inks

jorjslippich · August 16th, 2007, 12:24 AM

i'm just getting into screen printing, but i'm making shirts for my band and some other local bands. up to now i've been using speedball inks, but seem to be having lots of issues with consistancy. i was wondering what the "best" ink on the market for screening on to black shirts is right now. i've seen some good things about permaset, how do they compare? also, i don't have room for a flash dryer, so i'm gonna be using a heat gun do dry/heat set the shirts. thanks for the help.

Greg hamrick · August 16th, 2007, 07:55 AM

Your going to have issues with consistancy using a heat gun, even a flash dryer will give you trouble because they are designed for flashing the surface of the ink. Your inks must reach an even temp of 320 degrees for up to one minute in order to cure right. Just think of it like cooking a pan cake. If you only cook the top, the bottom will be gooey. That is what's happening when you use a heat gun.
You would be better off using the heat gun to flash the ink, then, use a kitchen oven set at 320 degrees. Make sure you use the top element for heat, and the bottom rack for the shirt to cure the ink with. Just be sure to time the cure properly.
And don't worry...the shirts can take the heat without scorching. As far as inks go, if your printing white on black, plastisol ink, not water-based is the way to go. Use either Wilflex, Rutland or Union. They are the best on the market for white inks. They also clean up with mineral spirits so you don't need any special chemicals. Speedball is way down on the bottom and only for hobbies.

Hope this helps................

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jorjslippich · August 16th, 2007, 12:53 PM

thanks for the tips, that helps a lot. this may sound like a stupid question, but what do you mean by mineral spirits. i really am a novice at this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg hamrick

Your going to have issues with consistancy using a heat gun, even a flash dryer will give you trouble because they are designed for flashing the surface of the ink. Your inks must reach an even temp of 320 degrees for up to one minute in order to cure right. Just think of it like cooking a pan cake. If you only cook the top, the bottom will be gooey. That is what's happening when you use a heat gun.
You would be better off using the heat gun to flash the ink, then, use a kitchen oven set at 320 degrees. Make sure you use the top element for heat, and the bottom rack for the shirt to cure the ink with. Just be sure to time the cure properly.
And don't worry...the shirts can take the heat without scorching. As far as inks go, if your printing white on black, plastisol ink, not water-based is the way to go. Use either Wilflex, Rutland or Union. They are the best on the market for white inks. They also clean up with mineral spirits so you don't need any special chemicals. Speedball is way down on the bottom and only for hobbies.

Hope this helps................

.

SkyLinePrints · August 16th, 2007, 02:09 PM

mineral spirits is used for cleaning your tools. if you have ever painted your house with oil based paints, you needed to clean your brushes aftewards. mineral spirits is used to do that. You can buy it at a home improvement store in the paint section.

point is... you dont have to buy special chemicals from the screen print supply house to cleanup. saves time and $$$.

hope that helps.

jorjslippich · August 16th, 2007, 03:17 PM

great, now the only question i have is, i'm doing this all by hand. meaning i used the screen filler/painted by hand method. will the mineral spirits damage the image?

Greg hamrick · August 17th, 2007, 07:39 AM

Most likely it will not harm your screens filler. However, I would test it by rubbing one of the corners (away from the image) with some just to see if it gets slimey. Mineral Spirits is gentle, yet will clean most anything.

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