screenprinting coated aluminum

[Doug S]

Does anyone here screen print on .080 white painted aluminum blanks?  I have a customer that wants 1000 14"x18" signs with 500 being a 1 color just lettering and the other 500 the same just different lettering.  So it would be 2 different orders of 500 pcs.  I have a vinyl cutter but at that quantity that's a bit much.  Also, they would need to have a hole top and bottom middle to attach to post.

If anyone does, please pm me a quote.

[Sbrem]

We run a few jobs a year for a local sign shop, Naz Dar Multi-Purpose works well, unless you want to go for an air-dry epoxy for extra toughness... still, it's only as tough as the white paint, which isn't tough at all, very easy to scratch...

Steve

[Doug S]

We run a few jobs a year for a local sign shop, Naz Dar Multi-Purpose works well, unless you want to go for an air-dry epoxy for extra toughness... still, it's only as tough as the white paint, which isn't tough at all, very easy to scratch...

Steve

I'm sending you a pm

[domineight]

Painted or powdercoated?

Get some reducer for the ink you intend to use and give the surface a rub with your finger with a rag wrapped around it with a little reducer. So long as you get a bite in with this method you'll be alright, at least you'll know a place to start.

I've had to swap and change here and there between different suppliers. The silicone content of the powder chops and changes. A quick wipe with some meths on a rag just prior to printing is helpful too, for painted or powdercoated.

[Doug S]

Thanks for the tip.  These will be reflective and a standard size of 12x18 inches instead of the oddball size.  If he decides to go with the quote which is questionable.  It may be just vinyl applied since I haven't printed metal before & it's just lettering but man ole man they will be expensive. lol

[Frog]

Screenprinting is the way to go but do you have a way of racking 500 signs to dry?

[rusty]

We've done stuff like this before but I don't know about that size. I can source it if you want.

[3Deep]

If you print these in your shop make sure you have plenty of ventilation, we printed some plastic coolers last weekend with the nazdar 9600 inks and smell was head aching

[Doug B]

  I'm thinking it is like the white aluminum novelty license plate blanks. If so, they
will probably need to be air dried. I have printed hundreds of thousands of them
and NazDar 7200 lacquer does it and is fast drying. Epoxy would probably be
overkill. Run them with a little retarder (NOT thinner) through a 230.

[Doug S]

If you print these in your shop make sure you have plenty of ventilation, we printed some plastic coolers last weekend with the nazdar 9600 inks and smell was head aching

  I'm thinking it is like the white aluminum novelty license plate blanks. If so, they
will probably need to be air dried. I have printed hundreds of thousands of them
and NazDar 7200 lacquer does it and is fast drying. Epoxy would probably be
overkill. Run them with a little retarder (NOT thinner) through a 230.

I've printed vinyl before but it's been years and I do remember the smell.  I'm assuming you need a special emulsion.  It looks like I need to call nazdar.  Thanks everyone.

[Doug B]

  The lacquer doesn't smell nearly as bad as the vinyl or 9600 but you do need
ventilation. Any solvent resistant emulsion is fine. I use Ulano RLX for everything
and it holds up great for plastisol or solvent based inks. Just doesn't work too
good for water based.

[Frog]

In general, lacquer is not good over enamel. Especially with spray paints, there can be softening and lifting (while enamel can go over lacquer fine)

I used to offer signs, and I used either enamel or multi-purpose. btw, reds and UV are often problematic. Some fade way faster than others. Look into this if it is a consideration.
btw, I gave up flat stock due to space required for drying.