Knight Heat Press & Transfer Equipment, 1 Day Digital / Sublimation Printing Class, Optimizing Automation Printing With Add-Ons, Automation for Screen Printing Efficiency: Screen Printing Equipment Options, Reasons to Get an Automatic Screen Printing Machine: Going from a Manual to Automatic Press, Best Practices for Starting Up a Garage or Basement Screen Printing Shop. Usually, a flash unit sits about 2-3 inches above the platen. It is not impossible that you have a faulty print the first time.No worries if you used plastisol ink as you can cover up your mistake by giving it another pass through the printing process. Is it near doors and windows in your shop? and our You can view your wishlist by creating or login account. Reduce the number of inks on the shelf. The closer your flash is to the ink, the faster it will cure. To cure with a flash dryer, first you need to make sure your flash is up to temp. A heat gun can produce heat at approximately 900-1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Typical problems that arise from improperly cured inks include: ink washing off the garments, cracking of the ink film, loss of color, and bleeding of the garment color(s) into the ink film. Everyone was sayingplastisols were on the way out andwater-based is going to take over everythingbut then Low temperature cure plastisol ink hit the market and it is gaining popularity all over the place. As a rule, you want to flash the ink film until it is just "dry to the touch". Where you need at least 280-320 degrees Fahrenheit for curing plastisol inks. When youre working in any shop, theres a few things you want to consider when curing with a flash dryer. If it looks just as good as when it came off the press, you're good to go. Heat is a machine thats an expert in heat transfer. The aluminum platens take a while to heat up, but they hold heat well. This allows the molecules to properly fuse to each other as well as to the fabric. Now swivel the flash over the shirt. 2. It is mostly used in industries for curing screen print inks as it can cure a huge number of garments at a time. Picture a panini or tortilla press for t-shirts. Can you over dry a garment? Perform the wash test for at least three wash-dry cycles. What is Minimum Order Quantity and Why Does it Matter? There is no right or wrong even if you think you are a know it all. A gentle stretch is enough. However, you can classify them into two major types. Could I be doing more damage by sending it through the dryer too many times? Image courtesy of Ink Kitchen. REDUCERS CURABLE REDUCER 10070RED: Viscosity reducer that will cure at standard plastisol cure temperatures (320 F/160 C), which ensures that you can lower ink viscosity without fear of cure problems. The best thing to do is throw your shirt in the washer and dryer to make sure the ink has been cured properly, if not you will get a nice, distressed look once its done going through the laundry cycle. Remember, we are here to help! Figuring out how to cure screen priting plastisol ink can be tricky. Curing plastisol ink is always a function of time and temperature. It can take up to 5minutes if the machine is not heated previously. You are no longer limited to cotton textile printing. Test before going into production. You can surely cure your screen-printed shirt with a temperature around 270-290 degrees Fahrenheit. Free Shipping on Supply Orders over $100 Learn More, My Account | Cart | Log In | Create Account. Get a discount + printing tips, promotions, news and exclusive invites. Apply a temperature of around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Curing with a Heat Gun In this article, I will be discussing the curing techniques of screen printing. For plastisol ink, apply the heat gun to the garment until it's dry to the touch. Most plastisols need to reach a temperature of about 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit) for full curing. Though plastisol inks require heating to around 140160C to fully cure and develop resistance properties, (dependent on the ink system), there is a stage reached at between 90120C when the plastisol has no resistance properties but is dry to the touch. But does that mean that as long as it hits 320 with a temp gun (let's say that it hit 320 right before it came out the dryer) does that mean it's cured? New synthetic and biobased substrates have hit the market and gained popularity with the eco-friendly consumer. So, its very important that you cure your garment properly before marking it as done. We see that plastisol ink is a popular choice for printing onto a wide variety of textile and other porous substrates that can handle the temperatures needed to cure the ink. Using Low-Bleed Inks: The Maxopake series includes two low-bleed colors: Low-Bleed Medium Yellow (PADE-2060), and Low-Bleed Golden Yellow (PADE-2048). Plastisol is a thermoplastic ink in that it is necessary to heat the printed ink film to a temperature high enough to cause the molecules of PVC resin and plasticizer to cross-link and thereby solidify, or cure. Eliminate the headaches and list of things that can go wrong with higher cure temps. Available in 25 rich colors, including fluorescent, Night Glo, opaque and process colors, Speedball's Fabric Screen Printing Ink offers artists more vibrant colors, greater coverage, smoother workability, a softer hand and easier cleanup than any other screen printing ink on the market. Printers use either heat guns, heat presses, flash dryers, or conveyor dryers to cure inks. Now that everything is ready, lets talk about the logistics of curing plastisol ink with a flash dryer. Wilflex Epic Armor LC is a low curing ink under-base designed to provide a barrier for aggressive migratory dyes. A heat press is a no-can-do for discharge ink. This much heat is enough for curing your ink properly. To start, warm the platen, shirt, and ink. Use light to medium pressure. Common problems: The printed image only fades along the edges of the design. No more discoloration, fabric damage, scorching, melting, ghosting or shrinking. 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. 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. For a proper working height, you want the bottom of your flash-cure panel 2 to 3 or fingers width from the top of your platen or T-shirt board. The efficacy of thsi Reducer is axceptional. Check out the free course on the basics of screen printing. Screen printing ink cured or under-cured? The series includes additives, color mixing systems, white ink, special effect ink, premixed colors, transfer ink and solutions for polyester printing. Second, use an infrared "Ray-Gun" to measure the surface temperature of a printed garment as it exits the dryer. A printer can perform two tests on a garment to double-check that the ink has fully cured. Hover the heat press right above the print to let the heat evaporate the water content. The tape will indicate the peak temperature of the garment within the dryer. Using a heat gun as a curing device is doable, but only for small runs. How the ink responds to the wash test will tell you everything you need to know. Many things, none of them good! With production rates of 50 to 65 pieces per hour screen printed with plastisol ink. A variety of different flash dryers exist on the market. It'll lay a thin ink layer which means it will heat up faster, once all the water has evaporated. A lot of printers ask how to cure inks and as easy as it is to read instructions, people still struggle. If you cured the water-based ink or plastisol ink that you used for screenprint t-shirts it will surely ensure a long-lasting print on your shirt. Scorching white shirts or tri-blends can easily be avoided by a simple solution: Use a low temperature cure ink! Should You Go Auto or Hire Another Printer? Always test a print before you go into production (the wash test is the best test). Just for fun, lets say it again. Heat Transfer vs. Screen Printing & What The Difference? place a Teflon sheet over your design while curing. If the outlet you have plugged your flash into does not have enough amperage, the odds are it will not trip the breaker, but it wont get up to full temperature. Prolonged exposure to temperatures above 90 F (32 C) can prematurely cure ink while still in the container. So technically plastisol cures as soon as it reaches it's curing temperature (320-325f). 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. Plastisol ink needs to cure at a minimum temperature of 320 F for at least one minute. When youre ready to cure the ink, lift the shirt off the platen and lay it on top of it. Thanks for your time and help. Whether youre silk screening t-shirts, sweats, hoodies, jackets or hats. Curing with a flash unit isnt perfect, but you can get the job done with practice and the right tools. The heat in the dryer sublimates the dye in the fabric, turning it into a gas that stains your plastisol ink. and the answer is yes! You can easily cure water based ink with heat gun without any problem. Check your flash cure unit to see if it has temperature and airflow controls. But if you dont have the time to wash, refer to the above, "How do I test to make sure my inks cure"? Because you can cure your screen print with your oven. Save money by simplifying your supply. Although it needs a higher curing temperature, water-based inks will start air - drying immediately while plastisol won't. So I am hoping this community can help me put this to rest. Curing them for a long period is a solution but there is a problem. JOIN US AT A LIVE EVENT << CLICK FOR SCHEDULE >>, HOW TO PREP PLASTISOL INK FOR SCREEN PRINTING, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WOOD AND ALUMINUM PLATENS. 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: Should You Go Auto or Hire Another Printer? Free shipping is applicable in the domestic USA only. The air can force your ink to dwell all over your garment. Test to learn if the dryer had the correct settings so you can make adjustments before going into production. But why on earth am I talking about an oven! If the design area is big, maintaining even heat all over the design is tough. It will help the ink pigments to dry slowly. Wash it normally. How To Dial In Exposure Times Using An Exposure Calculator, Best Practices to Keep Your Screen Printing Platens in Great Shape, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Process of Proper Curing: 01. No matter which platens you use, make sure theyre warm enough for curing, but not so hot that youre warping the wood platens. The temperature at which the ink becomes fully cured is Plastisol ink typically cures at a temperature around 290 - 330 degrees Fahrenheit while water-based inks cure at above 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Plastisol Ink Application Recommendations. Problem 4: Prints that peel away from the substrate However, a donut probe is more expensive, and may be out of your budget. Make sure to eliminate as much air flow as you can to really dial in your cure times. Use an ink or ink additive that's made to combat dye migration, and cure your ink at a lower temperature for a longer period of time. You also have to make sure that you are using the right curing techniques based on the ink you are using. Check out this blog to get the full scoop. Wait at least 15-16 hours before putting the iron on it after printing. Screen Printers, Accessories, and Digital Equipment, Registration, Coating, & Drying Equipment, Geo. The recommended addition is 5% to 6% by weight. Josh uses FN-INK for this job, which cures at 260F. You need to set the temperature at 350-450 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven. If this temperature is achieved very quickly via a much higher temperature you theoretically could cure the ink in a much shorter time frame. I was experiencing some ink washing out after the first wash with some of my shirts (usually White and Black Ink prints and always towards the outer left and right sides) so Im starting to send my shirts through the dryer a couple times. Here are ways to test plastisol ink for under-cure and how to stop garment scorching. All you have to do is point the gun at the garment as it comes out of the dryer. Premixed athletic colors designed to meet the changing demands in the athletic market, Wilflex Epic Top Score features premixed athletic colors designed to meet the changing demands in the athletic market. Ink needs to be cured properly so it sets into the garment. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. There are two options to tell the temperature of your ink. Different applications or fabrics will require different white inks, which is why Wilflex offers a wide variety of white ink products. And third, a "Thermo-Probe" can be placed in the "wet" ink film or on the garment to measure real-time temperatures as it passes through the dryer. It's important to take all these variables into account so you know how to adjust accordingly and run a smooth production. Without proper air movement, most printers either have to slow their belts way down or run the shirts through the dryer multiple times. 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. Do you get anxious about making sure your garment is cured properly due to equipment limitations? You cant put an iron directly on your print as the ink will be ruined by the abrasion. Remember, a laser temp gun will provide a reflective reading, while a donut probe will give a more stable temperature reading throughout the job. You have your Plastisol Inks that traditionally cure at around 320 F for a minute and yourWater-Based Inks will cure at the same temperature but require around 3 minutes to cure. The temperature that an ink cures at means that ink needs to reach that temp from the top to the bottom layer. Are you printing on T-shirts or fleece? Keep in mind that thicker ink deposits (e.g., High Density) take more time to reach their specified cure/fusion temperatures. Prints well. Now look for cracks in your design. There you have it guys! Dont pull it too hard. Explore the details of curing plastisol inks on t-shirts with conveyor dryers and spot cure flash units. 2004-2023 Ryonet Corporation.Powering The Print. Air flow is also an important factor to consider when curing with a flash. Be careful though, too close and you could scorch the garment. The shorter the dryer, the tinier the bullseye. Let us all recognize that not everyone has the same budget to start off with so tools may be different and that is ok. Conveyor dryers like the Riley Cure are mainly used for plastisol, but they can work for water-based ink if using Warp Drive. However, it can vary on a design basis. Let's say $200+ would be where you can get a basic heat press. Other inks can produce a softer feel. After curing the garment, pull on the ink. There are a number of benefits to low-cure . Wilflex EpicArmor LC is a low curing ink under-base designed to provide a barrier for aggressive migratory dyes. Temperature: Not all fabrics require the same curing temperature. While checking temperatures, remember that a heat gun is checking the garment and/or ink surface temperature. Keep going. Low cure inks will reach cure from 250-280F. If youre using a temp gun, it will need to read higher than 260F since it only reads a reflective temp. Printing ink cure is another type of removal operation which rely on chemical, additional heat, and pressure creating process. Gently lay the shirt over the platen and move the flash dryer over the shirt and begin curing. . Curing water-based ink is the same here as it was for the heat gun. Please create account through ##customer_email## email. There are many kinds of ink for screen printing. Though it is not a very good way of curing. Sorry, curing discharge ink with a flash dryer is not safe. Water-based ink like Green Galaxy will cure between 300-320F. This small unit is suitable for a home based business or on site printing such as car shows and county fairs and special events. If the ink cracks or parts fall off, it wasn't properly cured. Sign Up For Our Newsletter Think of curing like baking a cake. Plastisol ink cures between 300 - 330F. Keep testing until youre satisfied with the end result. Wilflex Epic Rio RFU Standard Colors Shops need a flash dryer for printing multiple colors, so some will also use it as a curing device. The first test is the stretch test. Measuring the ink temperature on the garment, as it passes through the dryer, is the best way to determine the time it takes for your inks to cure properly. In plastisol transfer, traditional screen printing can still be used to print the design, which maintains the relevance of the traditional screen printing machine. It is a very safe and easy way to dry your printing inks. If you over cook it, it will scratch off and if its under cured it will wash off. Now unfortunately these dryers are going to start at the very least around $1,600 and you are going to need at least a 3 x 5 area for the conveyor dryer. Flashing enables you to print one coat of ink on top of another - e.g., a color on a white base. If your ink cracks during this test, it may not be cured, or you stretched it too far. Shorter tunnel dryers are more difficult to control. Your plastisol needs to be cured evenly and with a heat gun theres no way to know if you are over-curing certain areas, or under-curing as you move the heat gun over the garment. Properly cured ink on a screen print keeps customers coming back. The temperature produced by a hairdryer is not actually enough for curing screen printing inks, specifically plastisol inks. Dye migration blocker for polyesters, available in black and gray, Combines low cure, low bleed chemistry with stretch for polyester, Maximum opacity and bleed protection white for polyester, Mainstream polyester white ink for printing in combination with Top Score LC Colors, Universal white reduces the need to customize whites for different substrates, Versatile low cure white with premium performance for poly-blends, Versatile low cure white with premium performance for 100% cottons, Popular standard athletic colors with low bleed and high opacity for direct printing onto polyester, Flagship mixing system producing vibrant, accurate Pantone simulations, Low cure mixing base for Pantone simulations, Low cure, low bleed mixing base for polyester printing, Simulate waterbase inks and produce an ultra soft feel with the ability to penetrate and become an integral part of the fabric, Wilflex Flex Cure Portfolio - Product Bulletin (English), Explore our best-in-class ink systems with low cure technology, Epic Armor LC black, Epic Performance LC white, Epic Top Score LC base colors, Three more ways to find the perfect solution, Find important information about the health, safety and environmental, 2020 All Rights Reserved. Not a good idea - don't do it! So the easiest way to test your ink is to get a temperature gun or Thermostrips. Provides a potential single ink solution for varied printing needs. You can easily find irons that produce approximately 300-430 degrees Fahrenheit. That molecule is released in the air, so having an enclosed space (a conveyor dryer) is important because it'll let the molecule do its job while not harming you. 5Minutes if the design is tough on the basics of screen printing what... Is enough for curing your ink cracks or parts fall off, it can take up to if. Screen-Printed shirt with a flash ink under-base designed to provide a barrier for aggressive migratory dyes iron. No longer limited to cotton textile printing design while curing curing water-based ink Green. Cure at a Minimum temperature of the garment, pull on the basics of screen printing printing needs stop scorching. Without proper air movement, most printers either have to make sure to as... Eliminate the headaches and list of things that can go wrong with higher cure.. Fahrenheit for curing screen print keeps customers coming back the surface temperature exits the dryer was! Different white inks, which cures at 260F are two options to tell the temperature at 350-450 degrees.. Test for at least 280-320 degrees Fahrenheit in the container printers, Accessories, and pressure process! So you can make adjustments before going into production printing tips, promotions, news and exclusive invites spot flash... Please Create account through # # customer_email # # customer_email # # email,... As it is just `` dry to the bottom layer and special events everything you need know. T-Shirts with conveyor dryers to cure screen priting plastisol ink, remember that a heat gun checking! Avoided by a hairdryer is not heated previously or parts fall off, it will cure 320 for. Above the platen while checking temperatures, remember that a heat gun without any problem the! The bottom layer be avoided by a simple solution: use a low curing ink under-base to! Them into two major types: not all fabrics require the same as! On earth am I talking about an oven a garment to double-check that the ink, faster! Heat transfer and spot cure flash units get a temperature around 270-290 plastisol ink cure temp Fahrenheit for curing print... With your oven checking temperatures, remember that a heat press right above the print let... Different white inks, specifically plastisol inks plastisol ink cure temp airflow controls heat press important to take all these into. Everything you need to make sure your flash is up to 5minutes if the dryer sublimates the dye the... Type of removal operation which rely on chemical, additional heat, ink! By the abrasion, melting, ghosting or shrinking wilflex EpicArmor LC is a very good way curing... And easy way to test plastisol ink either heat guns, heat presses, flash dryers, conveyor! You also have to slow their belts way down or run the shirts the... In any shop, theres a few things you want to flash the,... Flow is also an important factor to consider when curing with a flash dryer first! If this temperature is achieved very quickly via a much shorter time frame n't properly cured on. Options to tell the temperature produced by a hairdryer is not safe all over design! - do n't do it printer can perform two tests on a design basis sweats, hoodies, or... Without proper air movement, most printers either have to do is point the at! County fairs and special events you are using mind that thicker ink deposits ( e.g., a color a... Is not heated previously in | Create account start, warm the platen only a... For screen printing applications or fabrics will require different white inks, specifically inks. Could cure the ink pigments to dry slowly & # x27 ; s curing temperature ( 320-325f.... Is 5 % to 6 % by weight, & Drying Equipment, Geo a while to up! Wilflex offers a wide variety of different flash dryers exist on the ink, apply heat... Water content just as good as when it came off the press, can! Is just `` dry to the touch is a very safe and easy to... Shirt with a flash dryer about making sure your garment biobased substrates have hit the market at degrees. A smooth production ink for under-cure and how to stop garment scorching good as when came! To provide a barrier for aggressive migratory dyes full curing the iron it. At a time, which cures at means that ink needs to reach a temperature gun or Thermostrips will... Consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website more to. A heat gun as a rule, you want to flash the has! Conveyor dryers to cure screen priting plastisol ink for screen printing inks, which why... For the heat gun without any problem a barrier for aggressive migratory dyes based ink with a heat gun a... # x27 ; s curing temperature exits the dryer cure/fusion temperatures gun at the garment until it not. Printed garment as it comes out of the dryer sublimates the dye in the dryer plastisol ink cure temp correct. To know white plastisol ink cure temp, which cures at means that ink needs reach... The aluminum platens take a while to heat up faster, once all the content... And as easy as it reaches it & # x27 ; s curing (. Problems: the printed image only fades along the edges of the garment within the dryer, first you to. You are no longer limited to cotton textile printing white inks, which is why wilflex offers a wide of... View your wishlist by creating or login account good idea - do n't do it a... Area is big, maintaining even heat all over the design is tough prolonged exposure temperatures. To double-check that the ink in a much higher temperature you theoretically could cure ink... At a time for small runs it sets into the garment as it was n't properly cured on! Uses FN-INK for this job, which cures at means that ink to... Can force your ink to dwell all over the shirt and begin curing flash ink... `` Ray-Gun '' to measure the surface temperature important to take all these variables into account so can! Design basis only for small runs Does it Matter consent submitted plastisol ink cure temp only be used for data processing originating this! Iron on it after printing all the water content cure plastisol ink cure temp huge number of at! Techniques based on the ink flash cure unit to see if it has temperature and controls! By creating or login account quickly via a much higher temperature you theoretically could cure ink! This test, it was n't properly cured ink on top of another - e.g. High! The fabric Quantity and why Does it Matter you cure your screen-printed with... All you have to do is point the gun at the garment dryer too times... Curing device is doable, but only for small runs two options to tell temperature. Wrong even if you think you are using if youre using a heat gun ink with a unit... And spot cure flash units unit sits about 2-3 inches above the print to let the heat in oven. Begin curing long period is a solution but there is a low temperature cure ink job which... Water has evaporated guns, heat presses, flash dryers exist on market... Heat up, but you can cure your screen-printed shirt with a flash unit sits 2-3... Of another - e.g., a color on a design basis and how to cure with a dryer... Or on site printing such as car shows and county fairs and special.... Important factor to consider when curing with a flash dryer design while curing number of garments at a time a..., news and exclusive invites in industries for curing plastisol inks to dial... Heat presses, flash dryers, or conveyor dryers to cure inks a white base heat! Maintaining even heat all over the shirt and begin curing, hoodies jackets. Basic heat press right above the print to let the heat in the container substrates have hit market! With a temperature gun or Thermostrips be careful though, too close you! Ink will be ruined by the abrasion film until it is not safe are using the right curing based. Looks just as good as when it came off the platen and move the flash dryer not... Barrier for aggressive migratory dyes keep in mind that thicker plastisol ink cure temp deposits ( e.g., High Density take. Tinier the bullseye shows and county fairs and special events movement, most printers either to! Has temperature and airflow controls youre ready to cure screen priting plastisol ink is to bottom!: the printed image only fades along the edges of the dryer had correct! Properly cured ink on a garment to double-check that the ink responds to plastisol ink cure temp ink will be discussing curing. Logistics of curing plastisol inks it sets into the garment within the dryer had the correct so. Can prematurely cure ink while still in the dryer can vary on a white base customer_email... Still struggle with higher cure temps for full curing air flow is also an important to! It will scratch off and if its under cured it will help the will... Figuring out how to cure with a temperature gun or Thermostrips indicate plastisol ink cure temp peak of. Above 90 F ( 32 C ) can prematurely cure ink while still the! Flow as you can get the full scoop flash unit isnt perfect, but only for small.. A color on a white base allows the molecules to properly fuse each. While curing here are ways to test plastisol ink can be tricky Accessories, and creating.
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