Bandanas and plastisol ink

[Ripcord]

I've printed many bandanas with plastisol ink and I've been pleased with the results. I've always used low bleed ink just in case, even though the bandanas are 100% cotton.

I'm wondering if the low bleed ink is necessary and I called the manufacturer. He told me the bandanas are dyed with a "reactive" dye and are very colorfast, so I'm going to try an experiment with regular cotton ink and see what happens.

I'm wondering do any of you use white cotton plastisol on cotton bandanas and if so, have you had any problems?

[ScreenFoo]

It should be really tough to have issues with 100% cotton bandanas... unless they're lying.

And FWIW, for us it wouldn't matter unless they WERE lying and they were 100% polyester AND the dye job was bad... we run an LB ink for pretty much everything since having 'issues' with improper ink selections...   

Would really love to switch to discharge though--I personally think pretty much every design I've ever put on a bandana excludes it's actual use as a bandana...

[Frog]

rarely run bandannas any more, but have never seen a cotton one not act like a cotton one. 

In general, Camo T's are the only cotton exception to the cotton ink situation.

[tonypep]

Due to the fact that they are printed not dyed. With really cheap ink.

[ZooCity]

Surprising that bandanas aren't dyed with discharge printing in mind.  Can't see why you would want anything but WB ink on them.  Who is the bandana mfg that is all reactive dye if you don't mind me asking?

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

[sqslabs]

I've had issues with bandanas that were blends, but the "Premium Lock-Edge" bandanas at Tan's Club are top notch.  Have been using them for years, mostly with Matsui white waterbased ink which gives a much softer hand than plastisol.  Never had much success with discharge on them, although that would be optimal.

[Ripcord]

Thanks for the replies. I use the Tans Club lock edge...and camouflage was what I was thinking about that made me wonder about the bandanas. I've seen camouflage bleed like hell, but I guess the reason is that the pattern is printed onto the fabric whereas the bandanas are dyed. Turns out the customer is out of town for a week so I'll have plenty of time to print one and watch it for a few days to make sure it's OK.

I've heard stories of ghosting on 100% cotton printed with low bleed poly ink, but I've never experienced it myself.  But this is the reason I would rather use cotton ink on these.

[ScreenFoo]

Back when we used a low bleed formulation with peroxide, I had to mist some water on a test print and use a heat press to prove to myself it was even possible.   One of the advantages to printing in a semi-arid part of the country, I suppose.

Then again...
If it's really humid and they are hot and they are stacked high and your LB white uses peroxide you may get lucky. 
That Murphy guy and his laws can be a pain. 

[Frog]

Back when we used a low bleed formulation with peroxide, I had to mist some water on a test print and use a heat press to prove to myself it was even possible.   One of the advantages to printing in a semi-arid part of the country, I suppose.

Then again...
If it's really humid and they are hot and they are stacked high and your LB white uses peroxide you may get lucky. 
That Murphy guy and his laws can be a pain. 

Here's a little something from International Coatings about "ghosting" from Low Bleed inks.
http://www.iccink.com/screenprint/howto_fabricdiscoloration.htm

[Inkworks]

I have a 1/2 gallon of peroxide laced low-bleed ink free to anyone that want's it. It almost cost me $2000 on shirts it ghosted badly through to the other side on after a couple of days sitting in the box. Luckily the customer took the shirts at cost and allowed us to re-print for the original price.

After that nightmare I don't mind a bit of puff in my athletic whites.