mass powdering

[ericheartsu]

For those of you that powder/coat your prints before adhering to garments, any tricks for doing mass coatings? lately we've been doing runs of 100 or 200 pcs, and they are full transfer sheets. So how do i cut time out of coating them?

thanks!

[Admiral]

We do 100-200 piece runs every now and then on the auto if 1 color.  It just takes an extra person doing the powder in the box per transfer and the dwell is about 8 seconds.

Only faster way I know is a powder applying machine which is expensive.

[starchild]

Why not use another screen with a last down adhesive? Plus you eliminate the sightly marks on darks

[Frog]

Assuming that you don't want to invest in a hopper and vacuum setup like we used with Thermograhy Raised Letter flat stock printing, I use a big flat box from photographic film/paper, put in about 1/4" pf powder, and place each sheet, close it up and shake.

I have done it before cure and after (partial)cure and see little difference. Less chance of messing up the print after cure.

Damn, I just looked at the Uniln instructions, ands see where I must have learned this! LOL!

Unilon-2027 for Nylon, Polyester and Cap Transfers
After printing the plastisol (Union's Ultrasoft is the preferred ink) on heat transfer paper, apply Unilon-2027 as follows:
1. Fill a rectangular tray with approximately 1/4" of Unilon-2027 Powder.
2. Pass the transfer through the tray, print side up. Unilon will adhere to wet or semi-cured plastisol.
3. Remove powder from the unprinted areas by vigorously shaking the transfer or gently blowing cool air across it. Light brushing with a soft brush (taking care not to smudge the print), may also be used.
4. Semi-cure or gel the ink as described on the Ultrasoft Technical Data Sheet.
5. Transfer on a heat transfer press at temperatures compatible with the garment.

[ericheartsu]

Frog, still by doing this, it's just one extra step. Trying to figure out how to do this after it comes out of the dryer, but wihtout having to put one sheet in, shake, take sheet out, repeat

[TCT]

Extra Large pizza box works nice too...

Excalibur has a great transfer ink we switched to-
http://nwgraphic.com/familyt.php?id=L950

Since we switched we haven't had to use ANY powder....

[Frog]

Well, in that vein, there are also additives like International Coatings 500 LF Quick Trans Additive (mixes 15% by weight)

[TCT]

Well, in that vein, there are also additives like International Coatings 500 LF Quick Trans Additive (mixes 15% by weight)

Did you just call me vain? 

[ZooCity]

There's a machine for that I think.... here it is
http://www.weissmachines.com/powder-application/automated-powder-application

Bet you could rig something like this up without too much trouble.  Maybe just use one of those flour sifters manually and toss 'em on the uv cure belt, install a bank of air nozzles at the back and pan under to catch the blow off.

[Frog]

That's a lot more compact and handy than this from the same folks who make some of the Thermography units I mentioned.

Sunraise PS-15 @ SGIA

[Frog]

No, I take that back. That Weiss unit isn't mounted on a dryer either, it's a standalone as well.

[BorisB]

That's a lot more compact and handy than this from the same folks who make some of the Thermography units I mentioned.

Sunraise PS-15 @ SGIA

It works OK and costs way less than Weiss Machines.

They are never mounted on dryer. If you look carefully you will notice that also small Sunraise unit is using three belts. This is to avoid contamination of dryer belt with powder. Although these Machines look pretty simple, they are not. And to run them and setup properly is also a challenge. It takes a lot of fine tuning to get optimal results.
Stick as long as you can to manual cleaning, if you invest in powdering machine it will help a lot to make good product. Just be patient with setting it optimally.

Boris