WoW ink recomondations?

[ericheartsu]

I'm about to print a 7 color WoW print, and i'm just wondering what everyone's opinion is!

Anyone have a brand that they find works particularly well?

I've used the QCM ink before and that was alright, just looking to see if there is something else i should try!

[Homer]

we have found it's not so much the ink, but more so the screens. nice tight rollers are where it's at.

[Colin]

The ink has to be formulated for wet on wet printing.

The XOLB inks from QCM are not formulated for wet on wet printing.  The WOW series is.  Each ink company has a series that is NOT designed for much wet on wet printing.

Make sure what you are using is formulated for wet on wet printing.

And as Homer said, nice tight screens and higher mesh counts make it a lot easier to succeed.

[Prosperi-Tees]

I have been happy with qcm WOW series. 156 mesh and higher. Light to dark or small to large print sequence as well helps.

[ScreenFoo]

+1 Homer on good tension on rollers, for sure.  A smooth print side on your stencil will help as well.

[Nation03]

Any insight on how the S-Thread prints wet on wet? I know the tensions aren't are high, but I'm highly considering just using s-thread from now on.

[brandon]

Also depending on the image black does not always have to go last. In certain images (sim process ones for example) black can yield a better print in the middle instead of dead last. Of course it depends on how you sep it though. Colin helped us a few years ago with this issue.

[alan802]

Any insight on how the S-Thread prints wet on wet? I know the tensions aren't are high, but I'm highly considering just using s-thread from now on.

I think you should go higher in mesh count than you usually do if you're going to go with S thread, but I haven't done a whole lot of wow with the S threads.

I like the union ultrasoft and QCM WOW series. I'd add some qcm softee base or wilflex fashion base to whatever you're using.  They are designed for wow but they need just a bit more base, at least the qcm does.  The union is fine as it is.

[screenxpress]

Union Ultrasoft is very nice wow.

[brandon]

Any insight on how the S-Thread prints wet on wet? I know the tensions aren't are high, but I'm highly considering just using s-thread from now on.

I think you should go higher in mesh count than you usually do if you're going to go with S thread, but I haven't done a whole lot of wow with the S threads.

I like the union ultrasoft and QCM WOW series. I'd add some qcm softee base or wilflex fashion base to whatever you're using.  They are designed for wow but they need just a bit more base, at least the qcm does.  The union is fine as it is.

Hey Alan, I would recommend for QCM either their halftone base or their WOW base instead of the softee base. If you can still find the halftone base that is. They say it was the same thing as the WOW base they now offer but I swear it was not. But the WOW base they have does a way better job at it in my opinion than the softee base as that particular item was not meant for wow. It can be used as we have done it in the past but you will get way better results with the wow base. Just my opinion

[ericheartsu]

I typically use the qcm WoW inks. Although i do use XOLB inks, i wont be for this particular print.

I also use super tight newman frames, but was hoping to hear feedback on other inks. but if QCM WoW is the best i'll stick with that!

[Flying Colors]

For us it is not so much the ink. We use a combination of higher mesh and decent tension screens.

The screens do not need to be in the high end of manufacturer recommendations. Just enough so the squeegee pressure does not distort the mesh. So, the S mesh will print fine WOW as long as you are at least in the midpoint of mfg recommended tension.

We used Wilflex GNS, Wlifelx SSV, and other ink and we have had good luck with WOW.

Mark

[Frog]

I think that it needs to pointed out that as far as WOW printing goes,super high tension screens merely reduce the amount of ink offset to each subsequent screen, reducing the muddy blur that, in varying degrees,  eventually occurs where colors meet.
Bottom line, any halfway decent screens, with any halfway decent wow ink is capable of making good WOW prints.

When I worked in a largish shop, we ran wooden frames and Union Ultrasoft inks and won more than one award. Years before special soft bases were available, we cut with Union "Clear for Metallics" .

This is not to, in any way, knock the new technology or the state of the art equipment favored by so many, but just sayin'. WOW is not a big deal as long as a press hold register.
In fact, the  eventual slight spread of the wet offset can actually sometimes help minor defects in the print.

[alan802]

Hey Alan, I would recommend for QCM either their halftone base or their WOW base instead of the softee base. If you can still find the halftone base that is. They say it was the same thing as the WOW base they now offer but I swear it was not. But the WOW base they have does a way better job at it in my opinion than the softee base as that particular item was not meant for wow. It can be used as we have done it in the past but you will get way better results with the wow base. Just my opinion

Damn, I was told by a guy at qcm that the softee was the best thing to use to turn the xolb ink into WOW inks and help any ink to become better at wow printing.  He told me that the WOW series was xolb with softee base.  I remember having a batch of softee base and it was fairly thick, almost like soft hand base and the next gallon I got in was basically like water and wasn't remotely close in consistency and body as the first gallon I got.  I really like the qcm inks but the drastic changes from batch to batch is hard to deal with.

[ScreenFoo]

I really like the qcm inks but the drastic changes from batch to batch is hard to deal with.

I'm all but done with QCM for this exact reason...