Ink build up (what is causing this?)

[Gilligan]

Ok, attached is a couple of pics.

One is of the 2nd screen, what you are seeing is the results of ink pickup from printing wet on wet (the black was printed first).

This is mostly one stroke and as consistent as my newbie ass can be.  I reduced the off contact to probably under 1/4 of an inch, as little as I felt I was comfortable with.

This is a pretty new Pocono Mt. 158 screen coated 1:1 by a buddy's guy (professional).

The other picture is of the last print I made... this was a run of about 60 shirts... so not a lot but still a fair amount of buildup.  My main concern/question is why does it always seem to creep in the same direction.  The prints look good... but I can't help but know that I'm screwing up and I should be seeing this.

FYI, what you are looking at (if you can't tell by the fibers) is about a 1.5" by 1" graphic.

This is printed on an Antec Legend... using only one station and THAT station is fairly well setup (as good as my newbie self could do it.)

Any opinions, critics, words of wisdom, hand slapping would be appreciated.

[Prosperi-Tees]

It actually looks like your screen moved.

[Gilligan]

Hmm... now that you say that, I do notice that the screen comes out of the registration gates with an odd movement with that screen.  I'll have to pay more attention tomorrow when I go out there.

It's always as I'm moving on so I don't think to pay attention.

[Prosperi-Tees]

From the looks of your screen I am pretty surprised that you did not have ghosting of your print

[Gilligan]

Agreed... granted, that is an extreme close up... but I think it was light enough not to really "stick" to the next shirt.

[Frog]

The slightest off registered offset ink can ruin the next print. Most common when registration is changed mid run, and brain farts cause forgetting to wipe every other screen that have ghosts that now will not line up. Apparently not the case here.
But yes, it looks somewhat like your screen or the shirt moved.

As for wet on wet buildup, that's where the tightest screens really pay off, along with inks specified as wow. The standard band-aid fix has always been silicone spray or for you, and your usual choice of the cheapest, Pam.

It all goes to hell though if your screens or shirts move.

[Gilligan]

I'm hurt Andy, really hurt.

[tonypep]

When troubleshooting mis-registration close observation is the key to proper diagnosis. There is a definitive shift to the right which clearly indicates a screen shift. If for instance, the smear was equal in 360 degrees, then ink deposit issues would need to be looked into.

[alan802]

Like others have said, it looks like your screen moved.  But one other thing I'd like to mention that causes lots of ink spread at the edges of your stencil.  That happens when you don't have proper EOM.  I know that screen that was coated 1/1 doesn't have sufficient EOM to give the stencil a good edge to keep the ink in place.  It spreads out causing ghosting in the direction mainly of your print stroke but you'll see it at the edge of the entire image as well.

[Denis Kolar]

Also, if you push too hard you can get the same result.
I tried to show my brother how to push a squeegee (6'4" and 300 pounds) and he got the same result. I was afraid that he is going to break my pallet arms.
Off course, I have told him that he does not need to push hard (I can not imagine what would happen if I did not).

[Homer]

anyone mention adhesive yet? could also play a roll.

[Gabe]

also when your put too much softhand in the ink to make it soft in the winter months
can cause this problem

[3Deep]

Some inks are just sticky as hell and the emulsion loves to catch ink as well....I know wipeing screens down is a pain but hey for a short run go for it.  Oh yeah, you are looking to stop this problem, got an answer yet? and your not likely to get one but many many answers to many to even start trying...  good luck.  Ink build up is just one of those things that happen the only thing I know that stops ink build up is to flash every color and who in the world wants to do that, but some do that can.

[Frog]

In this particular case however, as Tony pointed out, the "build up" does not seem to be normal build up since it is shifted to the side. Build up should be symmetrical on all edges.This looks much more like the screen or wet pint on the shirt shifted, and then the shifted image transferred to the screen.

[Fresh Baked Printing]

Sometimes a flood stroke (bad squeeze angles, etc.) can cause the ink to ooze from the other side of shirt side of stencil.
Does the problem go away after wiping the screen?