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screen printing => Newbie => Topic started by: OhNoPrinting on February 12, 2024, 07:48:20 AM

Title: Printing plastisol on polyester vests
Post by: OhNoPrinting on February 12, 2024, 07:48:20 AM: Tried my luck with printing on polyester vests (high-visibility vests)
(had a bit of puff ink left in the screen and used that)

(http://oh-no-printing.de/oh_no_polyester_warnweste_00.jpg)

* I love screen printing again :-)

I flashed the print and the yellow mesh took it really well, but the reflective band didn´t like the heat of the flash at all and was quickly shrinking: *I guess that means, I can´t let them go through the conveyor dryer but have to heat press them?

(http://oh-no-printing.de/oh_no_polyester_warnweste_01.jpg)

To avoid the bleeding of the ink, I could maybe just do a quick pre-flash to warm up?

(http://oh-no-printing.de/oh_no_polyester_warnweste_02.jpg)

And because it was just a test, I tested a DTF - and well .. I like it a lot.

(http://oh-no-printing.de/oh_no_polyester_warnweste_dtf_00.jpg)

I guess I really need to calculate time vs print costs vs miss prints again.

-and now of to the wash test. (but: who washes hi-vis vests actually??)
Title: Re: Printing plastisol on polyester vests
Post by: mk162 on February 12, 2024, 09:42:20 AM: We offer only a 1 color print on those. We use a low cure ink or additive and try to keep the heat as low as possible.
Title: Re: Printing plastisol on polyester vests
Post by: Rockers on February 13, 2024, 01:39:06 AM: Quote from: OhNoPrinting on February 12, 2024, 07:48:20 AM

I flashed the print and the yellow mesh took it really well, but the reflective band didn´t like the heat of the flash at all and was quickly shrinking: *I guess that means, I can´t let them go through the conveyor dryer but have to heat press them?

You probably could run them through a dryer as the heat is a lot lower than on the flash. if in doubt always run the garment in question through the dryer at a lower temperature and if Ok increase the temperature and repeat until you get close to the curing temperature of the garment or the garment starts to shrink.
Title: Re: Printing plastisol on polyester vests
Post by: inkman996 on February 13, 2024, 08:05:57 AM: Same here only one color print or transfer. We print thousands a year and never seem to have an issue with the reflective taping in the oven. Would definitely avoid using a flash on them.
Title: Re: Printing plastisol on polyester vests
Post by: 1964GN on February 15, 2024, 05:39:17 PM: What they said. I have about 1k of those on deck. One color black ink and as low as you can go on dryer temp and no flash.