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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: studog on February 28, 2013, 11:41:57 AM

Title: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: studog on February 28, 2013, 11:41:57 AM
I am using Wilflex White Buffalo and I am having an issue where the ink is going outside my screen image. I have adjusted pressure to where it doesn't clear the screen, off contact, squeegee angle, adjusted flood bar and I still can not figure out what to do. It seems worse on the press side of platen and on the left had side.

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a311/Studog79/4BB4508C-A9DB-4F96-ABD4-244454735282-460-0000012880A69B82.jpg)

(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a311/Studog79/12EB9503-4D37-4488-9540-4977777EE1DC-460-0000012878981853.jpg)
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: mk162 on February 28, 2013, 11:44:22 AM
something is loose...that is way off.

Check your screen holders and your platens
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: trebor on February 28, 2013, 11:47:28 AM
Try wiping the back of your white screen. Sometimes when changing pressure and adjusting some gets picked up off of a previous print. Pretty simple but often overlooked.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: Frog on February 28, 2013, 12:11:35 PM
Wow, off in both directions! It ain't the ink.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: balloonguy on February 28, 2013, 12:27:38 PM
Is the screen tight enough? Try more off contact and a fast print stroke. Maybe less flood too.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: inkman996 on February 28, 2013, 12:33:50 PM
Both directions is really bad, my first check would be is the screen moving, second thing would be to make sure I am not printing while flooding. Thats if you flood with table up. Definitely make sure you wipe the screen after each adjustment other wise you will get false results.

Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: studog on February 28, 2013, 12:35:46 PM
Its on both ends as I did less off contact and changed the angle of the squeegee. The screen is 30n. I wiped off the back of screen and its there next print. Sonny called and I will make sure everything is level. This sample is the worse one.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: Inkworks on February 28, 2013, 08:29:12 PM
Could be too much flood pressure.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: JBLUE on February 28, 2013, 09:17:08 PM
Could be too much flood pressure.

Thats what I was thinking as well. Pushing too much ink through and getting bleed all the way around.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: easyscore on February 28, 2013, 09:53:42 PM
Are you double stroking the white?

I have had issues not quite to the extreme you have with this print. If you have too much pressure on the flood of the second white screen you will get that ghosting of the image.

Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: jsheridan on March 01, 2013, 08:33:59 AM
looks like the screen isn't being lifted up when for the flood stroke.. almost like it's being printed in both directions
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: whitewater on March 01, 2013, 08:51:35 AM
This may be a weird question...but here at my shop we are having problems with static electricity..i have no idea what to do about it..It really messes with the ink..it did on my manual and now it is on the auto..when the screen lifts you can hear the that static electricity..We use Union inks..

Near the holidays we were printing sweatshirts...print was fine when i took it off the platen, put in dryer...came out looking like yours...happened 3 times...and yes i  checked everything with the dryer..plenty of space and what not...

Just a thought, because it looked like yours..

Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: whitewater on March 01, 2013, 08:54:52 AM
Here it is...trust me when i say it printed fine ...
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: mk162 on March 01, 2013, 09:53:55 AM
not doubting you, but i have been in a print shop since i was a kid and I have never seen a shirt that goes in fine and comes out double printed.  Sorry, I just don't buy it.  You shirt shrank between coats of white.

Smearing on the dryer gate is another issue.

Actually, I am doubting you. ;)
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: inkman996 on March 01, 2013, 10:25:41 AM
Whites pick just above clearly looks like a lack of adhesive in just the top corner, heavy sticky white ink probably caused a shirt peel and then the next coat was off center.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: JBLUE on March 01, 2013, 10:37:12 AM
Here it is...trust me when i say it printed fine ...

This is why when I drink it is at the end of the run and not during. Everything looks great when you have a buzz............. ;)
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: whitewater on March 01, 2013, 11:14:10 AM
not doubting you, but i have been in a print shop since i was a kid and I have never seen a shirt that goes in fine and comes out double printed.  Sorry, I just don't buy it.  You shirt shrank between coats of white.

Smearing on the dryer gate is another issue.

Actually, I am doubting you. ;)

when i took it off it was fine...did not hit anything

and i wasnt smokin anything either..LOL
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: Inkworks on March 01, 2013, 11:30:05 AM
This may be a weird question...but here at my shop we are having problems with static electricity..i have no idea what to do about it..It really messes with the ink..it did on my manual and now it is on the auto..when the screen lifts you can hear the that static electricity..We use Union inks..


Get a humidifier, it will solve the problem.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: studog on March 01, 2013, 12:31:45 PM
Are you double stroking the white?

I have had issues not quite to the extreme you have with this print. If you have too much pressure on the flood of the second white screen you will get that ghosting of the image.

Only one screen. Double stroking.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: Homer on March 01, 2013, 12:52:36 PM
no adhesive?
too long on the flash?
loose mesh?
loose screen holders?
too much flood/squeeg pressure?
loose platens?
ripped screen?
too much squeeg angle?
Loose squeegie clamp?
I got nothing else.

second look, I'd put my money on something loose/broken...

Rob - you don't have enough adhesive on that side of your platen...my guess...we have static too, we just grounded the press and it's fine...my opinion anyway.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: JBLUE on March 01, 2013, 02:23:23 PM
Are you double stroking the white?

I have had issues not quite to the extreme you have with this print. If you have too much pressure on the flood of the second white screen you will get that ghosting of the image.

Only one screen. Double stroking.

PFP as well? Is any part of the pallet exposed where the screen can stick to the glue? I have see that happen when printing tramp stamps.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: whitewater on March 01, 2013, 02:55:44 PM
Jay...how do i ground the press?
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: Inkworks on March 01, 2013, 07:04:32 PM
Jumper cable on bare metal jumped to a grounded piece of equipment like your oven. We often have to ground our flatstock drying rack and putting lexan or other flatstock on it or pulling it off can build up enough static to see blue arcs jump over an inch.

Seriously though a small humidifier in the shop will work wonders and make it a more comfortable working environment to boot. Static can't build up with a decent humidity load in the air.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: mk162 on March 01, 2013, 07:07:39 PM
I got shocked one time by one of those really long ones...right on the nipple.  That nearly brought me to my knees.
Title: Re: Having trouble with white ink
Post by: whitewater on March 02, 2013, 09:06:33 AM
I got shocked one time by one of those really long ones...right on the nipple.  That nearly brought me to my knees.

i was going to make a comment, but wont.... ;D