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screen printing => Ink and Chemicals => Topic started by: acescreen on April 20, 2016, 05:49:37 PM
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I know it's been asked 1,000 times on here already, but I figured I'd bring it back up as I have 300pcs that needs to have a reflective ink, customer had this done before at another shop but they were not happy with how the ink reflected light. I tested some Union stuff and it seemed ok but not great like other prints I've seen, I have a qt of the Optilux but I don't like that it needs to be mixed and then the left over ink has to be trashed as expensive as this stuff is!!! I heard one stroke has a good one, but I have not tried it. Also my pressman said he used one at a shop he worked at about 8 years ago that did a lot of Air Force printing and that they used right out of the bucket no mixing and that it worked great but he can not remember the name of it.......any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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What color ink? Silver go optilux have the middle of the road with shimmer and like it.
My opinion.
Shane
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We carry the retroflec from Excalibur for this, and it has done well over the years. Make sure you slow your dryer because it does take a bit longer to cure, and use a low mesh because it contains small beads that do the reflecting that need to clear. No mixing required, but it does need to be stirred well before printing.
http://www.rivercitygraphicsupply.com/products/details/excalibur-retroflec-2-Reflective-Plastisol-Ink (http://www.rivercitygraphicsupply.com/products/details/excalibur-retroflec-2-Reflective-Plastisol-Ink)
There is also the reflective heat transfer vinyl option if it just just bold letters like "FIRE DEPT", or whatever.
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International Coatings gets my vote. Yes you have to catalyze it, but for the price.... no worries. Plus the catalyzation helps with cure.
Got mine through Ryonet at about $220 a gallon...... yea, really cheap! Rutland wants around $500 for theirs.
http://www.screenprinting.com/ic-enhanced-reflective-ink-w-8oz-optilux-coupler-one-gallon (http://www.screenprinting.com/ic-enhanced-reflective-ink-w-8oz-optilux-coupler-one-gallon)
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Denco us about 220 also they have to order , but there is 3 versions.
Shane
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just as an FYI, reflective ink prints without and underbase so itdoes not look very good on anything but the darkest of shirts. If youare looking to print on safety green or orange, look into transfers from Stahls.
pierre
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the allure glow reflective is very easy to use.
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The 3M 2 part system is the only one the military allows us to print. I buy it from Source One. 3M8010 GRAY
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That is the correct response
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the other question is does this need to be ANSI/OSHA certified reflective or not, as I thought I read somewhere/heard somewhere that if you're printing it for those needs, you have to send a sample to get it certified?
(could totally be wrong)
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I know it's been asked 1,000 times on here already, but I figured I'd bring it back up as I have 300pcs that needs to have a reflective ink, customer had this done before at another shop but they were not happy with how the ink reflected light. I tested some Union stuff and it seemed ok but not great like other prints I've seen, I have a qt of the Optilux but I don't like that it needs to be mixed and then the left over ink has to be trashed as expensive as this stuff is!!! I heard one stroke has a good one, but I have not tried it. Also my pressman said he used one at a shop he worked at about 8 years ago that did a lot of Air Force printing and that they used right out of the bucket no mixing and that it worked great but he can not remember the name of it.......any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry its late, for this run - but check out Imagebrite Base from Wilflex - this is on black , however it is possible to make tinted colours, so they show up on white shirts - sorry no picture of the inks on white - if you have not got pigments try small additions of process inks into the base - this works too :-)
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The 3M 2 part system is the only one the military allows us to print. I buy it from Source One. 3M8010 GRAY
This is by far the best product on the market. 3M 8010 waterbase reflective ink.
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Just realize that gray in 3m terms is Charcoal grey almost black. For some reason they quit making the light color in reflective.
So if print on dark shirt and want to read it not going to happen.
Shane
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I guess its been a month since we got some in.good to know
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The 3M 2 part system is the only one the military allows us to print. I buy it from Source One. 3M8010 GRAY
How much are ya'all paying for that thru texsource?
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Hey Rick: Mike gets the 3M from Nazdar SourceOne. Terrie can certainly quote you a price for this. We keep lots of stock.
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Its the 3M 2 part system that beats all.......... however be prepared for sticker shock. Same beads used in traffic signs. Hard patent to beat or go around
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Hey Rick: Mike gets the 3M from Nazdar SourceOne. Terrie can certainly quote you a price for this. We keep lots of stock.
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Thanks Rob, Is the lighter color still available?
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Its the 3M 2 part system that beats all.......... however be prepared for sticker shock. Same beads used in traffic signs. Hard patent to beat or go around
Tony, you are right on the money. The candle power of the 3m product is unbeatable.
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I was told no they don't make it any more. I needed light grey for navy and red garments. Dark charcoal grey reflective doesn't show up in daytime in that color. I went with Internationals ink Optilux v2 it is ok 1 single or 1 double at most for reflectivity. They 3 types. Way cheaper than 3m.
If they do make it why was I told no?
Shane
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Optilux is great! One of the better plastisol reflective inks. Pricey, though. 3M is the only ANSI compliant reflective and that version is only available as a transfer. It's a 3 part with paper and catalyst from what I remember.
pierre
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300pcs might be a drag for heat press depending on your setup and due to the cost, depending on the image size but the 3M cad material is a nice alternative if you don't want to print. I imagine it carries the same certifications as the ink?
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300pcs might be a drag for heat press depending on your setup and due to the cost, depending on the image size but the 3M cad material is a nice alternative if you don't want to print. I imagine it carries the same certifications as the ink?
good point, my info is a little dated, so I don't know.
pierre
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the 3m cad cut stuff is CRAZY bright. We use it for some jackets every year. Customer loves them.
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the 3m cad cut stuff is CRAZY bright. We use it for some jackets every year. Customer loves them.
Yeah we use it as well for some state workers. Sooo bright and also is a light gray color so it shows really well in the day time. Also holds up really well to abuse
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Hey Rick: Mike gets the 3M from Nazdar SourceOne. Terrie can certainly quote you a price for this. We keep lots of stock.
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Thanks Rob, Is the lighter color still available?
Hey Rick. Sorry for the delay. The only reflective available from 3m is the 8010 which is quite dark. While their web site still sits others (or at least it did a few months ago), indeed only the 8010 is available.
In the plastisol world, the IC Optilux is awesome, although it is a 2 pet system.
Terrie can show you some different Magna reflectives in H2O that are one part systems.
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I like the two Magna Reflective inks. We use Optilux now but will be replacing that out soon with Magna.
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Does magna do a mid grey or Lt grey reflective?
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I know it's been asked 1,000 times on here already, but I figured I'd bring it back up as I have 300pcs that needs to have a reflective ink, customer had this done before at another shop but they were not happy with how the ink reflected light. I tested some Union stuff and it seemed ok but not great like other prints I've seen, I have a qt of the Optilux but I don't like that it needs to be mixed and then the left over ink has to be trashed as expensive as this stuff is!!! I heard one stroke has a good one, but I have not tried it. Also my pressman said he used one at a shop he worked at about 8 years ago that did a lot of Air Force printing and that they used right out of the bucket no mixing and that it worked great but he can not remember the name of it.......any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Have you seen Allureglow or allure galaxy?
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I haven't.
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Does magna do a mid grey or Lt grey reflective?
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They make a light and dark version for light and dark shirts.