Author Topic: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage  (Read 2583 times)

Offline 2020 Print

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Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« on: October 27, 2016, 10:07:58 AM »
Hey Everyone,

Has anyone run into issues with Triblend garments shrinking and the imprint shrinking or skewing? I am typically losing .25-.5" on an imprint.

I tried using a Poly ink so I could turn down the dryer. It helped but didn't completely fix the issue.

Does anyone have any helpful suggestions?


Offline Colin

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2016, 10:16:04 AM »
Is your shirt shrinking on press or in the dryer?
Been in the industry since 1996.  5+ years with QCM Inks.  Been a part of shops of all sizes and abilities both as a printer and as an Artist/separator.  I am now the Ink and Chemical Product Manager at Ryonet.

Offline 2020 Print

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2016, 10:20:06 AM »
Dryer.

Offline Frog

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2016, 10:28:31 AM »
Pre-shrink 'em? Send 'em on an early journey down the belt.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline 2020 Print

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2016, 10:41:07 AM »
I tried that and it still seemed to shrink.

I measured the length and width of the shirt, ran it through the dryer, lost about .25".

Printed the shirt, Ran it through the dryer again to cure the ink, and the imprint still shrank .25".

Offline sqslabs

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2016, 10:44:05 AM »
What type/size of dryer and settings are you using?
Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Offline 2020 Print

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2016, 11:02:11 AM »
Adelco EcoTex Gas Dryer and roughly 5' x 16'

Offline jsheridan

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2016, 11:19:54 AM »
sounds like youre overcuring.

whats your temp and belt speed and do you have a donut probe or good quality heat gun to check your curing temp.
Blacktop Graphics Screenprinting and Consulting Services

Offline 2020 Print

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2016, 11:36:13 AM »
Belt speed is 33 seconds and temp is 280 degrees.

Tried to go lower but the ink wouldn't cure.

The ink were are using is the international coating 7100 Performance Pro.

Offline jsheridan

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2016, 11:57:54 AM »
ok, thats not hot at all

anyone else got anything?
Blacktop Graphics Screenprinting and Consulting Services

Offline Colin

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #10 on: October 27, 2016, 01:13:27 PM »
Redundancy question:  Are you certain the internal temp is whats on your dryers readout?

Brand of tri-blend?

Have you talked with your supplier?

Sounds like a bad batch of garments....... But I know I have not measured the tri-blends we print before and after cure, so....

Been in the industry since 1996.  5+ years with QCM Inks.  Been a part of shops of all sizes and abilities both as a printer and as an Artist/separator.  I am now the Ink and Chemical Product Manager at Ryonet.

Offline 2020 Print

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2016, 02:30:51 PM »
I used a temp gun and it seems to be accurate. I do have the vendor that sold us the dryer coming to check it out next week.

The triblends we use regularly are Next Level, American Apparel and Bella & Canvas.

I have not reach out to the supplier because the issue has been so consistent between the 3 brands listed and their varying styles.

Offline Frog

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #12 on: October 27, 2016, 03:01:12 PM »
If this is consistent, and the run is nothing but tri-blend, I'd compensate in the size of the image in the first place as well as including a disclaimer  stating something like "Tri-Blend has a tendency to shrink, and though all care is given in the design, printing, and curing of garments, some shrinkage of the design may still occur."
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline mimosatexas

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Re: Triblend Shirt and Imprint Shrinkage
« Reply #13 on: October 27, 2016, 04:04:43 PM »
Is 1/4" that big of a deal honestly?  The shirt is going to stretch and skew when you put it on a person no matter what.  No clue about a "fix", but I know if I wash and dry a shirt, or jeans, or any other piece of clothing, it is tighter than at the end of the day after wearing it.  Heat tends to shrink fabric a bit.