Inks for decals

[Rockers]

I could really do with some recommendations for a good ink for screen printing decals? Am I`m on the right path with something from Nazdar?
Are their any other inks suppliers who do vinyl sticker inks?

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

If you are trying to develop a market for printing decals, it is much different than just a few here and there. I don't know your situation. It required a different approach in my thinking.

In a previous lifetime,    we used to print flat stock of all kinds with air dry inks and always used Nazdar but you'll have to have places for the decals or signs to dry. Drying racks take up space and are relatively expensive. Their 9700 series inks were our "go to" inks for decals, but I know they can be used for enameled signage. We just didn't. We used an enamel series for those. I forget the number, (Nazdar 58000 maybe??) but its been many years ago and there may well be new inks that are improved or are more "green" if that matters in your situation. I recall the 9700 series Nazdar to be fairly economical since you use less ink than you might imagine.

If you think you may wind up doing LOTS of decals, corrugated plastic signs etc, I would look into a UV curing system. I can't find googling just now, but a UV light bar over your existing tunnel drier belt (if you have one) would be most excellent. I saw something like that (and assumed that is what it was) but can't remember where. Maybe it wasn't what I thought it was. Still, I know a local printer in town, that has switched over to UV from many MANY years of printing air dry inks and says he would NEVER look back....

I know you are very "handy" and some your clever approach will allow you to work with what you have available.

Peter Walsh of Nazdar might weigh in if he sees this thread. THAT would be a response to pay very close attention to.

[ericheartsu]

I could really do with some recommendations for a good ink for screen printing decals? Am I`m on the right path with something from Nazdar?
Are their any other inks suppliers who do vinyl sticker inks?

There are tons. Sericol was one that we used alot. I'll take a look and see if i can remember the other brands as well.

[Doug B]

  When getting into stickers, bear in mind that the next thing to follow will be die cutting.
You can count on it.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

  When getting into stickers, bear in mind that the next thing to follow will be die cutting.
You can count on it.

Hadn't thought of that, but you're right. We printed all our decals in the dark ages with square corners.    I. FEEL. OLD.

I wonder if you could screenprint the "targets" good enough a cheap plotter can read. We've got a Roland GX-24. Hmmmm....

[Sbrem]

You really won't go wrong with NazDar, don't spend too much time looking for inks. Generally a good multi-purpose will do the trick, vinyl specific inks are fairly strong odor-wise. We ran lots of this stuff years ago, but finally gave it up. Maybe farm it out?

Steve

[Frog]

  When getting into stickers, bear in mind that the next thing to follow will be die cutting.
You can count on it.

Another reason that digital print and cut plotters must be making huge cuts into this part of the industry.

[ericheartsu]

  When getting into stickers, bear in mind that the next thing to follow will be die cutting.
You can count on it.

100% true. That's why we gave up screen printing them, and bought a roland versacamm. It does wonders.
You can run screen printed stickers through a plotter. I know people that do it. It seems like so much work after having the Roland for a little bit though.

When we were printing them, we were using nazdar 3600 (the UV series), Dubuit (Canadian company), Sericol, and there is one more company i'm trying to remember. We used the UV series with each company, as we had a UV dryer, but they all make a solvent ink that will work as well.

LOTS OF VENTILATION.

[Rockers]

  When getting into stickers, bear in mind that the next thing to follow will be die cutting.
You can count on it.

We have a dye and contour cutter in the shop.
The screen printed decals will be something I would like to do for fun for myself, for customers we are set up digitally.

[Frog]

The screen printed decals will be something I would like to do for fun for myself, for customers we are set up digitally.

Ah, you just shook loose a memory from early '70's
Back in the day (when I was an eccentric hippy artist and art student) "decals" were what are called water slide decals now.
I screened something like enamel directly onto a water release paper. I'm figuring that the paper also deposited an adhesive on the back of the dried ink.
I even flocked some of them.

How are water slide decals made now? (if they even are)

[ebscreen]

Pretty sure water slide decals are still made the same way. I remember finding some web page
about a guy that printed them for custom toy models and whatnot. They did not come cheap to say the least.

[pwalsh]

I could really do with some recommendations for a good ink for screen printing decals? Am I`m on the right path with something from Nazdar?
Are their any other inks suppliers who do vinyl sticker inks?

Question:  Does Nazdar have an ink for printing onto vinyl decals?  Answer:  Yes, and Hell Yes! (But, wait there’s a catch)  Before making a recommendation we need to know more about your processing capabilities and the end use application.. 

For example; Are you looking for a Solvent Air Dry ink system or a UV curable type ink, and what are the outdoor durability requirements 1 year, 3 year or 5+ years? 

These questions will impact the choice of the correct ink system for the application.  Please feel free to email InkAnswers@nazdar.com for specific recommendations from experts who know a lot more about ink recommendations for printing vinyl decals than me.  Print On !  

[Rockers]

I could really do with some recommendations for a good ink for screen printing decals? Am I`m on the right path with something from Nazdar?
Are their any other inks suppliers who do vinyl sticker inks?

Question:  Does Nazdar have an ink for printing onto vinyl decals?  Answer:  Yes, and Hell Yes! (But, wait there’s a catch)  Before making a recommendation we need to know more about your processing capabilities and the end use application.. 

For example; Are you looking for a Solvent Air Dry ink system or a UV curable type ink, and what are the outdoor durability requirements 1 year, 3 year or 5+ years? 

These questions will impact the choice of the correct ink system for the application.  Please feel free to email InkAnswers@nazdar.com for specific recommendations from experts who know a lot more about ink recommendations for printing vinyl decals than me.  Print On ! 

Solvent Air Dry Inks for sure.  i think durability does not need to exceed 3 years. Our Nazdar distributer here in Japan recommends the GV ink series. Any thoughts on that?  As mentioned this is just a fun project, so many friends of mine urged me to make them screen printed stickers. This service will for sure not end up on the shop menu;)

[pwalsh]

I could really do with some recommendations for a good ink for screen printing decals? Am I`m on the right path with something from Nazdar?
Are their any other inks suppliers who do vinyl sticker inks?

Question:  Does Nazdar have an ink for printing onto vinyl decals?  Answer:  Yes, and Hell Yes! (But, wait there’s a catch)  Before making a recommendation we need to know more about your processing capabilities and the end use application.. 

For example; Are you looking for a Solvent Air Dry ink system or a UV curable type ink, and what are the outdoor durability requirements 1 year, 3 year or 5+ years? 

These questions will impact the choice of the correct ink system for the application.  Please feel free to email InkAnswers@nazdar.com for specific recommendations from experts who know a lot more about ink recommendations for printing vinyl decals than me.  Print On ! 

Solvent Air Dry Inks for sure.  i think durability does not need to exceed 3 years. Our Nazdar distributer here in Japan recommends the GV ink series. Any thoughts on that?  As mentioned this is just a fun project, so many friends of mine urged me to make them screen printed stickers. This service will for sure not end up on the shop menu;)

The Nazdar GV (Gloss Vinyl) Series is a good choice.