screen printing, what's best? plasticol or waterbased?

[John G]

Waterbased is used in colleges/schools etc as its zero to low added chemicals, and washing the screen is easier using just water. I hated the stuff and skipped around 50L when I moved premises a few years back. Totally pointless on long runs, you spend more time picking crap out of the ink, changing the ink or cleaning blockages than printing.

[COMA]

Pastisol and waterbased colors have their own pros and cons:


Plastisol only polymerized in the oven so you can just leave the ink on the frame and does not dry. that's leave you more time to do whatever you need to do, however you need an oven or a heat gun.
Waterbased colors have a "softer touch", but it may easily look chalky due to the fact that they are less opaque than plastisol and need more passes with squeege on the frame. they dries with just the air so it is a pain to print!!

[GoldRapt]

I only just saw this post after it was resurrected by Coma (thanks for that)
I just bought a one colour machine to do white bases on dark t-shirt for airbrush work.
Airbrush paint is water based so I have been looking around for a complimentary water based ink which I believe I have found
It is called Permaset
http://www.permaset.com.au/

I don't know if anyone has used this ink but allegedly it is top notch.
I also didn't know one could buy a 2 colour press, I bought a one colour, based on need and funds, but if the 2 colour was affordable I might have been tempted

[Paul]

Make one youself
I build for color one

[COMA]

i bought a 4to1 press from china for less than 400€ including VAT and customs. I'm very happy with it, althought it has no microregistration. It's a very solid press and stand in place when you put down the frame.

[GoldRapt]

I would like to see pictures of your self build please Paul, did you buy plans or something?
Coma, also, any pictures?

[Paul]

www.dyesubforum.co.uk/vbforum/showthrea ... ht=project

[gavtheoldskater]

I don't know if anyone has used this ink but allegedly it is top notch.

yes, i have just started using permaset inks both the aqua (fabric) and permaprint (paper/board ink).

both inks are really good, the fabric prints have a really nice soft feel. i've even printed onto lycra and it stretches to oblivion with no cracking. the opaque flavour, supercover, definitely works on darks but its really thick. took me a few goes to get used to. on one run i thinned it a little and it was much better.

the permaprint also is really versatile, i've printed onto plastic bags and even stickers for outdoor use with no issues.

the only negatives, firstly price.. it is expensive but the last supplier i used did own brand inks that were cheap but so inconsistent it was incredible. secondly it dries on the screen faster than anything i've ever used. admittedly there may be a solution and i've yet to call the supplier steve-wood.co.uk who are super helpful, but i've been using water-based inks for over a year and nothing has ever dried out quicker than this stuff.

for what its worth i've also been using some apollo neptune wa ink recently, it also works well but is only suited to cottons and needs to be heat cured. does'nt dry on the screen anywhere near as much as the permaset but the colours are not as strong nor as opaque. quite nice if you want an ever so slightly washed out retro feel type look from the outside though.

[GoldRapt]

Thanks, I have added to that very interesting thread.

[GoldRapt]

yes, i have just started using permaset inks both the aqua (fabric) and permaprint (paper/board ink).

both inks are really good, the fabric prints have a really nice soft feel. i've even printed onto lycra and it stretches to oblivion with no cracking. the opaque flavour, supercover, definitely works on darks but its really thick. took me a few goes to get used to. on one run i thinned it a little and it was much better.

the permaprint also is really versatile, i've printed onto plastic bags and even stickers for outdoor use with no issues.

the only negatives, firstly price.. it is expensive but the last supplier i used did own brand inks that were cheap but so inconsistent it was incredible. secondly it dries on the screen faster than anything i've ever used. admittedly there may be a solution and i've yet to call the supplier steve-wood.co.uk who are super helpful, but i've been using water-based inks for over a year and nothing has ever dried out quicker than this stuff.

for what its worth i've also been using some apollo neptune wa ink recently, it also works well but is only suited to cottons and needs to be heat cured. does'nt dry on the screen anywhere near as much as the permaset but the colours are not as strong nor as opaque. quite nice if you want an ever so slightly washed out retro feel type look from the outside though.

Thanks for the share, I would have thought permaset would have had some sort of reducer to combat the fast drying.
How expensive is expensice? I await the local rep from west designs to put the catalogue through my letter box


Just rang the guy at the link you gave, steve seemed a very helpful guy to deal with.
It would appear that drying time can be increased by adding a retarder, or spraying atomised water over the flooded screen after a pass.
He's sending me a price list which should be interesting to read.