Help with Foil

[ebscreen]

HD is preferred for foil around here. 125 mesh up or down depending on coverage.
Best is P/F/P the same screen if reasonable to do so.

You can tell if you're too hot or too cold or not enough pressure based on the way the foil
releases (or doesn't) when you pull it.

[jsheridan]

my concerns with using HD ink is squishing it when you press the foil and the ink usage from a 400 mic phat film just for a foil adhesive. If the HD is part of the design and you want a raised surface, then go for it. But just to use it for the sake that someone else did it.. not so good idea when you factor in all the work and reduced production time it requires to print HD inks.

Using regular ole clear gel ink (stuff is very sticky to begin with) tinted with color to match the foil with a 110 mesh coated 2x3 will give you more than enough stencil thickness for foil application.

[RICK STEFANICK]

YEP PIERRE, thats what people were using way back befor they actualy made a real foil adhesive.actually gel and a 200 micron screen may eliminate your need to pfp.

[Colin]

Here is a small tip on ink selection as a foil base.

The stickier the ink is when flashed/heated/cured the better the foil will actually want to STICK to it!

That's why gel works so well.  It is VERY sticky.  But it is poor for large area/perfect coverage of foil.

For coverage on very large areas: tint/color the ink you are using to the shade of your foil for best long term results.

Also, check out different brands of foil.  They all will peal off the ink differently.  I tried the Amagic foil a few years ago and was really surprised at how well (better imo) it was doing against Crown Roll..... 

[RICK STEFANICK]

thanks colin. thats good info. 

[jeeperiam97]

Clear HD Gel....all the way. Works every time.

[Denis Kolar]

I did try p\using foil for the first time last night.
I used Union foil glue with a bit of QCM Gold mixed in to get the yellow background for the gold foil. I did about 20 shirts, and for some reason, the more shirts I pressed, the worse result I was getting.
Last few were really bad
I did PFPFP, three layers on glue to build it up through 110 mesh.

Any ideas why it would start going bad. Used Crown Leaf foil.

[tonypep]

I heard somewhere to use high-density ink. I have never done it, I use a 50/50 plastisol / adhesive and get good results. I also P/F/P like pierre said. I think my next job I will do it with high-density just to see. Never have used the stuff but is sounds like a good idea.

Try a HD clear

[tonypep]

Oops looks like ten other people suggested this. I prefer the PFP over thick stencils. Better edge def

[Prosperi-Tees]

I did try p\using foil for the first time last night.
I used Union foil glue with a bit of QCM Gold mixed in to get the yellow background for the gold foil. I did about 20 shirts, and for some reason, the more shirts I pressed, the worse result I was getting.
Last few were really bad
I did PFPFP, three layers on glue to build it up through 110 mesh.

Any ideas why it would start going bad. Used Crown Leaf foil.

What were your temp,press times? I do 330 for 20 seconds and let cool before peeling

[Denis Kolar]

I had it at 330 for 13 seconds. Cold peel

[Prosperi-Tees]

I have found longer dwell times to work best and a medium light pressure

[blue moon]

make sure you are not overcooking the glue! It has to stay tacky and that goes away with time in the dryer. I don't even run the shirts though the dryer before pressing the foil.

pierre

[Denis Kolar]

Did not run them trough the dryer, I just flashed them (maybe a bit longer than usual)

[blue moon]

did you rub the with another shirt before letting them cool down?