Ink Mixing system??? Wilflex or Rutland???

[MattWSS]

OK So I'm looking at getting an Ink Mixing system.

I'm only looking at Wilflex and Rutland.

Price wise they seem to be about the same price give or take in different areas.

I know they are both good quality ink systems.

We print our own designs (no outside work) and I'm using both kinds of ink right now. 

We have new to fairly new M&R equipment Sprint 3000s, Radicures, Sportsmans, and Diamond-Backs.

So my question is to you guys what Ink Mixing System do you think I should go with? 

What do you guys run? and why did you go with them?

I know I can't go wrong with either system bc they are both really good inks. Thats what is making this a hard decision. 

So what Ink Mixing System do you guys think I should go with? any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[dirkdiggler]

we use the wilflex equalizers, easy to mix and if someone accidently uses straight pigment, it will still cure, just cost you a fortune.

[jsheridan]

I would base my decision on what supplier could get me what I needed with the least hassle in doing so.

[Screened Gear]

I use an union mixing system. Works fine for what I need. I don't mix many custom colors so it works fine. It is also the cheapest of the mixing systems to get started with. If your just using it to mix a pantone color here and there it will be fine. If your looking for a system that you use for all your inks look at wilfex or Rutland.

[LuckyFlyinROUSH]

Would like to see pics of your setup!

We use Rutland C3 Mixing system. Simple to use and understand. Ink comes out to be around $70 a gallon. Has online mixing software. Punch in the PMS color out comes how to mix it. Come out pretty damn close....EVERY time.

Pigments per gallon are around $250

Not terribly expensive.

[Jwcontractscreen]

I use wilflex PC and my inks are spot on with many bases to choose from. Regular mixing base and pigments average about $50-55 per gallon mixed. We go thru about 20 gallons per month now, 30 in a busy month. All our wilflex is delivered same day if ordered by 9am. That's a big plus for me.

[Ross_S]

I switched from Rutland to wilflex so I'd recommend a wilflex system.  However, if you choose Rutland I probably have the majority of the M3 inks here I'd like to sell.  If interested shoot me an e-mail RossS@rsimprints.com

[jvanick]

we are Wilflex PC here now... used to be on their Epix MX (finished ink) system, but since we've been doing a lot of performance inks lately, it's really nice to be able to make our own batches of performance colors...

nice thing is that Wilflex gives you a 'range' of base... in the mixing system, there's a recommended level, a min level, and a max level, so we know that we likely won't ever have a pigment-overload/curing issue.

[GraphicDisorder]

Those using mixing systems are you still keeping a gallons of your typical inks?  Like we print a ton of the same red for example.

[jvanick]

it depends on the cost... but yes for the majority just to save on the PITA factor of mixing ink...

[GraphicDisorder]

it depends on the cost... but yes for the majority just to save on the PITA factor of mixing ink...

Ya thats what I was thinking is that we'd still keep a few colors that we use over and over and over again, mixing that would be counter productive IMO.

[MattWSS]

I had a good sized (22X15) ink room built to make sure I had everything I needed for this Mixing setup. Its just hard for me to decide bc they both have their benefits.

Just to give you a little idea how we print... We want a heavy White base. We do allot of bright and pastel colors (ink and shirts). So in order for us to achieve the look we want we lay down the white pretty heavy. I want a very opaque ink but that isn't to thick. We use a underbase white most of the time. So I need a white thats going to cover good but run at a good speed. (We use the Wilfex Sprint white right now)
 
We have our set PMS colors that we use to print with. We are not a shop that will be mixing a different color every other day.

I guess what I'm asking you guys that have a Mixing system already is how easy and straightforward are they. I know its all just a recipe. But which setup is the easiest to mix? (If there is any differences)

Thanks for the info...

[jvanick]

Matt: It really depends what you're looking to do...

are you looking to match colors for performance ink?
are you looking to overload pigments occasionally?

or are you just looking to do a plastisol match every once in a while, and standard ink is ok...

in the Wilflex line, easiest you can get is the Epic "MX" Finished ink system...  the inks are all 'finished' which means that you don't add base... a .1 gram scale is probably good enough to hit any color you want, and you don't have to be super careful.

next up is their Equalizer line... the pigments have a bit of base in them and pretty much when you mix them you come up with the maximum recommended pigment load, and then you add base on top of them... no curing issues if somebody screws up and forgets to add base or not enough base.  More expensive than MX and PC.  supposedly you can mix performance colors too, however, I still feel the PC is the way to go for performance...  you'll likely want a .01 gram capable scale, more picky than MX for mixing, less picky than PC.

'hardest' is  the Epic PC line.. it consists of pigment concentrates and base... while the PC's cost more than the other options, it ends up being cheaper in the long run because you use so little pigment vs base.... I can mix performance base, top score base, etc, as well as standard colors, I can choose how much base I want (over a specified minimum).  You need a SUPER accurate scale, and good ink room technique so you are adding EXACTLY the amount of pigment so the colors stay consistant..   .1 extra PC can swing a color.  However, you can do tons of different stuff with this system.. tinting glitters and shimmers, hd printing, etc.

also, with the PC system, you get the formulas to make all the different 'stock' inks that wilflex sells, so if you run out of say Burnt Orange, you can mix it in house.

[screenprintguy]

We've been using the Wilflex Epic MX mixing system now for a few years and it's been great. Most mixes go right to print wet on wet with no modification needed. Every so often like a florescent mix we will add 2% reducer or flow additive to make the wet on wet easier. The system hits pantones dead on, just weigh properly and anyone can use it. We print on 100% poly with it all the time under basing with either Rutland Super poly, or ONE Stroke's versamax white. Never an issue.

[willy35]

I could be off topic, but I uses wilflex PC for 6 years, now I switched to Union Mixopake which I prefer far most for its greater opacity.

I found easier to mix RFU ink than PC. PC is good if you make lot of special effect.