Smoothing Screen

[cleveprint]

quick question for people who have used a smoothing screen before. (not sure if this should be its own topic). i had a job, white on black, decent coverage area this morning. after reading this post, i figured i would give it a shot with a blank screen in there. i put a piece of teflon on the back and all. my issue was that after coming off the flash, i was getting pick up onto the piece of teflon. so much that it was starting to smear after a few shirts. i tried a longer flash and a shorter flash. any tips??

[Screened Gear]

quick question for people who have used a smoothing screen before. (not sure if this should be its own topic). i had a job, white on black, decent coverage area this morning. after reading this post, i figured i would give it a shot with a blank screen in there. i put a piece of teflon on the back and all. my issue was that after coming off the flash, i was getting pick up onto the piece of teflon. so much that it was starting to smear after a few shirts. i tried a longer flash and a shorter flash. any tips??

It could be alot of things. If the ink is still wet or tacky enough to pick up then its not flashed enough. Did you modify the white at all? If you reduced (curable reducer) the ink it will make the ink take longer to flash and have more after flash tack then normal. I am guess this is what is going on. Its flashed but has too much tack from the reducer you added. (it could be a ton of other issues, like too hot, to much pressure on the smoothing squeegee. Some times even the buildup is from the beginning of the run when you flashed it not enough and now its causing problems (clean the smoothing screen.) I am no expert but I think in the last year I have done just about everything wrong at least once.

[ZooCity]

I did it on a manual once with a solid screen of exposed emulsion and some silicone spray.  I can't recall why it was needed exactly but no pickup or snapping with an immediate hit after flash. 

[Action1]

I have recently heard from many knowledgeable industry experts on the subject of smoothing. From everything I gather, this process has been a well kept secret that only the veterans of the largest shops have known and utilized. I myself have never heard of this until very recently. When we started talking about our roller squeegees, we had in mind that there were several possible applications.

It now appears that the smoothing utility is the most immediately beneficial application. In association with a piece of Teflon on the contact side of the screen, the smoothing benefit is very obvious in the quality of the final print. The Teflon acts as a smoothing enhancer while being a non-stick surface to the recently flashed ink.

[inkman996]

How about inter changeable rollers each with a texture like mesh or distress, use it directly after the flash directly on the print, I can imagine a pretty neat FX with that.

[Frog]

Years back, when I first intermet Diane from Color your World (and of course, the old TSPMB) for some reason, our talk went quickly to textured vinyl heat seal.
There are some texturing sheets available for this purpose, and the upholstery repair business uses them as well. (When she couldn't get what she wanted, she appreciated my alternative suggestion)
I don't know if they would want to stick to flashed plastisol, but if not, they could take the place of the teflon sheet on the bottom of the screen.

[Action1]

Calls are coming from around the country from people that are using their new roller squeegees. Everyone is happy with the results they are achieving with these.

We have a shop testing the use of the roller squeegee for zipper hoodie printing next week. We will have results of the test to discuss soon. Thank you again to everyone who has kept this project exciting for us.

Next Week - Digital Magic Workshop at SPSI in Minneapolis. A Kornit digital machine is being interfaced with a Workhorse Falcon Screen Printing machine. I'll be there with our newest products and hope to see you there.

[Shanarchy]

If I wanted to test using a smoothing screen, could I just put a fully exposed screen (no image) with a little curable reducer for lubrication in the print head, with this do the trick to get a feel for the results/benefit of a smoothing station?

[Action1]

Yes - that is exactly the way people have been doing it. The difference is the use of the Teflon and the roller give you much better results.

[Screened Gear]

Action (Eric?)

How much pressure are they using with the roller? Are they using one roller or two like in the video?

[Shanarchy]

Yes - that is exactly the way people have been doing it. The difference is the use of the Teflon and the roller give you much better results.

Thanks for the reply Eric! I'm going to give it a try and see how it works. If it works good I'll put an order in!

[Action1]

Action (Eric?)

How much pressure are they using with the roller? Are they using one roller or two like in the video?

I am not certain of the pressure. I would suggest that no more pressure than typically used on the squeegee. The video shows only one. However - you have made me think that if one is good - why not two? It seems at first thought that one of these could be attached to the squeegee bar and one to the flood bar- bar. Then you could roll both ways.

[Screened Gear]

Action (Eric?)

How much pressure are they using with the roller? Are they using one roller or two like in the video?

I am not certain of the pressure. I would suggest that no more pressure than typically used on the squeegee. The video shows only one. However - you have made me think that if one is good - why not two? It seems at first thought that one of these could be attached to the squeegee bar and one to the flood bar- bar. Then you could roll both ways.

I am sure the thought of selling 2 to each of us makes you excited but why not just double stroke roll it?

[ebscreen]

Action (Eric?)

How much pressure are they using with the roller? Are they using one roller or two like in the video?

I am not certain of the pressure. I would suggest that no more pressure than typically used on the squeegee. The video shows only one. However - you have made me think that if one is good - why not two? It seems at first thought that one of these could be attached to the squeegee bar and one to the flood bar- bar. Then you could roll both ways.

Don't know the the flood bar would be able to apply pressure to the pallet on most machines?

[Action1]

Action (Eric?)

How much pressure are they using with the roller? Are they using one roller or two like in the video?

I am not certain of the pressure. I would suggest that no more pressure than typically used on the squeegee. The video shows only one. However - you have made me think that if one is good - why not two? It seems at first thought that one of these could be attached to the squeegee bar and one to the flood bar- bar. Then you could roll both ways.

I am sure the thought of selling 2 to each of us makes you excited but why not just double stroke roll it?

It does excite me - thank you! It could be double rolled, but that would impact production rates. One roll is really all that is necessary for the benefit.