IC ink users?

[tpitman]

Looking for pros and cons, and recommendations from anyone using International Coatings inks. The vendor I use for Matsui also carries IC inks, and I'm looking to get some Pantone matches for simulated process, and they'll do quarts, and deliver 'em on Thursdays for $7. I'm primarily Union Mixopake and Ultrasoft, plus a few QCM, but the last batch of QCM 158 white, which was my standard, came in so thick it's like pushing taffy through the screen, so I'm a bit spooked, especially after reading similar responses from others. That, plus the nearest QCM distributor is Georgia, so it's a few days out or heavy on the shipping  The relative convenience of a fairly local vendor that doesn't require a minimum of a gallon for a special mix is also appealing, and in a pinch, I can drive up there to get it.
Thanks for any advice.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

Tom,

I've bought very few buckets of IC stuff, mostly specialty inks, like granite base or stretch additive.  But I can tell you this, I've seen sooooo much variation in the consistency of plastisol whites, I've about given up.

A while back my main vendor got me hooked on Wilflex Bright Tiger, it printed pretty nice. Then one day BAM! I got into a bucket with the same consistency you're referring to.

Send it back.

"Nice try, but my shops aren't gonna print this crap" should be the first words out of your vendor's mouth when he calls the warehouse. My 2 cents. If you "fix" it yourself so it'll print, you just reinforce their sloppy formulating. I've been told the "margin" for the ink biz is pretty substantial. They at least owe us our moneys worth. I'll allow for the normal thickening plastisol does on the shelf, but that's not what we're talking about here.

I doubt the IC is gonna be any worse for you.

[Nation03]

Agree on the white consistency. I've had some IC white print awesome, and others that were terrible and nearly impossible to clear the screen without modification. IC colors have been consistent though. They're pretty nice, but I still prefer ultrasoft for my colors. I'm getting a pantone kit soon, probably going to go with the QMX kit.

[ScreenFoo]

711 white has been pretty inconsistent in my opinion, but assuming you don't mind stirring reducer in, it's good stuff--highly pigmented, flashes fast with very little tack, and VERY low bleed.  Even if I find a better, more consistent white for the majority of shirt jobs, we'll be keeping some around for trouble garments, bags, and other craziness.  Their 700 series colors are very reasonably priced, and use good pigments.  Dallas red, royal, and 768 navy are essentials at the shop. I don't know that any will be a good replacement for their mixopake equivalents--we still use the mixopake for PFP jobs, but if you do a lot of underbase work, the color is great, for the money.

I'd agree though, although Union costs a bit more, it is better overall, and still reasonably priced.  We definitely carry more Union than IC or Wilflex.  We may be a Union shop (ha) if IC climbs to their level--it has been going up in price faster than Union....