TSB

screen printing => Ink and Chemicals => Topic started by: Wildcard on March 07, 2016, 07:15:16 AM

Title: Metallic ink and underbase
Post by: Wildcard on March 07, 2016, 07:15:16 AM

I tested out a metallic gold ink today and wanted to check a few things.
Is it normal to underbase a metallic ink with white?
I tried using a white base and the metallic looked non existent over it, but then tried gold only with a pfp it came out okay just not amazing.

I used plastisol ink that is a good number of years old and it may just be crap. Is there any test that tells if an ink past it's usable life?

Title: Re: Metallic ink and underbase
Post by: Doug S on March 07, 2016, 08:47:44 AM

Not sure about the age of ink but I used to print metallic silver w/o an underbase pfp and it was ok but got alot more pop with an underbase so that is what I've started doing.  I underbase with a 150 and print the silver with the same.  It works for me anyway.

Title: Re: Metallic ink and underbase
Post by: Colin on March 07, 2016, 09:16:32 AM

What brand of gold?
What mesh did you print the gold through?
Number of strokes/squeegee type?

Plastisol ink has no shelf life in normal storage.

Title: Re: Metallic ink and underbase
Post by: Sbrem on March 07, 2016, 09:48:39 AM

We don't use an underlay, and print with a 110S, 2 strokes.

Steve

Title: Re: Metallic ink and underbase
Post by: Doug S on March 07, 2016, 10:26:19 AM

The only time I don't use an underlay now is with an 80 mesh 1 stroke and get great results.  Just make sure it doesn't have time to run into the image between strokes because you will have a mess. 

Title: Re: Metallic ink and underbase
Post by: Wildcard on March 08, 2016, 07:20:24 AM

The ink is Rutland metallic gold but I'll need to check at the shop if you need more details on that.
Mesh was 140T (just using an existing screen to test the ink)
Underlay was single stroke with 75/95/75 squeegee, white. Gold was 2 strokes with a 60/90/60 squeegee that is getting a little rounded on the edge now.

Mostly my curiosity is that it printed totally crap over the base but ok with no base. Almost as if the ink needed to be absorbed into the shirt. I'll try remember to take some photos tomorrow when I'm there. I only read TSB when I'm on the couch at home... Poor form.

Title: Re: Metallic ink and underbase
Post by: Sbrem on March 08, 2016, 08:49:41 AM

Quote from: ShirtShackandMore on March 07, 2016, 10:26:19 AM

The only time I don't use an underlay now is with an 80 mesh 1 stroke and get great results.  Just make sure it doesn't have time to run into the image between strokes because you will have a mess.

if you like 80, try 81SDE from Saati (I think) it's an 81 S thread...

Steve