TSB

screen printing => Waterbase and Discharge => Topic started by: balloonguy on June 20, 2012, 11:09:53 PM

Title: mixing activator
Post by: balloonguy on June 20, 2012, 11:09:53 PM

I keep mixing and mixing and mixing... No matter how much I mix the activator in the ICC base the ink still seems grainy or bumpy. Am I supposed to do something to the powder before I put it in the base?
Thanks.

Title: Re: mixing activator
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on June 20, 2012, 11:15:53 PM

Some mix the activator with water first. I just splash water on top of the powder in my mixing container.

Title: Re: mixing activator
Post by: ZooCity on June 21, 2012, 12:27:05 AM

I have mixed exactly two batches of discharge and on both I took the lid from my ink container, poured a splash of warm water in there (from the coffee maker), tared the whole thing on the scale and tapped out the amount of activator powder I needed. Swirled it around for a second and mixed it in.  Worked great, dissolved instantly and not a clump or clod after mixing in.   

I think the idea, as with mixing almost anything, is to dissolve the powder first and then cut that into the ink.  If you dissolve the activator powder in your lid full of water first all you need to do then is disperse the watery solution now carrying the discharge agent in your waterbased ink, an easy task to achieve.

Or be a lazy arse like Properi-Tees here and just dump it in there.  ;)

Title: Re: mixing activator
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on June 21, 2012, 12:31:25 AM

LOL! It somewhat disperses on top with my method! I do agree that I need to do it your way as I dont get any clumps my way but I dont think I get all the powder dispersed correctly