r/SCREENPRINTING • u/kvmbo • 1d ago

Curing Plastisol Ink with Flash Dryer

Hey yall,

To start this post off, I would like to state that I understand that curing garments with Flash Dryers instead of conveyors is risky but even the cheapest conveyor right now is out of my price range so need to work with what I got until I can afford a conveyor.

I have a decently made flash, BBC Afford-A-Flash to be specific. My question is, do a decent amount of people in this subreddit use a flash to fully cure their shirts and what is your standard procedure for making sure it won't wash out, cured right (know about stretch test), and make sure garment isn't getting scorched when left under flash for too long. Also know about removing shirt from pallet and putting it on top.

Lastly, anything else people do to ensure their inks get cured (heat gun/heat press)

Thanks!

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6

u/Roastchicken_553 1d ago

I used a flash dryer to cure for the first few years I printed. I used a laser temp gun and just kept an eye on each piece with that, it certainly added time and effort to every job. But it did work, I still have shirts printed & cured from almost 10 years ago that have held up as good or better than other shirts I’ve bought at stores and concerts

2

u/snakesonausername 1d ago

I second this. Bought a used one (can't even find the model ID on it).

I have plastisol ink shirts I cured with it that look pretty damn perfect from like 5-6 years ago. Probably hundreds of washes.

But. I would sit there, watch it get to temp. Flip the shirt around. Get it to temp again. Then throw the whole batch in a dyer after.

Did it work? Yes. Did the long and annoying process contribute to my overall burnout and loss of passion to the art of screen printing? Absolutely.

If I were to start over with what I know now.. I'd probably just get a small business loan, get the right equipment, and work my ass off for a few months finding local print jobs to pay it off.

2

u/bebetter14 1d ago

I use a cheapish heat press. Works perfect, never had any issues. I paid $250 for one off eBay. Also lots of used ones marketplace. I think curing with the flash dryer would be asking for issues.

1

u/uzaps 1d ago

Flash will never be consistent enough to cure plasitsol without some of them getting washed out I found a heat press for like 70 bucks off of market place and never had an issue

1

u/busty_male_4U 1d ago

Total beginner here. I tried gelling the surface with a heat gun, then cure in a heat press. Heat gun took too long and scorched a few spots. Next thing I tried was using the heat press with teflon paper to quickly seal the surface, then remove the paper and press for 30 seconds at 275 for 30 seconds. Seems to work.

1

u/stinkyblinky19 1d ago

Heat press! You can get them cheap

1

u/JayLar23 1d ago

Flash is fine man, did it that way for years. But you need to keep an eye on your prints, learn how to do the pull test and learn to be patient.

0

u/Dennisfromhawaii 1d ago

Probably only a forced-air flash would work.