Question about printing on automatics.

[stitches4815]

We recently purchased a used auto.  It is an older M&R but the thing works great.  I know there is a learning curve when it comes to using one of these and I just had a bump this past weekend.  Up until now I have been fortunate to print on light shirts.  I was trying to print white on black and have had miserable results.  I am using Union ink Diamond, static frames, mesh counts of 110 & 155.  The problem that I am having is it looks like the ink isn't clearing the screens.  I have a very rough print.  I have made adjustments with speed, squeegee angle, etc.  I mixed the ink really well so it was creamy.  I am clueless as how to fix this.  Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks

[Printficient]

What print order?  What squeegee? Is press plumb and level? How are you adjusting pressure? What pressure are you at? Are your screens properly prepared?

[jvanick]

how did the print look BEFORE you flashed it?  That's where you need a really good screen clear...

how's the tension on your screens?

all the other questions that Sonny asked apply as well.

it took us a long time to get to the point where we can print with minimal (30psi) pressure on a white screen and get excellent results...  one of the toughest lessons for us was that we needed to learn to flood harder than we thought...

[Ross_S]

I remember Diamond White being a pain to print years ago because of how thick it was.  Do you have a smoothing screen?  If not go get a coated screen and expose it.  Tape some teflon to the back put it after the flash and then just add some clear base in it for the squeegee.  You can use it as a smoother which will help you.

[Gilligan]

I'd recommend trying some different inks.

Call Robert at One Stroke and get some No. 27?  Tell him it's what we use at Acadiana T-Shirts use, he'll hook you up.

My guy is in love with it right now and it's not that expensive.

We built a warming tank for our inks... Aquarium heater in some water and the buckets go in there.

[jsheridan]

It's the ink

[Screen Dan]

My first thought was definitely the ink.  Second would be squeegee angle...and durometer, less so. a 70/90/70 kicked all the way out will be effectively softer (due to deflection) than a straight 60 standing straight up.

But, yeah.  Sounds like the ink. If you aren't getting the ink to cleanly clear the stencil and leave a smooth base (one stroke, two strokes, whatever) before flashing there isn't much you can do to really fix it once it's flashed, only minimize the pits by smoothing.

[ebscreen]

Union Diamond White has the distinction of being the worst white I've ever even seen.
Granted this was years ago, and the formulation may have changed, but that stuff was like hardened
plaster.

[GraphicDisorder]

Id echo the Union White being not good. Could be part of your problem.

We like Wilflex Quick White still. Tried several and still keep going back to it.

[ebscreen]

The specific is the Diamond white.

Union makes several other good whites.

[GraphicDisorder]

The specific is the Diamond white.

Union makes several other good whites.

Yes I am speaking of that one.

[Printficient]

I would hesitate to blame the ink until I eliminated all other possibilities.  Any ink can be made to print easily and conversely difficultly.  If another ink should work with your set parameters then I would say that that ink is more forgiving.  While working as a supplier I cannot think of one time that the product was 100% at fault.  There was always a circumstance that contributed to the failure.  Learn what parameters to look for and eliminate them individually.  The printers that learned to print 20+ years ago know the parameters and can trouble shoot most problems.  There was no easily accessible internet and most supplier reps knew little of actual printing.  There were of course exceptions.  George LePage Carl Busey, Kevin Davies, Joe Clarke, etc.  You learned quickly what could go wrong as it went wrong daily.  So I would encourage you to find the real issue or issues so that when it happens the next time with another ink (and it will) you can adjust accordingly.

[3Deep]

Last time we used diamond white from union it sucked, it was very stiff and had a bad smell, not a bad print if you could get it to print...I think I still might have a half gal or qt somewhere.

[bimmridder]

I can't believe I'm saying this, and in public, but I agree with a lot of what Mr. McDonald is saying. I think there are a number of things contributing, and any single one may improve the print, but I doubt that is the end of it. I certainly wouldn't change multiple things at one time, but pick away at potential problems, document the findings, and move to the next variable. Just some random silly thought from an old timer.

[Printficient]

I can't believe I'm saying this, and in public, but I agree with a lot of what Mr. McDonald is saying. I think there are a number of things contributing, and any single one may improve the print, but I doubt that is the end of it. I certainly wouldn't change multiple things at one time, but pick away at potential problems, document the findings, and move to the next variable. Just some random silly thought from an old timer.

Mr McDonald is my dad.  I am Humbly Yours "Master Printer" Sonny McDonald.