is a second flash overkill for a 7 color auto?

[rusty]

We have a 7/8 diamondback and a red chili D flash. Usually it's fine but we have been getting more and more high volume mutlicolor orders and using the revolver mode (sometime 3 times!) has been killing me.

We use Rio inks for the WOW but on large spot color areas we run into issues. We also don't have room for a bigger press and it will be a year til we can move and we can get a gas dryer.

We just did a 1200 piece tote order both side 4c and the down time of dealing with  pickup on the back of the screens among other things was killing me.

I am still learning flashing times, color orders, etc but feel a second flash would ease the pain.

any thoughts?

[ericheartsu]

i don't think so. we have 2 on a 6 color roq.

you could also look at getting a stampinator, or a hot head.

[Nation03]

Might help speed up a little bit, but I think you'll still have to run the press a little slower because there isn't much cool down time. I feel your pain though. I revolve jobs often on a 6/8 press. 3-4 times on some orders because of the large spot color areas. I got a quote on the newer Diamondback E 8 color. Honestly not too bad so I might take the jump this year.

[rusty]

Might help speed up a little bit, but I think you'll still have to run the press a little slower because there isn't much cool down time. I feel your pain though. I revolve jobs often on a 6/8 press. 3-4 times on some orders because of the large spot color areas. I got a quote on the newer Diamondback E 8 color. Honestly not too bad so I might take the jump this year.

Yeah the cool down time is an issue I am worried about. I am hoping to move in a year and would get an additional press. But I got a 7/8 dback cause of space issues.

[Biverson]

Might help speed up a little bit, but I think you'll still have to run the press a little slower because there isn't much cool down time. I feel your pain though. I revolve jobs often on a 6/8 press. 3-4 times on some orders because of the large spot color areas. I got a quote on the newer Diamondback E 8 color. Honestly not too bad so I might take the jump this year.

I've got a 7/8 with two flashes. I had one for awhile but then went to 2 with a temp sensor. I wouldn't go back to one and it's not overkill. I do need to run it slower sometimes to let items cool down and find it is a little quicker than cycle. If I'm doing the run by myself I'll do it in cycle for cool down then go to the end of the dryer, stack, press finishes the run, repeat. If it's me and my employee we'll do it in one rotation if the print allows.

I'm also interested in RIO on larger spot color jobs. I use the PC system and have had trouble with larger spot areas and Opacity. I've been thinking of going to RIO to help with that, but not sold on it yet.

[3Deep]

I have a 7/8 and dude a second flash is great, I don't use it all the time but I converted an old stand flash so I could slide it into a head.  Many people talk about having plenty of print heads but having room for a second flash and a cool down helps big time, the more colors you print the more you might need two flashes and cool down stations.

[BP]

You can get a Kool-mist from M&R.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8avsXP10-o&feature=emb_logo

[tonypep]

Cool downs will kill you to three screens but there are work arounds
tp

[lancasterprinthouse]

We have the same press and have one chili and a 18x20 IR from the manual that we pop in from time to time. Helps us do quite a few jobs in a single rotation. Takes a little tinkering to get the timing right to work the press and IR flash together but it’s tremendously helpful. I also use the IR flash sometimes on triblends with a water based underbase. Helps me flash quicker without scorching. Maybe I just don’t know the ins and outs of the quartz yet but the IR has its place for now. I do plan however to eventually replace it with another quartz as the times I prefer the IR over a quartz are far between. It will hang around but the quartz flashes will be the first ones to be used. Just roll the second one out of the way when not needed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SteveS]

We have a Sportsman 8/10 and use a Red Chili D for our main flash and a standard Red Chili for a second. I would say it's a must to have 2 flash cure units.

[whitewater]

Does anyone here use the Kool Mist?

[SteveS]

No Kool-Mist here. I haven't seen a lot of feedback on it in the forums. I think I heard second hand that it was a mess and a bit cumbersome.

[kirkwad]

Might help speed up a little bit, but I think you'll still have to run the press a little slower because there isn't much cool down time. I feel your pain though. I revolve jobs often on a 6/8 press. 3-4 times on some orders because of the large spot color areas. I got a quote on the newer Diamondback E 8 color. Honestly not too bad so I might take the jump this year.

I've got a 7/8 with two flashes. I had one for awhile but then went to 2 with a temp sensor. I wouldn't go back to one and it's not overkill. I do need to run it slower sometimes to let items cool down and find it is a little quicker than cycle. If I'm doing the run by myself I'll do it in cycle for cool down then go to the end of the dryer, stack, press finishes the run, repeat. If it's me and my employee we'll do it in one rotation if the print allows.

I'm also interested in RIO on larger spot color jobs. I use the PC system and have had trouble with larger spot areas and Opacity. I've been thinking of going to RIO to help with that, but not sold on it yet.

We've been using RIO for a while now & are happy with it. The RIO holds up well with doing wet-on-wet printing too.

RIO being low-cure inks.... Lower Cure has shown faster flash times for us. Especially if you have the temp sensors in your flashes you can get it dialed in pretty well for hitting after a flash. You would just need to use a Low-Cure White as well for underbases. We've switched almost everything over to Low-Cure inks & it's going great. Seems like more ink companies are moving towards offering low-cure lines.

[rusty]

Might help speed up a little bit, but I think you'll still have to run the press a little slower because there isn't much cool down time. I feel your pain though. I revolve jobs often on a 6/8 press. 3-4 times on some orders because of the large spot color areas. I got a quote on the newer Diamondback E 8 color. Honestly not too bad so I might take the jump this year.

I've got a 7/8 with two flashes. I had one for awhile but then went to 2 with a temp sensor. I wouldn't go back to one and it's not overkill. I do need to run it slower sometimes to let items cool down and find it is a little quicker than cycle. If I'm doing the run by myself I'll do it in cycle for cool down then go to the end of the dryer, stack, press finishes the run, repeat. If it's me and my employee we'll do it in one rotation if the print allows.

I'm also interested in RIO on larger spot color jobs. I use the PC system and have had trouble with larger spot areas and Opacity. I've been thinking of going to RIO to help with that, but not sold on it yet.

We've been using RIO for a while now & are happy with it. The RIO holds up well with doing wet-on-wet printing too.

RIO being low-cure inks.... Lower Cure has shown faster flash times for us. Especially if you have the temp sensors in your flashes you can get it dialed in pretty well for hitting after a flash. You would just need to use a Low-Cure White as well for underbases. We've switched almost everything over to Low-Cure inks & it's going great. Seems like more ink companies are moving towards offering low-cure lines.

What low cure white are you using/recommend?

[kirkwad]

We use One Stroke Hybrid FF Low-Cure White for Cotton up to Tri-Blends, & One Stroke ELT-X White for Poly.

We have also used International Coatings Cool White (Cotton to Tri's) & their 741 Poly White with great results. These ICC inks are the more "affordable" options.