Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

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

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Catspit Productions
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Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by Catspit Productions »

There are a few things that are critical to know when working with plastisol inks for textile screen printing. Many people think plastisol inks cannot print a soft hand print but in fact they can under the right circumstances. There are many advantages to working with this type of ink. It is the easiest to work with and learn to screenprint with as a beginner because it does not air dry. However it does need to be heat cured in order to be safe to launder. Most plastisol inks will cure or fuse at 330 degrees Fahrenheit. There are other specialty inks such as those for flash curing or for nylon and polyester that may cure at lower temperatures. Plastisol ink has a very, very long shelf life. It is the most durable, vibrant and flexible. The major down side is you need either a flash cure unit or a belt oven to work with this ink. You can make sure your plastisol inks are fully cured by using an infrared temperature gun: http://catspitproductionsllc.com/temperatureguns.aspx

Here are some articles that may help you when working with plastisol inks:

http://catspitproductionsllc.com/plasti ... tives.html

http://catspitproductionsllc.com/howtomixink.html

http://catspitproductionsllc.com/intro-to-inks.html

http://catspitproductionsllc.com/colorinkmixing.html

http://catspitproductionsllc.com/specialtyinks.html

http://catspitproductionsllc.com/screen ... ixing.html

Here are some videos and an article about curing plastisol inks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exa-ZPfqYJg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD0hdZomGCg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3diGXJSNFDk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhYWYBGaHLI

http://catspitproductionsllc.com/flashcuretips.html

What do you use to cure you plastisol screen printed tee shirts? How do you make sure you plastisol inks are cured and will not wash out? Do you use an infrared temperature gun? Do you have any tips for printing white plastisol ink on black garments? How do you store your plastisol ink and where?
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
ApeShirt
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by ApeShirt »

Since Plastisol inks don't air dry, does that mean you don't have to clean the screen if you leave it overnight?
Greg
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by Catspit Productions »

ApeShirt wrote:Since Plastisol inks don't air dry, does that mean you don't have to clean the screen if you leave it overnight?
That’s right; you can print the job and walk away from the press to go to bed. Then you can get up in the morning and start printing where you left off. Plastisol inks will never dry or cure until heated to about 330 degrees F. Sometimes when left out on a screen for a long time they may get a little stiff and adhesive from tapes on the substrate side of the screen will cause the ink to gum up.
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
ApeShirt
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by ApeShirt »

Thank you. I thought so but obviously wasn't sure. I haven't seen that addressed anywhere.
Greg
If you're not going to go all the way then why bother going at all.
ApeShirt Apparel Printing, LLC
daniel6
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by daniel6 »

Thanks for sharing all those links, I'll check them out.
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by Catspit Productions »

Hey there daniel6! Of course both you and ApeShirt are welcome. It's my pleasure to help out in any way. Thanks for signing up to the Catspit Forum!
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
biet
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by biet »

hi jon!!
ive been studying in screenprinting by your videos
and it must be super awesome to have all of those equipments wauwww :D hehehe

something i wanne ask
i print some of Block-ed designs like a fonts/ words.. i mean not the raster ones :D

which one do u suggest? is it better to use the plastisol or the waterbase?
id like to print in relax.. i mean i dont have to be worried if the screen is being clogged by the inks

and 1 more question
which one is your favorite? is it the waterbased? or the plastisol

thanks :D
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by Catspit Productions »

Hey there! Thanks for checking out my videos. I appreciate the support and I’m happy to hear they are helping out. Either plastisol or water based inks would be fine for printing block shaped text. It’s the feel and the complexity of working with the different inks to consider here.

I would suggest reading some of the articles posted above but if you want a simple ink that is easy to work with then plastisol is the ink to use. The problem is that it needs to be cured with a belt oven or a flash cure unit in order to be wash safe.

So it’s a tradeoff, water based inks do not necessarily need and oven to be heat set whereas plastisol inks do require an oven or a flash cure unit. Plastisol inks may be easier to work with but they require more equipment and curing is critical to the longevity of the print.

I myself prefer plastisol inks in general but now and then a customer’s print job will demand the use of water based inks for effect.

Thanks for posting and good luck!
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
biet
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Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:30 am

Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by biet »

Catspit Productions wrote:Hey there! Thanks for checking out my videos. I appreciate the support and I’m happy to hear they are helping out. Either plastisol or water based inks would be fine for printing block shaped text. It’s the feel and the complexity of working with the different inks to consider here.

I would suggest reading some of the articles posted above but if you want a simple ink that is easy to work with then plastisol is the ink to use. The problem is that it needs to be cured with a belt oven or a flash cure unit in order to be wash safe.

So it’s a tradeoff, water based inks do not necessarily need and oven to be heat set whereas plastisol inks do require an oven or a flash cure unit. Plastisol inks may be easier to work with but they require more equipment and curing is critical to the longevity of the print.

I myself prefer plastisol inks in general but now and then a customer’s print job will demand the use of water based inks for effect.

Thanks for posting and good luck!
yaayyy thanksss :)

then i am moving to the plastisol now hehehe

in here,, we are mixing our own ink like : the waterbase inks + binder/ catalyst/ fixer + the colour pigment
still traditional since we have no good SPS here :(

btw, is the plastisol and or the waterbased inks have a time-ranged expires?
i mean,, shud we pay our attention for it?
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Catspit Productions
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Re: Do You Want To Print With Plastisol Inks?

Post by Catspit Productions »

No problem, my pleasure to help out!

Wow that’s some real ink mixing. I understand it can be difficult to get decent screen printing supplies worldwide.

Plastisol inks will stay good for many, many years. There is no real expiration date on them. Eventually they may gel enough to be useless but otherwise they should last quite a long time when stored at room temperature.

Water based inks on the other hand can dry out over extended periods of time especially when the container used to store it isn’t really air tight. So with water based inks, yes there is a time frame in which you should use them or you might have to add some thinner to get them to flow at some point. If they sit for a long time they can dry out completely even in a can with a lid.
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

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