what do I need...?

This is the place to talk about what it takes to get started. This would include what equipment to buy, space requirements, electrical needs and anything related to getting ready to begin screen printing. Have a question regarding what it takes to screen print tee shirts? Please post them here...

Moderators: Shamax, Leadfoot, ApeShirt, Catspit Productions

themaeor
Screen Trooper
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:09 pm

what do I need...?

Post by themaeor »

Iam trying to print these stickers, and ive had a hard time.i almost got it right...I think.but now my problem is that my ink is drying in my screen(nooooo good!) What can I do or buy? Do I need thinner? My quality of my prints are coming out way better now that I have the right ink, emulsion, and mesh count.what kind of screen opener on ink remover should I buy? I did three prints then went to washout my screen with a waterhose and it was the end of that screen,so I only got 10 stickers out of that new screen.help please!
User avatar
Catspit Productions
Site Admin
Posts: 1995
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:47 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Re: what do I need...?

Post by Catspit Productions »

I’m guessing that you’re using water based ink since you said you attempted to clean a screen with water. The thing is water based inks need a solvent for cleanup. You can use paint thinner or lacquer thinner and any screen wash made for water based inks.

The ink drying in the screen can be reduced or eliminated by back flooding and even using a water bottle on a fine mist to moisten the stencil openings every now and then. That may seem illogical given what I said above but it works. Water may not clean the ink but it can help keep the ink flowing at times.

Here is a video that will show and talk about back flooding:




You can use RhinoClean Green² SO100 Screen Opener too if needed. You can get it at a 5% dicount using the Catspit Promo code:

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/rh ... plies.html

Just click through and use the code at checkout.
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
themaeor
Screen Trooper
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:09 pm

Re: what do I need...?

Post by themaeor »

Iam using a nazdar gloss vinyl ink (gv111)that was recommended by a store worker.iam new at screen printing so iam in a trial and error process.mostly error thus far.I seen many YouTube videos that make it look so easy.one said how the ink would dry fast,so I did three prints and in fear of drying out in the screen, I hosed it out with water but it dried in the mesh.should I have not used water? I was just doing a test to see how it looked before I got the screen opener and did a full print session.
User avatar
Shamax
Master Screen Printer
Posts: 145
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:08 am
Location: Charleston, WV
Contact:

Re: what do I need...?

Post by Shamax »

themaeor wrote:iam new at screen printing so iam in a trial and error process.mostly error thus far.
I can absolutely relate :mrgreen:

As for your particular woes, though, I found the info sheet on that particular ink: http://www.nazdar.com/pdf/GV_TDS_LF_Rev_4_061130.pdf

It would appear as though you need a special wash chemical to clean the screen. It says the ink itself air dries in 20-40 minutes, so as long as you keep the screen back-flooded and work quick (like Jonathan in the video he link on posterboard and Coro-plast printing) you should be good to go. Hope it works out, and welcome to the forums!!
Andy Barker
Owner/Operator of Fragile Branch
Store: http://fragilebranch.storenvy.com
Site/blog: http://www.fragilebranch.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FragileBranch
themaeor
Screen Trooper
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:09 pm

Re: what do I need...?

Post by themaeor »

Thanx
themaeor
Screen Trooper
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:09 pm

Re: what do I need...?

Post by themaeor »

I watched the video, my back flood isnt the problem.what should I use to clean/clear out my screen after iam done printing.and how often should I clean the screen for long printing sessions?
User avatar
Catspit Productions
Site Admin
Posts: 1995
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:47 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Re: what do I need...?

Post by Catspit Productions »

Interesting. I would say you defiantly need a solvent to clean up like Shamax said. You can probably use paint thinner or lacquer thinner if needed for cleanup.

If you don’t think back flooding is the issue and you’re working as fast as you can and you’re still having drying issues then you may want to use a retarder. Contact the people you bought the ink form and ask them for the appropriate retarder additive to slow down the drying time of the ink.

That would be the only thing you can do here. As you’re working with a vinyl ink I wouldn’t use a spray bottle. Sorry I answer a lot of questions and sometimes I get confused. I was probably thinking of textile water based inks or poster inks. But with a solvent based ink you wouldn’t use the spray bottle technique.

So that being said it’s either the back flooding or a retarder that can help you now. Or just working much faster, that could be the issue as well.
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
Post Reply