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screen printing => Ink and Chemicals => Topic started by: Northland on February 12, 2013, 10:14:46 PM

Title: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Northland on February 12, 2013, 10:14:46 PM
I've got a job for 170 Black performance t-shirts (100% poly, C2 brand). My Union poly-1050 is just too thick to get a decent print.
I tried some One Stroke LB premium and got a nice print... but the whole dye migration thing has me spooked.

Can any one offer a suggestion for a really creamy white plastisol ?? ... something that would be appropriate for performance fabric.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: JBLUE on February 12, 2013, 10:18:56 PM
I have had great results with Rutlands Super Poly white. I like it a lot better than the poly white I have used prior to it. We have ran every color of the rainbow of poly shirts with it and never an issue so far. Just did 750 maroon poly's last week. No migration at all.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: ZooCity on February 12, 2013, 10:26:32 PM
Wilflex Epic Performance White.  If you use it, keep some QEC Viscosity Buster on hand and add no more than 1-2% if needed.  Before reaching for the buster, warm the ink (try this with the ink you have as well) stir well and keep it moving.  This solves a lot of the problems that come up with thicker inks.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Northland on February 12, 2013, 10:42:55 PM
I have had great results with Rutlands Super Poly white. I like it a lot better than the poly white I have used prior to it. We have ran every color of the rainbow of poly shirts with it and never an issue so far. Just did 750 maroon poly's last week. No migration at all.
Thanks... can it be printed threw a 160 or higher mesh ?
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Northland on February 12, 2013, 10:44:29 PM
Wilflex Epic Performance White.  If you use it, keep some QEC Viscosity Buster on hand and add no more than 1-2% if needed.  Before reaching for the buster, warm the ink (try this with the ink you have as well) stir well and keep it moving.  This solves a lot of the problems that come up with thicker inks.
thanks Zoo.... will it print threw a 160 or higher ?
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: JBLUE on February 12, 2013, 11:06:55 PM
I have had great results with Rutlands Super Poly white. I like it a lot better than the poly white I have used prior to it. We have ran every color of the rainbow of poly shirts with it and never an issue so far. Just did 750 maroon poly's last week. No migration at all.
Thanks... can it be printed threw a 160 or higher mesh ?

Like the Wilflex you may need to put a little reducer in it. The poly T's are ink suckers so you may want to stay with the 160. I run 160 S mesh as the base screens on the poly T's. I used the Wilflex for a long time and it is great ink just a little thicker than the Rutland.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Binkspot on February 13, 2013, 05:39:31 AM
We have had a lot of luck with the International poly. No reducer needed needed even on cold mornings but sometimes add a just a little stretch additive.  I usually run it through a 160.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: jsheridan on February 13, 2013, 08:47:27 AM
International Coatings  - Paramount white

It's their poly white, very similar to union poly white. Very thick at first then it prints like a dream.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: ol man on February 13, 2013, 08:51:35 AM
i've only tried unions and wilflex,  i prefer union - usable straight out the bucket.  the wilflex is a touch cheaper - but hard like a rock .
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: tonypep on February 13, 2013, 09:01:08 AM
The big boys use the HSA (high solid acrylics) for these. Ginormous learning curve and probably not worth it if this is a one time charlie. They dry in the screen in a blink. That said Rutland, Wilflex, and Sericol among others offer these.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Printficient on February 13, 2013, 09:07:42 AM
Xenon Mustang White.  Cures at 260 degrees.  $72 per gallon.  Xenon Reg White.  Cures at 290 degrees.  $50 per gallon.  Both go through a 160 mesh no problem
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: aauusa on February 13, 2013, 09:37:43 AM
I do those jersey all the time and us one stroke color max white.  very smooth and i can print it through a 156 manually or a 230 auto easily.

absolutely no dye migration
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: jasonl on February 13, 2013, 09:46:09 AM
Wilflex Performance White beats them all IMO, and I have tried ALL of them.  Straight out of the bucket.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Rob Coleman on February 13, 2013, 11:00:27 AM
Wilflex Performance White beats them all IMO, and I have tried ALL of them.  Straight out of the bucket.

The Performance White is specifically designed for these type of fabrics.  The Wilflex PolyWhite might be the most bleed resistant, but it is thicker and not as elastic as the Performance White.

Be on the lookout .... Wilflex is marketing a range of standard colors based upon this technology and will be released VERY.  I have look at the inks and there are some real nice characteristics for printers needing a RFU solution in plastisol for performance wear and poly jersey printing.  Additionally, Nazdar SourceOne is closing in on the color palette in our ImageStar Silicone offering.

The big advantage of using these is keeping the cure temperature below the potential sublimation point of the polyester dyes.  Commonly used low energy dyes can be a real problem.

Tony is spot on with High Solids waterbase being a solution as well.  However, you need to be concerned on the cure temps/time as most H20 systems need 330f for 2 minutes or more.  Underbase gray technology for the HS is a good recommendation for the bad bleeders.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: inkman996 on February 13, 2013, 11:10:48 AM
Xenon horse White.  Cures at 260 degrees.  $72 per gallon.  Xenon Reg White.  Cures at 290 degrees.  $50 per gallon.  Both go through a 160 mesh no problem

Has anyone used and confirmed these numbers Sonny posted? I would think if they are accurate it would be a game changer but I havent heard anyone saying they are running shirts at 260 degrees?

Wilflex poly is really good unions 1070 rocks but stiff as hell. Not much of a problem on an auto, a nightmare for manual.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Sbrem on February 13, 2013, 11:39:12 AM
We've had our best luck with the Rutland...

Steve
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: siestasol on February 13, 2013, 12:07:17 PM
If you want to avoid migration at all, underbase with  Rutland NPT grey barrier and a poly white on top. Nice prints.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Frog on February 13, 2013, 12:43:00 PM
If you want to avoid migration at all, underbase with  Rutland NPT grey barrier and a poly white on top. Nice prints.

With an ink as effective against dye migration as the Gray Barrier, why bother with another poly ink on top? Sure, I can buy the "better safe than sorry", but why not take advantage of the usual better printatbility of an ink not poly specific?

I print manually, so the unfriendliness of most Poly inks is especially noteworthy to me.
That said, almost across the board, whites have really improved in this regard over the years.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: ZooCity on February 13, 2013, 12:58:21 PM
You can run standard top colors over a dye blocking base but they cure at higher temp and have different stretch properties so I like to run performance colors as well.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: GaryG on February 13, 2013, 01:17:09 PM
We use Wilflex Extreme regularly and have found- 156-  2 hits / Revolver / 1 hit out.
Or set up 2-156's - one time around and out. Gas dryer at 330 max. -netting approx. 300. (Normally 350)
Not so much blowing agent as Quick White and covers very well. Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: trebor on February 13, 2013, 01:41:35 PM
Here is what we do.......

SportFlex Technology (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G32dtyQXCYI#ws)


We can offer you contract services on your tough to print garments.


And this too!

SportFlex and Heat (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrU0Q6_P7lk#ws)
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: JBLUE on February 13, 2013, 02:27:55 PM
What type of ink is that Trebor? Curious minds want to know.... ;D
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: trebor on February 13, 2013, 03:17:49 PM
SportsFlex Technology.....it something we have been working on for years. Put it into full production last year. It was about 8% of revenues. This year it will approach 30-35%.
Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: aauusa on February 13, 2013, 04:02:52 PM
is that sports flex  tech.  a silicon based ink with 2 parts and a dye?

Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: mk162 on February 13, 2013, 04:37:43 PM
He ran the horse white through our dryer(and printed it here).  I didn't get to see the wash tests.  It's a little glossy for my liking, they added something to make it that way so it works for athletic printing.

Also, I find it to be a little thick, I would prefer it to be a little thinner, you have to use a special thinner for it as well.  You won't cure regular reducer in it, you need low-cure reducer.

Sonny, can you guys get me some matte Horse white?

Title: Re: Need an ink recommendation for 100% poly performance tees
Post by: Printficient on February 13, 2013, 05:27:14 PM
Sonny, can you guys get me some matte Horse white?
Yep