Hi, I am new to screen printing and my friends and I have started a small shop here in NorCal. First off, I would like to thank the site for all of its help and reference, this is a great place to gain knowledge of the business and technique...
I have just recently begun to take on business and have mainly been doing small orders of only 1-3 color t-shirts and sweatshirts so far. We currently use a hopkins 4 color manual press and it works out great. However, I would like to screen print onto vinyl, adhesive backed sheets to create stickers in the future and am wondering if this is possible and what exactly is needed to take on such a job.
I am assuming I should use a vinyl ink and should use high mesh count screens for detail (I have 280). What else do I exactly need to take this task on??? Drying of Ink?
Thanks for all of your help as it is greatly appreciated.
-Matt
PRINTING STICKERS
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- yaleteamsandtees
- Administrator
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 11:00 am
- Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
I use either 5900 synthetic gloss enamel
or 9700 series for decals.
Both are from Nazdar.
If possible stay away from vinyl inks, they stink to hell.
The 9700 dries much quicker than the enamel.
The 280 or higher will work OK.
Make sure your emulsion is also a solvent resist.
If not it will get tacky and start bleeding through.
No matter which ink system you choose, buy the recommended
modifiers, thinners and wash up.
or 9700 series for decals.
Both are from Nazdar.
If possible stay away from vinyl inks, they stink to hell.
The 9700 dries much quicker than the enamel.
The 280 or higher will work OK.
Make sure your emulsion is also a solvent resist.
If not it will get tacky and start bleeding through.
No matter which ink system you choose, buy the recommended
modifiers, thinners and wash up.
Thanks, you have been a huge help so far. What "thinners and wash up" chemicals are you referring to? Sorry, I am new to all of this and appreciate your patience....By the way, I am not sure if my Emulsion is solvent resistent, I am currently using ULANO - QX-1® UNIVERSAL, FAST-EXPOSING SBQ-DUAL-CURE HYBRID EMULSION...yaleteamsandtees wrote:I use either 5900 synthetic gloss enamel
or 9700 series for decals.
Both are from Nazdar.
If possible stay away from vinyl inks, they stink to hell.
The 9700 dries much quicker than the enamel.
The 280 or higher will work OK.
Make sure your emulsion is also a solvent resist.
If not it will get tacky and start bleeding through.
No matter which ink system you choose, buy the recommended
modifiers, thinners and wash up.
Thanks again,
Matt
- yaleteamsandtees
- Administrator
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 11:00 am
- Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
OK. Let's start with doing your homework.
Check with Ulano's website for emulsion info.
There are just to many choices out there.
As far as inks, got www.nazdar.com and find the 9700
series ink info.
It will list the necessary other item needed to use that ink system.
Thinner is just that.
Ink too thick? Add some thinner.
Ink drying in the screen? Add some retarder.
You're gonna want to clean that screen, right?
Gonna need to have some screen wash on hand.
OOOOps, added too much thinner, gotta add some thickener. (Yes, it does exist.)
Personally I use the retarder as a thinner in the 9700 series.
It makes it much more forgiving to hand screen.
Do the research and make the leap!
-Good luck.
Check with Ulano's website for emulsion info.
There are just to many choices out there.
As far as inks, got www.nazdar.com and find the 9700
series ink info.
It will list the necessary other item needed to use that ink system.
Thinner is just that.
Ink too thick? Add some thinner.
Ink drying in the screen? Add some retarder.
You're gonna want to clean that screen, right?
Gonna need to have some screen wash on hand.
OOOOps, added too much thinner, gotta add some thickener. (Yes, it does exist.)
Personally I use the retarder as a thinner in the 9700 series.
It makes it much more forgiving to hand screen.
Do the research and make the leap!
-Good luck.
Thanks for all the help. I appreciate your time and assistanceyaleteamsandtees wrote:OK. Let's start with doing your homework.
Check with Ulano's website for emulsion info.
There are just to many choices out there.
As far as inks, got www.nazdar.com and find the 9700
series ink info.
It will list the necessary other item needed to use that ink system.
Thinner is just that.
Ink too thick? Add some thinner.
Ink drying in the screen? Add some retarder.
You're gonna want to clean that screen, right?
Gonna need to have some screen wash on hand.
OOOOps, added too much thinner, gotta add some thickener. (Yes, it does exist.)
Personally I use the retarder as a thinner in the 9700 series.
It makes it much more forgiving to hand screen.
Do the research and make the leap!
-Good luck.
- yaleteamsandtees
- Administrator
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 11:00 am
- Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland