Screen Printing Forum

Hi Guys, first of all my I thank you for such a great source of help!

I am new to screen printing, I have produced a few "ok" designs using a manual carousel and plastisol inks..

I can't afford a tunnel dryer just yet! so have been using my flash dryer to cure the print.

In my last effort the print has cracked after the first wash, what could be the cause for this??

As far as I am aware I've not changed any of my working practices??!!

Many thanks in advance. . .

If a print cracks in the laundry it's probably not fully cured. Use a laser thermometer with your flash unit and make sure the whole print reaches cure temperature (not just the center). Let it remain at cure temperature for a little while (20-30 seconds) to be sure the entire layer is cured, not just the top. The thicker the print, the longer this will take. I like to get a reading of 335-345 at the end of my dryer. Even though the cure temperature for the ink is 300 (Union), the higher temperature doesn't harm the shirts and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Stretch the ink on the shirts after it has cooled and if it doesn't crack it should be ok.

are there any thermometers that you recommend?

There are digital and the stick on paper ones that are real cheap.

do you just buy any old thermometer or are there ones specific to this industry? any links available?

any screeenprint supply store will have the paper ones

lol i dont live anywhere near where a screenprint store would even possibly be located. I need to most likely order it and have it shipped.