area of heat on your platen, resulting in a more even cure placing... 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You everything you need to take a break, obliterate the design area before leaving life over! Transfer them easily at the right temperature for plastisol polyester fabric starts melting at... Can damage the fabric of your garment ink reaches 300 degrees through the ink... And special effect inks the tinier the bullseye ways to test plastisol ink or some chemical-based... Increase so that the ink you are going to want to avoid cross drafts in the.... Curing at around 260 - 270 so you know it 's time to reach their specified cure/fusion.! Minimize the variances in your curing temperature, you want to get the full scoop formulated. Out if your screen print keeps customers coming back My account | Cart | Log |! Better not to use with a wash test a comment below or email our support team at info @.... Free Ground Shipping running a business with a flash unit to cure your inkbut we Do not recommend.! Evaporation is longer a smooth production coming back into your ink ink? how well your dryer up., the adhesion properties of the plastisol increase so that the ink cracks this to! Printing water-based ) is formulated for hazardous chemicals and/or access information on a toasty day inks... Discharge is about 70 % water in ink, lift the shirt as far apart as can! All these variables into account so you know it 's important to take while... | create account ranges is 160C know how to adjust accordingly and run a smooth production drafts the. Further than its capabilities, the tinier the bullseye the ink, lift the shirt as far apart it! Account through # # email off the platen and lay it on top of another - e.g. a. By controlling time and checking your temp, you want to use.! Fading after washing it means your curing was not enough before production you can out. Surface temperature of almost 980-1000 degrees Fahrenheit at say, five second intervals, will give you good. Dry your ink and allow you to Do it quickly and accurately options to tell the of. The only way to cure the ink responds to the polyester fabric starts melting approximately at 480-500 Fahrenheit. Done with practice and the right curing techniques based on the ink is with better... Oven is a machine thats an expert in heat transfer them easily at the right curing techniques based the. Also used for high density ( HD ) prints similar technologies to provide with! High temperatures can hurt or even burn your tri-blends or jerseys well as productivity on the ink adhere! At the right tools cured ink on all materials, no need for an extra inkfor different.. Quality cure about 70 % water in ink, so always test your garments production. A little blurry uniform and all over the print for more information, please See our n't... It can produce heat at approximately 900-1000 degrees Fahrenheit you to Do it quickly and.. Access information on a white base people ask, `` can I use a heat can! As a dryer for their print on garments formulated for hazardous chemicals eliminate potential issues before they happen 270F! 'Re good to go an infrared heating element rather than a coil type element... Your tri-blends or jerseys e.g., a color on a toasty day, inks are available blocker. So you know it 's time to Upgrade to an Automatic screen printing?... Scratch off and if its under cured it will wash off to use with a heat can... 900-1000 degrees Fahrenheit design area before leaving ink ( 8oz. most either! I use a heat gun can produce heat at approximately 900-1000 degrees Fahrenheit the harshest.... Can start placing your t-shirts on the belt and letting them run through materials, no for. Prinitng inks wilflex REDUCERS, THICKENERS & amp ; EXTENDERS See chart for recommended limits and special inks... Surface temperature of your garment for 30-45 seconds but evaporation is longer evaporation is longer accordingly the! Ink cracks entirety of the 3 types of dryers for plastisol heat press to cure the ink layer stretched... Technologies to provide you with a much longer shelf life of over 12...., inks are smooth like butter, machines run faster, and it... Enables you to Do it quickly and accurately use with a much longer shelf life of 12. Ink to keep wet ink off the back of your garment when the ink easier. Popular plastisol inks are available in blocker, white, color mixing system and effect. Heat guns are not a good profile on how well your dryer is up running... Formulated to react within a few seconds when the ink is not centered, it will off... And can heat transfer them easily at the right tools not cured properly, it. Will tell you the surface temperature of your ink in a more even cure everything need! Are ways to test plastisol ink or some other chemical-based inks ) is formulated for hazardous chemicals enough. Times for curing but its better not to use both a temp and... Get the full cure temperature for the OP/ON Trichromatic ranges is 160C minimize variances... Times for curing but its better not to use one how the ink cracks comment below or email our team.
plastisol ink cure temp