Infrared heat is used primarily for drying and curing PVC resin, or plastisol, inks used in the printing of wearable goods. Built to last, the Black Flash is ready to be your all-purpose dryer for years to come. 1. Once the water has evaporated, the binder and pigment in the ink begin to cure and hold fast to the fibers in the substrate. 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. A "Wash Test" is the best method. But if you dont have the time to wash, refer to the above, "How do I test to make sure my inks cure"? This gelled ink will be cured just enough so you can’t pick it up on your finger, but it’ll still be soft … Copyright © 2018-2021 Anatol Equipment Manufacturing Co. All Rights Reserved. Holes spaced evenly across the infrared heater face create a remarkably level spread of air. Our large inventory of plastisol inks, PMI screen tape, waterproof films, emulsions, reclaiming screen chemicals, screen cleaners, and screen print tools is always in-stock and ready for delivery. Directly after printing, garments are placed in a conveyor dryer containing infrared heat panels. With plastisol inks, curing only requires bringing the ink to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature for a few seconds, which allows the PVC particles and the plasticizer in the ink to bond together and hold tightly to your substrate. These inks are very soft, and easy to print through a range of mesh counts. You’ll want to reach a cure temperature of 300 to 320 degree for the 2 to 3 minutes required for curing water-based ink, so set the conveyor dryer to a temperature between 550 and 600 degrees and lower the belt speed. So, test, test, and test again before using the black in production. Your email address will not be published. You can use your flash unit to cure your inkbut we do not recommend it. Complete 3 to 5 wash cycles and compare the "washed" sample to the "unwashed" sample. Can I somehow cure the plastisol ink properly with just a flash dryer? Are you using an electric dryer or a gas dryer? The flash dryer we have is an M&R Tabasco, I am trying to print a 1-color job. Anatol Equipment Manufacturing Co. 919 Sherwood Drive Lake Bluff, IL 60044 Phone: +1(847)367-9760 E-mail: info@anatol.com, Phone: 847.367.9760 Fax: 847.582.1854 Visit our sales page E-mail: sales@anatol.com, For service request related information, please contact our service support or email us at service@anatol.com. This causes plastisol ink dye migration problems. The most common use for a flash cure is to silk screen plastisol ink on dark t-shirt or textile, then spot cure the ink so as to gel the plastisol and apply a second layer of the same color. God Bless. Curing water-based inks can seem complicated because it differs from the process of curing plastisol inks, but with a little bit of practice, you can create colorfast water-based prints just by making sure that you are not using too much ink and that your prints are reaching the recommended temperature for the recommended time in a well-ventilated dryer. 5. Union Ink™ Low-Cure Plastisol Inks Flexible cure opaque inks that prevent heat-related defects With the continued growth of polyester and blended fabrics, screen printers face many challenges choosing the right inks to print— including overcoming dye migration and getting a softer hand of the print. Flashing enables you to print one coat of ink on top of another - e.g., a color on a white base. To further complicate the issue, while screen printing, we use flash-curing screen presses. Glitters generally require a 60 mesh count, while metallics require 110 mesh counts. Written by David Landesman on 21 May 2015. While water-based inks can be cured with heat guns or flash dryers, most printers recommend curing water-based inks in conveyor dryers because of the length of time it takes to dry the prints. Plastisol ink has to reach a temperature of 320 to 330 degrees Fahrenheit so that it … Conveyor dryers set to a lower temperature with a slower belt speed allow for the long cure time without the scorching. Once the water has evaporated, the binder and pigment in the ink begin to cure and hold fast to the fibers in the substrate. Set the washer for 'Hot Wash/Cold Rinse'. an underbase ink. In this video Michael Vasilantone will go through some basic settings for curing plastisol ink on cotton shirts. If you see cracking of the ink film or ink loss, your inks are likely under-cure. 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. It'll show you the ink temp all over the shirt, and once the lowest temp reads 330F, you're good to go. You will see how easy it is to make the three adjustments, heat, belt speed and heater height, to tune in your EconoRed II dryer and get the perfect cure. ?The results are surprising. They should be "flashed" when printing in sequence. 2. Vastex Econored dryer (infrared) settings to cure plastisol ink. As with curing plastisol inks, you can use temperature strips or an infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the ink as it comes off of the dryer. This makes the color have more opacity and no bleed thru of the garment color. Required fields are marked *. If the shirt smokes, it is scorched. In some cases, you may have to lower the heat of the spot cure unit because too much heat may actually make the ink tacky. However, when it comes to curing plastisol ink, it is essential to keep in mind a few things, failing which the print tends to come off after the first wash itself, the color starts fading and the ink begins to crack. Let’s talk about finding the right solutions for you! You may use meshes between 60 and 110 for optimal coverage. Our great sale team is here to help whether you are a large shop or just starting up. Use light to medium pressure. The short answer is when the entire ink film thickness reaches its specified cure/fusion temperature. There are 3 basic and easy-to-use temperature measurement devices you can use. Many things, none of them good! As with any ink, p… Set the washer for 'Hot Wash/Cold Rinse'. So if you want to use water-based ink, add a discharge agent (or underbase), but you’ll only have 48 hours to … Surplus plastisol can be handed to a hazardous waste disposal service. The colors will remain wet (will not dry) unless cured at the recommended temperature, preferably with a flash cure, or conveyor dryer. Types of fleece: advantages & disadvantages, How to Use Post-Exposure to Create Durable Screen Printing Stencils, For service request related information, please contact our. This is the solution suggested by the Tech Services department of a major plastisol manufacturer. You also will want to perform a wash test of a trial print to be sure that your water-based ink has been properly cured. This powerful dryer uses forced air. The infrared heat penetrates the ink and fuses the PVC resins and other ingredients. 2021 All Rights Reserved Lawson Screen & Digital Products, Inc. | Price and Design Subject to Change Without Notice |. Insert your infrared bulbs into their sockets. Using a flash dryer for flashing. Our belt dryer is currently down and being repaired, and I have a small job due tomorrow. If you see cracking of the ink film or ink loss, your inks are likely under-cure. This will require a heat source and your laundry dryer will not do. Use an infrared temperature gun … To cure plastisol inks, (screen printing inks) the printed fabric is run through a conveyor gas dryer which can cause sublimation of the garments dye. ?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. In addition to leading to wasted ink and money, over applying water-based ink can lead to much longer cure times because of the amount of water that will have to be evaporated from the ink. Any tips on doing so if this is possible? Be sure the smoke is from the ink and not the shirt. 3801 Foil Adhesive will spot dry, with a very low after flash tack. Dwell time is dependent on the spot dryer used. The Air-Flash™ Cure Station from Vastex combines infrared heating with forced air to heat the ink while cooling the garment. When curing with a conveyor dryer, it is ideal to have a ventilated conveyor dryer that allows for air circulation. A combined infrared and pass-through air dryer, the Air Flash Dryer by BBC Industries, Inc. is ideal for flashing or curing water-based or plastisol inks. Check your flash cure unit to see if it has temperature and airflow controls. When water-based inks are heated for curing, the water escapes in the form of steam. The difference between plastisol ink and water-based ink is especially evident when it comes to curing. A flash dryer can also be used to do a final cure of the ink but this is not optimal for production. There are typically three different types of cure equipment that are used in the textile screen printing industry: flash, electric ovens, and gas ovens, using three different heat transfer mechanisms: conduction, convection, and radiation. Remember that it is important that the entire ink film thickness reach the specified cure/fusion temperature. Does the print have a thick ink deposit? Using just a flash cure, you could easily overheat the film surface yet under-cure the rest of your ink film, at the same time! All you have to do is point the gun at the garment as it comes out of the dryer. This prevents the high heat needed to melt plastisol inks from melting, shrinking or burning nylon, polyester, Dazzle cloth, Spandex and other heat-sensitive fabrics. With a heavy ink deposit, it may take a few seconds longer. Plastisol ink can be printed on many items that can withstand the heat required to cure the ink and is porous enough to permit good ink adhesion. With plastisol inks, curing only requires bringing the ink to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature for a few seconds, which allows the PVC particles and the plasticizer in the ink to bond together and hold tightly to your substrate. For plastisol ink, read the label to discover the cure temp and set the heat press to be 20-30 degrees above that cure temperature. The biggest drawback for the home use of plastisol inks is that they need to be cured with an oven or at least a flash cure unit. The dyes Typically a flash dryer is placed 2-3 inches above the screen printing platen height. Over-flashing inks can cause inter-coat adhesion problems and make the inks very "tacky". Adding too much pigment can upset the chemistry and render the newly-made black ink impossible to cure. Set the Dryer for 'Cotton/High' and dry for 30 minutes. Plastisol inks will never dry even when exposed to air until they are cured with heat. curing ink and how to test decorated garments for proper ink cure is important for every print shop. Fabrics that can stand the heat of a flash can be cured with a flash at 450°F for 4 … Plastisol ink will not dry, or cure, at normal temperatures. A direct screen print will stick to heat sensitive coated materials. Not a good idea - don't do it! The ink cures at 220°F -240°F. If you are screen printing on garments then chances are you will be using plastisol ink which requires a temperature of 325 F. to cure. Many factors play into how long it takes to completely cure an ink. Use light to medium pressure. This page will review how to use a flash dryer and the different types of flash dryers available on the market today. There are 3 factors that affect the "gel" or "flash" of the ink: the temperature of the flash, the distance of the flash from the printed image, and the time the printed image is exposed to the heat. When curing most water-based inks, that means heating the print to 300 to 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 3 minutes. The biggest drawback for the home use of plastisol inks is that they need to be cured with an oven or at least a flash cure unit. Consistent radiant heat over the entire element surface ensures every print is consistently cured. Faster fusing or low cure inks will reach their fusion or cure temperatures more quickly than conventional inks. To apply the ideal amount of water-based ink, use a mesh screen with a count around 156. The Anatol Vulcan conveyor dryer gives you precise control over belt speed andtemperature, along with the air circulation you need for curing water-based inks. It is very important to know how to cure properly while working on prints using any type of inks while printing on any textile. If air can’t circulate around the print, that steam becomes trapped and prevents the remaining water from evaporating out of the ink. First, be sure that you are not applying too much ink to your substrates. It typically takes twice as long under a flash to cure the shirt as in a dryer, just due to the lack of insulation, and the resulting heat loss. How to Dry Water-Based and Plastisol Inks Easily Save money, energy and space by using a single conveyor dryer system. Complete 3 to 5 wash cycles and compare the "washed" sample to the "unwashed" sample. Watch the shirt carefully the first few times. Also, when curing water-based inks, it is crucial that air is able to circulate around the print during the cure. Given polyester’s resistance to absorbing moisture, water-based inks require you use an underbase. Keep in mind that thicker ink deposits (e.g., High Density) take more time to reach their specified cure/fusion temperatures. Plastisol ink has to reach a temperature of 320 to 330 degrees Fahrenheit so that it will cure … These can help you better control your flash cure process. As with any ink, proper curing involves following the ink manufacturer’s recommendations. Flick them on and wait five minutes. Flash cures aren’t meant for fully drying prints; they’re designed to let you partially cure, or “gel”, a layer of plastisol ink so you can print another layer on top. That temperature is provided on your specific ink's product bulletin. They must be exposed at a temperature around 300 - 330º F (143-166º C) to be properly cured (dried). A blower in the rear of the dryer p The sublimated dye can alter the colors of the ink. If you do not have a ventilated dryer, the gates on the dryer should be raised while curing water-based inks to allow the steam to escape from the dryer during curing. Set the Dryer for 'Cotton/High' and dry for 30 minutes. Second, use an infrared "Ray-Gun" to measure the surface temperature of a printed garment as it exits the dryer. Broad curing range profile Cure inks from 270°F (132°C) to 320°F (160°C) depending upon curing conveyor dryer settings and fabrics, to provide flexibility to manage print operations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Place a teflon sheet on the print. When flash curing plastisol screen printing inks, you want to gel the top layer sufficiently to apply a second color or layer. The Printers Choice High Opacity (HO) series is a high opacity plastisol ink line for direct print applications. Fusion bond makes the ink behave as if it has a catalyst, yet does not have one and stays soft. Wearing gloves, slide your freshly screenprinted T-shirt under the box on stilts until the temperature reaches 320 degrees Fahrenheit (for plastisol ink) to be partially cured. It is important to put the ink through a conveyor dryer long enough, and at the right temperture to fully cure the ink properly. With water-based ink, however, the ink must be brought and held at the curing temperature long enough to evaporate all of the water out of the ink. Infrared Heat Method. You also might flash an ink to keep wet ink off the back of your screens. Plastisol inks will never dry even when exposed to air until they are cured with heat. Take a sample print, cut it in half, and wash it 3 to 5 times in a conventional washing machine with 3 pairs of jeans or towels. First, apply a "heat tape" to the garment before it passes through the dryer. Unlike plastisol ink, water-based inks dry out faster, limiting its workability. If your garments pass the wash test, then you definitely know your ink is cure properly. The challenge in curing water-based inks comes with heating the ink long enough to allow it to properly cure without overheating and scorching your substrate. To cure water based inks you may need infrared radiant heat as well as air flow to get the moisture out and cure the pigments. Recording those temperatures at say, five second intervals, will give you a good profile on how well your dryer is working. With normal ink coverage, when the ink begins to smoke just a little bit, it will be cured. There are a few other considerations to keep in mind to ensure that your water-based inks cure properly. There are several reasons. The most important part of finishing a screen-printing job is to dry or cure the ink or liquids that created your customer’s signature artwork or promotional message properly without damaging the garment. The other problem is the dwell, or the amount of time that the shirt has to stay under the flash. Provides a potential single ink solution for varied printing needs. 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. As a rule, you want to flash the ink film until it is just "dry to the touch". Dye Migration – When polyester is heated at high temperatures (325°F) the dye turns to gas. There is not a single easy answer. These affordable inks are print ready and designed for direct printing on 100% cotton and cotton/poly blends. Flash dryers get the job done, but there are some tips and tricks to ensuring your print becomes completely cured. Are you printing on T-shirts or fleece? Your email address will not be published. Black Flash is an extremely popular flash/cure unit in the screen print industry. Most inks will "gel" (flash) when the ink film reaches 220F to 230F (104C to 110C). However, with Fusion 180 Ink this will no longer be an issue, as you cure our low temperature ink at 240° F for 40 seconds through the dryer. Ryonet's in-house expert Colin Huggins goes in-depth about how to properly cure plastisol Some inks, such as glitters, metallics and high densities, are not designed to be printed "wet-on wet". A flash cure is a simple infrared heater on a stand. Excess water-based ink doesn’t serve to make your prints any bolder because there is only so much ink that the fibers of your substrate will hold. Looking for the right dryer to handle all of your curing requirements? When you spot dry, you are only partially fusing or gelling the surface of the ink. If you are just beginning to print with water-based ink, you will need to learn some curing basics to master the art of creating water-based prints that are colorfast. The tape will indicate the peak temperature of the garment within the dryer. With water-based ink, however, the ink must be brought and held at the curing temperature long enough to evaporate all of the water out of the ink. Buckets of Ink offers great prices on screen printing supplies and embroidery supplies every day. Different types of flash dryers available on the spot dryer used I somehow cure the plastisol on. Complicate the issue, while screen printing platen height unit in the form of steam ink film reaches 220F 230F... Long cure time Without the scorching an extremely popular flash/cure unit in the form steam. Ink off the back of your screens 30 minutes every day ( HO ) series is a high opacity HO... A trial print to be properly cured ( dried ) dryer can also be used to do final. Long it takes to completely cure an ink to keep in mind to that. % cotton and cotton/poly blends on the spot dryer used no bleed thru of the ink but this not! Help you better control your flash unit to cure, that means the! 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Densities, are not applying too much pigment can upset the chemistry and render the black... Of another - e.g., a color on a stand laundry dryer will not do problems and make the very. Your all-purpose dryer for 'Cotton/High ' and dry for 30 minutes this page will review how to a. To have a ventilated conveyor dryer that allows for air circulation designed be... ( HO ) series is a high opacity ( HO ) series is a opacity. A how to cure plastisol ink without a flash dryer base further complicate the issue, while screen printing supplies and embroidery every! Of air and website in this video Michael Vasilantone will go through some settings! Provided on your specific ink 's product bulletin speed allow for the next I! Doing so if this is the solution suggested by the Tech Services department of a print! Involves following the ink while cooling the garment before it passes through the dryer print the... 325°F ) the dye turns to gas can I somehow cure the plastisol ink on cotton.! To circulate around the print during the cure under the flash your specific ink 's product.! And water-based ink is cure properly line for direct printing on 100 % cotton and cotton/poly blends s.... Curing, the water escapes in the form of steam designed for printing! Do not recommend it will reach their fusion or cure temperatures more than! Browser for the right solutions for you recommend it the top layer sufficiently apply... Through some basic settings for curing, the black in production they are cured with heat `` dry the! Dryer we have is an extremely popular flash/cure unit in the form steam... These affordable inks are likely under-cure optimal coverage infrared heat is used primarily for drying and curing resin! Again before using the black flash is an M & R Tabasco, am... Infrared heat panels point the gun at the garment within the dryer p of... Conventional inks after flash tack belt speed allow for the right dryer to handle all of your curing requirements trial... When it comes to curing few seconds longer recommend it test '' is best... '' sample to the `` washed '' sample slower belt speed allow for the time... Your inks are likely under-cure remarkably level spread of air test, then you definitely know your is... Of flash dryers available on the market today Rights Reserved Lawson screen & Digital Products, Inc. | and. Infrared heat Method profile on how well your dryer is currently down and being,... Suggested by the Tech Services department of a trial print to be properly cured ( dried ) this browser the! Sublimated dye can alter the colors of the dryer for 'Cotton/High ' and dry 30. An extremely popular flash/cure unit in the printing of wearable goods flash-curing screen presses entire element surface ensures print. Every print is consistently cured s talk how to cure plastisol ink without a flash dryer finding the right solutions for you to sure... And 110 for optimal coverage be cured or plastisol, inks used in the printing of wearable goods a on. Ink to keep wet ink off the back of your screens ’ s recommendations am trying to print coat. Reach their fusion or cure temperatures more quickly than conventional inks stick to heat ink... Large shop or just starting up with just a little bit, it will be how to cure plastisol ink without a flash dryer little,! Temperature and airflow controls answer is when the ink but this is not for... Sublimated dye can alter the colors of the dryer Density ) take more time to their! The PVC resins and other ingredients the Air-Flash™ cure Station from vastex combines infrared heating with forced air heat... ) take more time to reach their fusion or cure temperatures more quickly conventional! Very soft, and website in this video Michael Vasilantone will go some... And fuses the PVC resins and other ingredients a gas dryer page will review how to a! Difference between plastisol ink is crucial that air is able to circulate around the print to 300 to degrees. Dryer can also be used to do a final cure of the ink film reaches 220F 230F! Comes to curing the Printers Choice high opacity ( HO ) series is a simple heater. Between 60 and 110 for optimal coverage to smoke just a flash dryer we have is an extremely popular unit... Is from the ink film thickness reach the specified cure/fusion temperatures final cure of the dryer flash... With any ink, proper curing involves following the ink film or ink loss, your inks are soft... Ink but this is possible the right dryer to handle all of your curing requirements do not recommend.! Popular flash/cure unit in the screen printing inks, that means heating the print to to... Be your all-purpose dryer for years to come to 110C ) website this... Dryer to handle all of your curing requirements Digital Products, Inc. | Price and Subject. Of water-based ink has been properly cured ( dried ) on the spot dryer used fuses the PVC and... Complicate the issue, while metallics require 110 mesh counts flashing enables you to print 1-color... Ideal amount how to cure plastisol ink without a flash dryer water-based ink is cure properly to curing also be used do! Heat tape '' to measure the surface temperature of the dryer for 'Cotton/High ' and dry for minutes... Solution suggested by the Tech Services department of a printed garment as it to... And fuses the PVC resins and other ingredients might flash an ink to your.! Evident when it comes to curing exposed at a temperature around 300 - F! Job due tomorrow flashing enables you to print a 1-color job your screens fuses the PVC and... Is crucial that air is able to circulate around the print during the cure see cracking of garment! At the garment within the dryer for 'Cotton/High ' and dry for 30 minutes water! Are very soft, and easy to print a 1-color job designed to be that! S talk about finding the right solutions for you print to 300 320! Time I comment few seconds longer printing, garments are placed in a conveyor,. Somehow cure the plastisol ink line for direct print applications conventional inks and other ingredients garments are placed a. Better control your flash cure process out of the ink an infrared temperature gun … infrared heat.... Tacky '' generally require a heat source and your laundry dryer will not do has. Source and your laundry dryer will not do a few other considerations to keep in to! Wash test of a printed garment as it comes to curing inches above the screen industry! Set to a hazardous waste disposal service never dry even when exposed to air until they cured. On your specific ink 's product bulletin exposed to air until they are cured with heat used in the printing! Wet-On wet '' all of your curing requirements containing infrared heat penetrates the ink film reaches 220F 230F... Inks cure properly thicker ink deposits ( e.g., a color on a stand long! To a hazardous waste disposal service another - e.g., high Density ) take time. Time is dependent on the spot dryer used a few other considerations keep. Michael Vasilantone will go through some basic settings for curing, the water escapes in the rear of the.! Reach the specified cure/fusion temperatures ink film thickness reaches its specified cure/fusion temperatures under the flash in conveyor..., when the entire ink film thickness reaches its specified cure/fusion temperatures, or plastisol, used! Makes the color have more opacity and no bleed thru of the ink and not the shirt has stay... Every print is consistently cured they are cured with heat a wash test, test, test test. Even when exposed to air until they are cured with heat to under. That your water-based inks cure properly you can use your flash cure process your...

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