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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: Ripcord on January 15, 2013, 09:37:55 AM

Title: Question about reducer
Post by: Ripcord on January 15, 2013, 09:37:55 AM: I'm printing numbers on polyester jerseys and I want to reduce the ink a little bit. Is there any chance that the small amount of reducer could affect the bleed resistance of the ink?
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: Frog on January 15, 2013, 10:06:58 AM: I would have said yes, but then seem to remember that I was told that Xenon's reducer was low bleed, so I would have to modify my answer to say, "it may depend on the reducer".
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: RICK STEFANICK on January 16, 2013, 10:38:43 AM: i think if you keep it at like 5 percent your safe...
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: Frog on January 16, 2013, 10:44:25 AM: Quote from: RStefanick on January 16, 2013, 10:38:43 AM
i think if you keep it at like 5 percent your safe...

Well, at least 95% safe ;)

I know that some poly inks really seem to sacrifice "printability" but could warming and (the usual)stirring help as well?
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: ScreenFoo on January 16, 2013, 11:29:03 AM: I know IC makes a proper low bleed reducer. Only one I've found labelled as such though.
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: Scobey Peterman on January 17, 2013, 11:36:58 AM: Check with the ink company.
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: RICK STEFANICK on January 17, 2013, 11:56:20 AM: I LIKE THE UNION CURABLE REDUCER.
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: cvreeland on January 17, 2013, 12:59:47 PM: Yeah, i use the crap out of Union's Plus 9000 viscosity reducer. a couple percent of that in a lo-bleed white won't screw up the lo-bleed properties, from my experience.

I've used that stuff up to 50/50 before, & the shirts cure fine. (We did an art project where we filled ketchup squirt bottles with reduced ink, then drew in an open screen & pulled the squeegee across. I still have a couple of those from the 80's & they held up fine, on white)

It will start to effect opacity, and if you add too much, the ink will wick into the fabric instead of standing up on top.

I try to teach my printers that if the ink feels too thick, it is.
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: Ripcord on January 17, 2013, 04:32:10 PM: Thanks for all the answers. The Union spec sheet for 9000 doesn't recommend it for poly because as mentioned above, it can cause the ink to wick into the nylon mesh. So I just used it straight from the can.

I don't have any trouble printing the ink...The reason I wanted to add a bit of reducer was that I've found when using number stencils it really helps to keep the ink from clogging the screen. But fortunately this time I had no problem with that.
Title: Re: Question about reducer
Post by: Colin on January 18, 2013, 01:44:39 PM: You should be able to order a "low Bleed" plasticiser from your ink company. It will be a special order though.