Printing Opposite Pocket on Auto

[Stinkhorn Press]

Printing white only on black *PFP* on 800 pocket shirts, print is oversized chest print (almost 6" tall) on the right chest.

I've not ever run an auto with pocketed shirts, what steps should I be taking to keep
1) the shirts from moving when the squeegee hits the pocket and
2 the screens from breaking where the squeegee hits the pocket?



We always called that print location "opposite pocket" here, but a google search of this site turns up nothing, so maybe you all call it something else? "Right chest" print maybe?

[1964GN]

No big deal. We call it a right chest. Just tape the back of the screen where the pocket is so if you get a breakthrough you can just keep printing. It's really no different that any other PFP.

[Stinkhorn Press]

No big deal. We call it a right chest. Just tape the back of the screen where the pocket is so if you get a breakthrough you can just keep printing. It's really no different that any other PFP.

"breakthrough" - as in the mesh is actually breaking? or just that the emulsion gets broken down and I'm mostly just stopping ink from leaking through?

[jvanick]

I call breakthrough when the emulsion gets broken down from abrasion and the ink starts coming through

and yes, just tape where the pocket is on the other side of the shirt so that the abrasion doesn't wear there and you're good to go.  if you're scared about having the squeegee hang up on the pocket, you can always cut a 6 inch or so piece of squeegee rubber and use that... (just print with the 'squeegee stop knobs' as your depth instead of the pressure regulator)

[1964GN]

Emulsion breakdown, not the actual mesh. We call that a break through

[tpitman]

Use a short squeegee blade that won't hit the pocket. One of the last jobs I did at the shop I worked at in Daytona I did this. Worked like a champ.

[Stinkhorn Press]

[...] you can always cut a 6 inch or so piece of squeegee rubber and use that... (just print with the 'squeegee stop knobs' as your depth instead of the pressure regulator)

I didn't realize this was possible. Except for needing to use the squeegee depth control to keep the squeegee evenly hitting the mesh (rather than the pressure), you CAN move the blade so that it's not centered in the squeegee holder? huh, the more you know. thanks. i have no qualms about cutting up (my old, crappy, badly needing replaced) squeegee rubber.