The Importance of Speed and Pressure

[sqslabs]

Hey, so work with me here on this question with an open mind.

I have a friend that uses the roller on water base / discharge prints.

We are mostly water base / discharge and now some HSA inks in there as well. Any plastisol has a clear discharge base. All prints are smooth

Anyone else using the roller on water base?

If I had one (they don't make a roller squeegee for my current press), I'd be using it most often on discharge and waterbased prints, and plan on doing so once my new press is installed.  I've found when printing WOW with waterbased or discharge, especially using inks containing white pigments, the print tends to get fuzzy as it lifts the fibers of the shirt through ink buildup (especially on ringspun cotton tees).  This can be avoided by flashing after every color, but that usually isn't an option on a 4+ color print. 

A solution that I've found to the issue is a quick heatpress after printing, flattening the print/shirt back out and really making it look nice, but this is an additional step and takes time.  On the other hand, the roller squeegee plays essentially the same role as the heat press when placed after a flash, and should achieve the same results without the extra step.  So I'd run the print WOW and then flash/roller somewhere between the last color and the unload station.

This is all theoretical, as I haven't been able to try it out on my current setup, but I'm definitely looking forward to it and think it will be the answer to achieving the best results when running WOW waterbased/discharge inks beyond flash capabilities.

[Gilligan]

You can run a squeegee and some base (for lube) in an exposed screen that will essentially do the same.  That's the what inspired the roller squeegee.

[Rockers]

We use our roller squeegee to pick up lint of the garments when printing discharge jobs. Such a versatile tool.

[Homer]

You can run a squeegee and some base (for lube) in an exposed screen that will essentially do the same.  That's the what inspired the roller squeegee.

this is what we've been doing for a few years. a screen with some teflon or kraft paper on the print side. we use teflon sheets from the heat press room. It helps in more ways than we can count....amazing little trick


just be sure to wipe it down between print runs mmk....

[tonypep]

While I applaud the concept of the roller (one of the best Action concepts in recent times) we have never found the need for it

[sqslabs]

You can run a squeegee and some base (for lube) in an exposed screen that will essentially do the same.  That's the what inspired the roller squeegee.

Thanks for the heads up, will give it a shot. 

[tonypep]

Its called a crush screen. Be sure to completely tape the underside with clear tape