| SkullandBonesSkateboards.com Forum Index » SCREEN PRINTING » HELP, Using a flash unit to cure shirts? |
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| Twisted |
 Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:14 am |
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Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 50
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Need some advice on how i should go about using a flash unit to cure my shirts. I have been using a heat gun for a while now and that has worked ok but my wrist is tired from waving that thing around so i am finally buying a flash unit. Now I print my own designs and sell at a local mall so I usually print about 10 of each of my designs at a time (about 10 designs total). Because I live In an ampartment and work from an apartment I have little space and right now my press Is set up In my bedroom which is carpeted so I don't want to have the flash rolling around on carpet so I plan on final curing In my small kitchen with the flash unit because the kitchen has tiled floor. As for actually flashing the shirts on the press i will still use my heat gun. My question is should I print all my shirts then bring them over to the kitchen to final cure or walk them over as I print them 1 by 1? Also I have a Laser temp gage so i can see when the ink reaches 325 or so but being that the flash sits still over the shirt Instead of my waving a heat gun over it will those cause scorching? If anyone has used this method for curing In the past please give me some advice on how to go about this the right way. When i finally move Into my own house (2 years or so) I will then pick up a conveyer dryer but right now I definately have no room for that. Sorry for the dumb questions.  |
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| Fool's Gold |
| Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:14 am |
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Joined: 10 Mar 2005
Posts: 284
Location: Ontario Canada
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Best bet is to flash the disign when it's on the press, then take em somewhere else to cure them. Get a piece of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) to use a a curing platen (1" is good cause it'll be hard to warp) and cure them one by one.
One thing to keep in mind is what type of flash you are getting, cheap ones hav a stove element in them, more xpensive versions have a flat infared heating panel. The element style will give you hot and cold spots, so raise the flash enough that those spots are eliminated and you get even heat, othewise you will have cured ink and uncured ink right next to each other and that will transfer if you stack the shirts pre curing. The flat IR panels will let you keep the flash closer and get a faster cure. Make sure your flash totally covers you platen, otherwise you will need to move it around a bit to get an even cure. |
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IRONCLAD GRAPHICS: Custom screen printed posters, apparel and stickers. |
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| zachariahx |
| Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:29 am |
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Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 4
Location: philippines
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| can anybody pls. show me what a heat gun looks like, & what it is for!. i want to look for it here in cebu. thanks |
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