Ink stains on t-shirts

Here you can discuss any issues related to working with water based screen printing inks. This would include curing, heat setting, mixing colors, additives, brands, usages and much more.

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kiddo
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Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by kiddo »

Hello, i'm new to the screen printing world.
I managed to print several t-shirts successfully, but after some prints, ink stains begin to form on the mesh.
I use black Engler colour.
I've seen many videos, and on all those videos i think that the colour is more runny than mine.
Must i add something to my colour? I stir it very well before i begin to print.
Thanks!
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Catspit Productions
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Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by Catspit Productions »

If you are speaking of stains and hazing in the screen mesh when you reclaim the stencil then you need to use a haze remover and a pressure washer to clean that out. Sometimes stains in the mesh can inhibit ink from flowing freely through the mesh.

Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
kiddo
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Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:30 am

Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by kiddo »

Hey Jonathan, thanks for answering, love your videos!
My problem is that while i print on the t-shirts, after a few, i get those ink stains, like lumps on the mesh.
One solution is to wash the frame, but i get those after printing 5-6 t-shirts, i cannot wash the frame every 5-6 prints! :)
I'm thinking maybe my color (black Engler) needs some kind of dilution?
I use a squeegee with rounded edges, could this be the problem?
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Catspit Productions
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Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by Catspit Productions »

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching my videos. I appreciate that.

Is this a water based ink or plastisol? Are you double printing with a flash?
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
kiddo
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Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:30 am

Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by kiddo »

Hello again, i'm printing using a water based ink, just one pass, i leave the tees out to dry on the air.
I'm attaching some photos to see what i mean.
Attachments
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Catspit Productions
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Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by Catspit Productions »

Okay what is the question or problem?
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
kiddo
Screen Trooper
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:30 am

Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by kiddo »

In the photos you see some lumps formating, when i try to print, it ruins the printing, cause ink doesn't go through where the lump is, is this normal?
When this happens, i must wash the whole frame, then start again.
Can i do something to prevent the lumps from appearing?
kiddo
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Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:30 am

Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by kiddo »

and here's the problematic area! :(
Attachments
here's the problem!!! :)
here's the problem!!! :)
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Catspit Productions
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Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by Catspit Productions »

Looks like some clumping of the ink. This may be caused by dirt or debris in the ink as well as premature drying around hazed areas of the mesh. It also may be poor ink that dries and clumps too easily. It's basically a bit of clumped ink for whatever reason and you can clear it out with water bases ink screen opener.

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/rhi ... en-opener/

Also keep your screen back flooded with ink whenever you are not printing the print stroke. This video is about signs but demonstrates back flooding.

phpBB [video]


I hope that helps some.
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
kiddo
Screen Trooper
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:30 am

Re: Ink stains on t-shirts

Post by kiddo »

Thanks again! :)
I keep my screen flooded after each print.
I think i need the ink screen opener, will try to get some from Europe, i guess there are a lot of shipping costs from USA to Greece! :)

One other think i notice on all your videos (and other on youtube) is that the ink is more runny, mine, not so much.
Can it be that my ink needs some kind of dilution chemical?
Can i dilute it with water to make it more runny?
Last time i used my ink to print, i stirred the ink for about 3-4 minutes, i thought maybe that was the reason for the clumps.

Thanks again! :)
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