Author Topic: How much ink will I need.  (Read 10529 times)

Offline MrBreeze

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How much ink will I need.
« on: June 06, 2011, 03:43:47 PM »
Haven't had a job like this in awhile.  5500 white tees.  2 color full front.  Need to order a special ink color.  Print size about 17 sq. inch area.  Approx. how much ink...any guesses?
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Offline tonypep

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2011, 03:47:45 PM »
There should be an ink calculator in the Wilflex software which can be downloaded. I would call it an estimator actually. It can get you close. If you really want to nail it weigh the shirt before and after printing using some stock ink through your desired mesh count. Yes different colors weigh differently but this can get you closer.
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Offline Printficient

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2011, 03:56:14 PM »
There should be an ink calculator in the Wilflex software which can be downloaded. I would call it an estimator actually. It can get you close. If you really want to nail it weigh the shirt before and after printing using some stock ink through your desired mesh count. Yes different colors weigh differently but this can get you closer.
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Agree with the caveat that you weigh the printed shirt wet and not after running down the dryer.  Then add about 15%.
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Offline blue moon

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2011, 03:57:53 PM »
Haven't had a job like this in awhile.  5500 white tees.  2 color full front.  Need to order a special ink color.  Print size about 17 sq. inch area.  Approx. how much ink...any guesses?

just a guess here, as the variables are huge, but I would say two gallons of each should get it done. Jobs like that, I've used about a gallon per 3500 in the past, but as I said, your mileage will vary . . .
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Offline MrBreeze

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2011, 04:11:41 PM »
I was guessing about 2 gallons...the one color is really odd and I would prefer not to add it to my already large collection of leftover "specials"
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Offline mk162

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2011, 11:31:12 PM »
You can always mix it into another color..like black.  I have more black than I will ever go through.  Why did I buy 5 gallons from Sonny?  I think I seriously have around 15 gallons or so.  I hardly ever print black, usually if I do it's an accent color.

2 gallons should work, if your vendor is close like mine(2 doors down), you could go 1 and see how far it goes, I can have mine in under an hour.

Offline MrBreeze

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2011, 12:55:16 PM »
I used to mix odd colors into black but I'm always afraid as soon as I do I will need it to mix some other odd color so I end up just hanging on the the odd stuff.  I hope I live long enough to use all this odd stuff...I wonder if plastisol has a shelf life.
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Offline mk162

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2011, 03:37:38 PM »
yes, 80 years, give or take a few.  I've got some stuff that's been around for well over 15 years.  I finally mixed it into black or a better color that I will actually use.

Offline Printficient

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2011, 04:54:07 PM »
You can always mix it into another color..like black.  I have more black than I will ever go through.  Why did I buy 5 gallons from Sonny?  I think I seriously have around 15 gallons or so.  I hardly ever print black, usually if I do it's an accent color.

2 gallons should work, if your vendor is close like mine(2 doors down), you could go 1 and see how far it goes, I can have mine in under an hour.
I guess it is because I am a "Full Service" partner, right? :D :D :D :D
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Offline mk162

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Re: How much ink will I need.
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2011, 08:00:00 AM »
HAHA, that's right, Sonny is a full service partner.  It's a tennis joke.  Although it's never a good idea to tell another man that you are his full service partner.