WHICH EMULSION IS BEST FOR YOU?

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We know how overwhelming it can before when choosing an emulsion nowadays with there being so many different options on the market. Here at Screen Print World we like to keep is as simple as possible. We have 6 different emulsions, With 6 different price points and uses. See below our easy to use chart to simplify things and help you choose the right emulsion for your print application.

                                                 

As you can see, Our Amex QT emulsion is perfect for print shops that have a wide variety of printing techniques – ranging from standard plastisol/waterbased to discharge and solvent printing. If you aren’t printing Discharge, Then we would recommend our QV Emulsion. Both are dual cure emulsions so they require mixing with a sensitizer before use.

Our HS 900 Emulsion is for more specialist applications and works well with thick or 3D prints as well as your  plastisol, waterbased, solvent and UV inks. It offers fast exposure and is ready to use straight out of the pot as it is a pure polymere emulsion.

If you have an LED exposure unit, Then our AMEX SCREEN SOL QT LED Emulsion has been specifically tailored to those using this type of exposure process.

Amex Screen Sol RM Blu is perfect if your only needing to coat a small number of screens as it’s only 500g. You’ll also receive a small diazo to sensitize your emulsion before use.

and finally, Spot On Graphic Emulsion, Which as the name suggests is more suited to graphic applications, But has great resistance to plastisol, Waterbased, Solvent and UV inks.

For more information. Head to our emulsion section to read more about each emulsion.

Which flash dryer is best for your printshop?

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here’s a break down of our most popular flash dryers to help you make the right choice for your printshop!

The red chilli is one of our bestsellers. Perfect for manual and automatic printing and uses medium-wave sealed tungsten filament quartz lamps instead of other flash cure that use panels. The curing lamps are divided into three flashing zones, which can be operated independently or in any combination. Using fewer flash cure zones on small screen print areas reduces ambient heat, lowers energy costs, and leads to faster substrate cooling. An adjustable sensor switch can be positioned on either side of the flash cure unit, activating the flash when the printing pallet approaches.Red Chili also features a communication socket that gives operators two additional methods of controlling the flash: an optional communication cable can be used to control the flash directly from the press and an optional foot pedal control can be connected to the flash. The curing module is mounted on a height-adjustable floor stand which makes moving the flash fast and easy.

Consistent heat radiation over the entire element surface ensures every print is properly flashed or cured. We offer a wide range of sizes, wattages, voltages, and accessories. Made to last, the BBC Black Flash Dryer is built to be your all-purpose flash dryer for many years. Features of the BBC Flash range.

The BBC Afford-A-Flash unit is perfect for small start up workshops or as auxiliary unit in an already established print shop. The Afford-A-Flash dryer is highlighted by the exemplary Black Body® heater, meaning there’s no bulbs to worry about replacing. Due to the type of heating element it applies an all over heat to the garment, ensuring the print is fully cured. The BBC Afford-A-Flash is also economical and efficient, and is one of the best and most affordable flash units in the business. The unit is also lightweight and easy move, allowing you to use it with ease in smaller spaces.

5 Tips to Prevent Dye Migration, While Printing on to Polyester.

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Dye migration is a real nightmare for printers when screen printing on to the dreaded polyester!

So what causes dye migration you ask? It is a result of the dyes in the fabric becoming wet and active again. This happens when exposed to excessive amounts of heat from flash cures and screen print dryers.

During the drying/heating process of screen printing, the migration tends to bleed through your screen printed design. This usually happens when block lettering on a sports garment like a football shirt and will turn the nice bright white lettering on a polyester football shirt pink! This can take 24 hours to happen so the effect may not be immediately after coming off the dryer, so please beware!

  1. Use a good dye blocking white, grey or even black in some cases such as our range of Dye Block Inks.
  2. Flash the base Colours, just touch dry as little heat as possible.
  3. Make sure the dryer is running accurate and don’t not over cure on the final cure.
  4. Do not stack the garments high after the print as they will retain the heat.
  5. Always test the garment prior to print at least first 24 hrs. prior to printing the order.

If you want to prevent dye migration while screen printing, Our range of Dye Block Inks are a great option! You can find out more by visiting our website, or if you would prefer to chat to one of our experienced team you can get in touch on;

01562 829009 or email sales@screenprintworld.co.uk

 

 

Waterbased Ink Vs Plastisol.

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Ever wondered if you are using the best ink for your needs and your Print Shop, but really wasn’t sure what the difference between Waterbased and Plastisol was? Dave Roper MD of Screen Print World has compiled a list of the pros and cons for both forms of ink, how mesh count will affect your print, Squeegee angles and other handy tips and tricks of the trade.

Waterbased ink is different from plastisol in exactly the way you might expect; Plastisol does not use water as a solvent, while waterbased ink does. Once printed, this kind of ink needs to evaporate in order for the ink to cure. Waterbased ink can either cure at room temperature over time, or by running the garment through a dryer at 160°c and usually needs at least 1 minute.

Plastisol ink is a PVC based system which doesn’t use a water solvent. It’s a thermoplastic ink, meaning it has to be heated to a high enough temperature to cause the molecules of PVC resin and plasticizer to cure. The temperature at which plastisol usually cures on textile is 160°c.

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We have put together two simple charts to really help you make the decision on which type of ink would make the ideal match for your print job.

  • 24t- Beach Towels, Glitter inks, Thick Inks.
  • 43t- Textile inks, Opaque inks, T-shirts.
  • 55t- Textile inks, Finer textile designs, waterbased.
  • 62t- Enamel inks, Very fine textile ink
  • 77t- Paper and board inks.
  • 90t- Vinyl inks, Paper and board inks, Plastic ink.
  • 120t- Halftone printing, Paper and board inks.
  • 150t-UV Printing, Very fine halftone work, Usually graphic.

 

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Confused about Mesh count? We have you covered! This is Dave Ropers list of the Mesh counts that generally should be used for each different job types.

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Lets talk Squeegee angle, pressure and off contact!

When printing with plastisol inks you will need a higher off contact in order to lay the ink on top of the garment. When printing with waterbased inks a lower off contact is needed to double print and drive the ink into the garment. For more information on squeegees you can read our blog dedicated to them here 

Waterbased Ink.

  • Heavily flood the screen!
  • Keep a trigger spray bottle handy and fill this with water. You can use this to keep the ink wet for printing.

Plastisol Ink.

  • Leave the screen printed-not flooded.
  • Do not use white spirit or screen wash as thinners/reducers. Always use curable reducer.

For more information on all of our inks you can visit our website www.screenprintworld.co.uk, give us a call on 01562 829009 or send us an email on sales@screenprintworld.co.uk.

How to remove stubborn adhesive

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Removing adhesive can be a time consuming job, especially if it hasn’t been done in a while and you have alot of build up. Tekmars TB orange has been formulated to cut through stubborn adhesives whilst de-odorising due to its orange scent. It couldn’t get any easier, just follow the simple steps below:

step 1: Spray over the area, be sure to apply a decent covering. leave for 5-10 minutes

step 2. using a scraper to gently remove softened adhesive

step 3: use a cleaning rack to remove any residue. 

 

Not only can it be used for removing adhesive, it can also be used as a general cleaner or degreaser! So it’s a handy product to have around in your print shop!

which is the right glue for you?

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Here at screen print world, we have specially selected a range of glues to suit different budgets and applications. See below a break down of each glue we do to see which one suits you best!

Amex Extra Tack Spray Tack

One of our best-selling budget adhesives. our AMEX spray tack
has been specially formulated to give superb hold between your garment and your
platen, to prevent minimal movement when printing whilst also holding it’s tack
well for multiple jobs. It can be used on a variety of garment types including heavy wool,
sweaters and difficult fabrics. Budget Friendly and minimal effort!

 

SPW Waterbased Pallet Adhesive

Designed to be an alternative to aerosol adhesive cans, our water
based adhesive creates a permanent bond between substrate and platen during
screen printing whilst still allowing for easy removal. Water based can offer
you a more eco friendly alternative to sprays and prevent the build up and mess
that gets created by using sprays long term.

 

TB-10

Tekmar TB10 has been specially formulated for use with our TB500 and TB1000 glue gun systems. It is a lot thinner that most glues which
allows for it to flow though the systems evenly onto your surface . 1 gallon of glue is the equivalent to 72 cans of spray tack, meaning you can save a huge
amount of money in the long run by switching to those systems as well as saving
time setting up each platen manually every day.

 

TB-HV

TBHV is another water based pallet adhesive made from the
leading manufactures, TEKMAR. It is formulated to apply easily and smoothly
onto your platen and creates great hold between the garment and the surface. TB-HV
affords tremendous economy, 1 litre can replace up to 3 dozen cans of spray
adhesive with absolutely no mess or waste. TB-HV can also withstand repeated
flashing, without losing its tack.

 

TBEZX

TBEZ is another water based glue to be used with out TB500 and TB1000 glue gun systems, however this glue has been formulated to work with
performance fabrics and garments. Performance fabrics contain silicones and
Teflon additives that can cause premature release with other Adhesives. TB-EZX
is formulated to temporarily bond with the fabric fibers and hold the garment
until unloaded. It is manufactured using synthetic polymer acrylic compounds
that were developed for specialized applications such as these.

 

 

Everything You Will Need to Start Up A Print Shop

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Ready to start screen printing? It’s a big jump, but it’s worth it. To build your shop, you will need to obtain some equipment and supplies. Our team of experts put together a handy check list of everything you should know about and consider for your future shop

 

MANUAL PRESS

The screen printing market has an abundance of screen printing presses. All these presses have different features, abilities, and prices. You want to make sure you’re getting the right press for your goals and/or your customers’ needs. How do you even begin to choose?
First, you pick a trusted brand
If you’re brand new to screen printing, consider starting off with the Riley Hopkins 150 Press. The 150 is a simple, high-quality press that’ll help you master the craft. If you’re planning on establishing your screen printing business, consider the Riley Hopkins 250 Press or our M&R Kruzer press.

 

 

A WAY TO CURE INK YOUR INK

You will need equipment to cure or flash the ink. A heat gun or heat press can work, but it’s very difficult to maintain consistent heat across the whole print.
The best option for curing ink is to use a flash dryer or tunnel dryer.  A flash dryer provides even, consistent heat across the whole print. The most popular flash dryer new printers grab is the Afford-A-Flash. If your looking at a tunnel dryer, Then the BBC little buddy is a great option used by many printshops across the world.

EXPOSURE UNIT

The exposure unit is a  very important piece of the screen room.This what you’ll need to expose your screens.  The quality of the exposure unit matters. Some may start out with a bulb, while others get the Small UV Exposure Unit. If you’re able to chip in a bit more money. You can sometimes find great second hand units on our used section.

If investing in an exposure unit is not doable for you right now, some businesses offer a screen exposing service, We recommend Squeegee & Ink who will create your screens for you for.

 

SPACE FOR CLEANING SCREENS

To rinse out freshly exposed screens or reclaim old screens, you’re going to need a space to accomplish those tasks. The Dip Tank is the most practical way to manage your screen reclaiming, along with a dip tank which can streamline your cleaning process. If you are limited on space, We recommend a table top washout booth. You’ll also need a jet wash to efficiently remove emulsion and other build up.

 

PRINTING POSITIVES

To get your image onto a screen, you’re going to need a film printer. Many types of film output printers exist, but chat to us if you’re unsure about which ones may be suitable. The most common is an inkjet printer. Inkjet film has one side that’s coated, and one side that isn’t coated. The coating is important because it holds onto the ink from the printer. The coating on inkjet film also helps maintain the density and shape of the image.
Asking a local print shop to print film positives for you is definitely an option if you do not have the funds for a film printer. Ask around to see if shops would provide that service and how much it would cost.

SOFTWARE

You will need a few programs to create the art and print it off properly. For creating art, screen printing experts suggest to use Adobe® Illustrator or Photoshop.
For printing films, you’ll need software such as AccuRIP which is the most common, versatile program. If you print a lot of spot colors, you could look into Separation Studio

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SCREENS

You’ll need a good supply of screens.

Here’s a generic summary of the uses for basic mesh sizes:

  • 43T/110 — great for polyester inks, white on
    black prints, block text, white base, and large spot color designs
  • 62T/156 — the jack-of-all-trades for
    screens, many jobs can be done with this mesh count
  • 90T/230 — great for high detail and finer
    lines
  • 120T/305 — CMYK,

INK

The two most common screen printing inks are plastisol and water-based. Plastisol inks are a great way to start screen printing because they are easy to print, do not dry in the screen, cure painlessly, and are vibrant and opaque. Water-based inks are good if you’d like a softer feel however they do have a tendency to dry in the screen so you do have to work quick and clean up straight after a print job. They are great eco friendly option and do not require chemicals to clean.

MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES

Along with all your equipment, You’ll need lots of other printing consumable such as cleaning solutions, tapes, squeegees, emulsion coaters, spatulas ETC. Check out our Screen Print Essentials checklist for a full list of consumables that you’ll most likely need when starting up.

PACKAGES

Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the above? Fear not. We have selected Start Up Packages packages that will contain everything you need to get started. These packages are suited for various budgets and requirements and offer you everything you’ll need to hit the ground running and be productive prom the outset. No need to pick and choose, just select which package would be right for you and your business. Check out the Starter Packages we offer here.

That’s everything you need to get started! If you have any
questions, please contact us. We’re here to help. You can call us at 01562 829
009 or email at nick@screenprintworld.co.uk

 

 

 

4 Easy steps For Coating Screens

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Step 1

The first step in the screen coating process is to mix the Emulsion. Top tip ,always pre mix your emulsion preferably the night before as this gives air bubbles a chance to settle and preventing pin holes in your coated screen.

Why use a Scoop coaters?

A scoop coater, there are two sides to a scoop coater a thin side and a slightly thicker side. The thin side is used for fine screen mesh and the thicker side is for courser mesh as it puts down more emulsion.

 

Step 2

 

Take your pre mixed emulsion an pour it in to your scoop coater, not too much, just enough to coat 2 or 3 screens, if you over fil the coater this tends to spill.

 

 

Step 3

 

Coat the inside of the screen first, start 5cm up the inside of the screen. Tilt your coater and place a gentle even pressure all the way up your screen.

 

Flip your screen and repeat this process, this is called a wet coat.

 

 

Step 4

 

Next is your final coat, this time don’t tilt your coater the aim with this coat is to push all the emulsion through the screen, so the emulsion gathers on the back.

Leave your screen to dry in a drying cabinet for 20 minutes.

 

 

 

You can also watch a video of Dave Roper Screen Print World CEO Showing you how its done

WATCH HERE


For more information on screen printing please do not hesitate in contacting us on 01562 829009 or email one of our experts at nick@screenprintworld.co.uk

 

 

 

6 steps to calculate ink costs per print

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Want to know how much your cost per print is?

Follow these steps to figure out your ink cost per print:

Read more