Discharge?

[Logoman]

I have not done any Discharge printing any suggestions or a step by step article on how to and what brand of inks work best

[nobrainsd]

That is probably a little too open ended of a question to get a lot of replies. I just started printing DC so I spent a few hours searching the forum for posts using general terms like discharge, emulsion and dc ink (reading everything that Tonypep posts can't hurt!). After I had read through some of these posts I searched for the names of products I was considering. Finally, I went to the manufacturers websites to download instructions and MDS sheets. That is how I was able to decide on what products I was going to use. I had printed waterbase inks before so it wasn't a totally new experience. You might just search for waterbase, because tricks like misting your screens, squeegee angles and pressure, clean up and the like are relatively universal between WBb and DC (non plasticharge versions).

If you can find a local shop that uses DC see if you can check it out. The smel of ZFS systems is what kept me away from DC for this long. I'm printing at home right now and the wifey wasn't going to go with offensive odors.

[tonypep]

If it can wait, the April issue of Printwear will have an extensive article on this very subject. In fact it has  been expanded to two parts as we ran out of space to give the subject thorough consideration.

[nobrainsd]

Definitely looking forward to reading your article in Printwear Tony. I picked up a lot from your previous posts. It was your posts regarding your success with DC through finer meshes that got me motivated to try it out.

I hope your article covers disposal at least briefly. I'm currently drying my waste ink before disposal, but look forward to hearing how you deal with more volume. It is exceptable to have DC ink residue go down my drain when cleaning screens, but it is prohibited to dump accumulated wastes or materials from industrial processes down the drain even if they are extensively diluted. So no mixing the waste ink in a garbage can full of water to be drained off!

[tonypep]

That will be in part deux. It will depend on your waste regulations. Our Ink Dept has acquired the uncanny ability to activate only what's required for the job. That skill comes with time however. Large batches of the more popular colors are on hand unactivated so if we run low fresh color can be made in seconds.