Author Topic: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts  (Read 5248 times)

Offline sqslabs

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Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« on: January 11, 2017, 12:51:59 PM »
So we recently got a Sprint 3000 dryer and am extremely happy with it. But we have run into one issue that I'm having trouble solving. 

When running thinner blended fashion type blanks or performance wear, we're seeing a dryer belt pattern on the rear of the garment when it exits the dryer. I've tried everything from running a lower temp with slower belt speed to a higher temp with faster belt speed, and everything in between.  Nothing really makes a difference.

Only thing I can guess is that the dryer has such powerful airflow that its actually pushing the garment into the belt and basically "ironing" the pattern into it. I have no doubts that the pattern would be gone following a wash (haven't tested yet), but its still a weird look that doesn't necessarily look good. We've had two gas dryers previously, but neither were as powerful as the 3000, so I was wondering if anyone else has run into this issue and how to prevent it if possible.

Thank youuuu.
Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL


Offline Frog

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2017, 01:10:55 PM »
Does it remain?
I could see something like the typical temporary darkening of reds when hot, but doing so in the "waffle" pattern where the belt fabric acts as a mask.
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Offline sqslabs

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2017, 01:51:48 PM »
Does it remain?
I could see something like the typical temporary darkening of reds when hot, but doing so in the "waffle" pattern where the belt fabric acts as a mask.

I just ran a test and will let you know in a bit if we notice any difference. To clarify, there are no marks in the print, but on the garment itself.
Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Offline Inkworks

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2017, 02:01:51 PM »
Sometimes it's just the belt acting as a heat-sink and the marks go away after the shirt has cooled.
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Offline sqslabs

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2017, 02:03:28 PM »
Photo attached of a white performance shirt we just ran through at 320 for 30 seconds.  I'm not sure we'd even get a cure at those specs but just wanted to see if the lower temp and higher speed would make any difference.
Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Offline sqslabs

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2017, 02:04:11 PM »
Sometimes it's just the belt acting as a heat-sink and the marks go away after the shirt has cooled.

Thanks, will check in an hour or so and see if there's any improvement.  I hope that's the case.
Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Offline ebscreen

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2017, 02:18:09 PM »
I wonder if new belts outgas or something. We installed a new one over the summer but I didn't notice anything like that happening.

Do the 3000's allow you to adjust the main blower speed?

Offline sqslabs

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2017, 02:33:33 PM »
I wonder if new belts outgas or something. We installed a new one over the summer but I didn't notice anything like that happening.

Do the 3000's allow you to adjust the main blower speed?

No, the only adjustment is for the outfeed hood blower. 

Would a dryer with a smaller chamber have more airflow than one with a larger chamber?  I ask because we have the minimum (8 ft).
Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Offline ebscreen

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2017, 04:19:11 PM »

No, the only adjustment is for the outfeed hood blower. 

Would a dryer with a smaller chamber have more airflow than one with a larger chamber?  I ask because we have the minimum (8 ft).

I would assume that unless the size/speed of the blower is changed then yes you will have more flow than a larger chamber.

I believe I saw on our 2000 there's an electrical adjustment for the main blower, trimpot kind of thing so I didn't mess with it.

Offline GraphicDisorder

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2017, 04:43:10 PM »
Haven't seen that on our 3000, but we dont print a ton of that stuff either.
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Offline 244

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2017, 04:59:40 PM »
Photo attached of a white performance shirt we just ran through at 320 for 30 seconds.  I'm not sure we'd even get a cure at those specs but just wanted to see if the lower temp and higher speed would make any difference.
Lower the temp and measure the garment temperature. looks like its being overheated.
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Offline RICK STEFANICK

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #11 on: January 12, 2017, 11:40:44 AM »
I think its the shirt quality
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Offline sqslabs

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #12 on: January 12, 2017, 11:52:56 AM »
Lower the temp and measure the garment temperature. looks like its being overheated.

Thanks Rich, will give it a shot.  This run was at 320 degrees for 30 seconds.

I think its the shirt quality

If it were just this shirt I'd agree, but we've had this happen on just about every thin fashion blend or performance shirt that we've run through the dryer.  Next Level, Canvas, Denali, etc.  We've also run all of these same shirts through our previous dryers at high temps without issue.
Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Offline Colin

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #13 on: January 12, 2017, 12:36:05 PM »
Does it go away when washed?

Have you looped the fabric to see if there is any flattening of the fibers/shine to the fibers?
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Offline sqslabs

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Re: Dryer belt marks on thin or blended shirts
« Reply #14 on: January 12, 2017, 01:01:48 PM »
Does it go away when washed?

Have you looped the fabric to see if there is any flattening of the fibers/shine to the fibers?

I plan on washing one over the weekend to find out.  Will get the test shirt under a loupe today and try to get a photo.

Brett
Squeegee Science
Fort Lauderdale, FL