Number Printing is Coming Up!

Posted by Ryan Bolin - Outside Sales on 2/11/2015

Spring is right around the corner, and with that comes Numbers Printing season.

Screen Printing numbers for athletic jerseys is one of the most common issues that I see customers facing - how to print numbers with the most efficiency.  Many shops will have screens on hand with numbers already burnt-in, but this method requires you to keep up with these screens for long periods of time.  Some burn screens each time an order comes in.  Athletic printing is the lifeblood of many shops, so an efficient numbering system can significantly impact your profit during this busiest of times.  

Consider a dedicated numbering system.  The Vastex DiGIT is perhaps our most popular one.  Here is a video that helps to introduce the system and demonstrate just how quick and easy it is to number a jersey (as demonstrated at Texsource by Paul with Vastex).

As you can see, this is far superior in almost every way to not having a system such as this.  Another way is with a dedicated Number Stencil pack such as those from Texsource by Prestige.  You can buy individual numbers in sizes form 2" to 12", purchase a complete package with all numbers, and also select block or outline.  This numbering method allows you to direct print numbers on most fabrics without investing inexpensive numbering equipment. These inexpensive stencils adhere to the screen on the printing stroke and are thrown away after printing. The next stencil is then adhered to the screen in the same fashion with no adjustment or clean up of the screen between numbers. Texsource also offers numbering systems from Brown Equipment.  

Lastly, a very efficient but not quite as cost wary method of numbering is by Heat Transfer.  Pre-printing your numbers to transfer paper in a variety of colors will allow you to always have numbers on hand for customers who need a print job done at the last minute.  You can simply pull from your inventory of numbers and press them right onto the garment. There is, of course, some setup time involved in this step, but having numbers on hand, ready to go, can sometimes mean the difference in making a sale or losing a customer.

  Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

LED Exposure Units Updated

Posted by Doug Smith - Outside Sales on 1/29/2015

Is an investment in a new LED exposure unit worth the price?  With new units from Vastex and Workhorse available at Texsource, we can help you answer that question, and any other questions that you may have.  

LED technology is not new, but it is relatively new to the world of screen printing, particularly when used in exposure units.  The new E-2000 LED from Vastex and the recently released Lumitron LED from Workhorse are both excellent quality products that can offer significantly improved exposure times over standard exposure units.  

The Vastex unit in particular has been extensively tested here at Texsource.  Here is a video featuring Paul with Vastex that shows just how fast the unit can expose a screen - this particular video is shown using a screen coated with Ulano Orange emulsion.

As you can see, the exposure time is significantly faster than standard units.  But is it right for your shop?  Certainly the upfront cost  is to be considered.  In the case of the Workhorse Lumitron LED, retail price is around $600 more for a similar sized unit with LED than for one without.  Also, extremely fast exposure times, such as the claimed and tested 6-second exposure time for the Vatex, is accomplished by using specific emulsions - your favorite emulsion may have varying exposure times.  In any case, this is certainly an investment in efficiency and production.  High workflow shops certainly do not want to bottleneck at the exposure unit, same goes for shops who are rapidly increasing their production.  These units can offer significant time savings over standard units.  

Will this become the industry standard in the future?  Most think that it will, although the standard exposure unit isn't going away just yet.  If you have recently purchased a standard-type unit then there is likely very little reason to upgrade until you are having problems.  But if your unit is getting some age of you find your shop is waiting on screens, then this may be a purchase that will move you into the future of exposure technology.

  Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Silicone Inks for Screen Printing

Posted by Harvey Cole - Outside Sales on 1/8/2015

Silicone Screen Printing Ink technology has been around for a while, but only recently have all the bugs and issues been worked out to where it is a viable type for screen printing.

A silicone screen printing ink does, in theory, have several advantages over standard plastisol for screen printing garments.  It is a very durable and stretchable ink, offers great resistance to UV sunlight, will not crack over time when exposed to air, is virtually fireproof and offers low chemical resistance.  But the introduction of the technology was not without its problems.  The ink did not stick to most substrates including cotton and polyester. After printing it is easily peeled away from the surface.  With technology, chemistry, and experimentation and research, manufacturers believe that they have now remedied the majority of the negative aspect and are almost ready to release these types of inks to be used in your shop.  

There are adjustments that may need to be made to your typical workflow, as this type of ink can behave quite differently from your standard plastisol inks.  Typical silicone inks will print best when printed through mesh ranging from 86 to 160 threads per inch.  You may also need to adjust your flash time and curing time / temperatures as silicone inks typically cure at lower temperatures than do standard plastisol inks.  More advantages of silicone inks include

Will not bleed on polyester garments

Unmatched elasticity

Will not dry in the screen

Soft hand

Perfect for athletic uniforms

PVC and Phthalate free

When used under circumstances that warrant in, the use of silicone inks can offer excellent quality and durability of the print job for your customers.  Though currently not available from Texsource at the time of this writing, we will soon be carrying a full line if silicone inks that can be ordered directly from our website. 

  Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Which Screen Printing Startup Package is Right For Me?

Posted by Dwayne Collins - Outside Sales on 12/11/2014

Texsource Screen Printing Supply has some wonderful and affordable turnkey Screen Printing Equipment Packages from a variety of manufacturers.  What do you look for  and which one is right for you?

There are many things to consider when looking for a screen printing startup package - so much so that it is often impossible for anyone to say which one is the 'right' one - some may have items that are not needed, others may not fit your shop footprint; all of these things should be considered.  

One of the biggest mistakes I see customers make when they are looking for a package or asking me questions is that they fail to properly consider their growth potential.   When, for example, they choose a 1 color / 1 station press, that press can quickly get relegated to the corner shelf, collecting dust, as they have moved on to a more flexible press.  They may have saved money in up-front costs, but they have lost money in the long term, as a portion of their initial investment has lost its value to them.  

Should your budget be the final deciding factor?  Well, ultimately if you have a limiting budget, then this answer is yes.  But even with that consideration, you should still consider your growth.  Take this package for example.  It can easily fit into almost any startup budget for what you are getting.  You will save money by getting a 1 color / 1 station press, which you will likely outgrow first, but you will be getting an upgraded exposure unit, which likely can last and be useful even when you do upgrade to a larger and more versatile press.  

There is also the consideration of your shop size.  Are you relegated to a small basement room, or do you have an entire workshop in which to spread your equipment around?  These are important considerations as buying more equipment than your space allows will significantly impact your ability to work efficiently.  

I tell customers to buy the best products and best package that their budget allows.  This isn't profiteering, this is doing a service to the customer.  In the screen printing business, your equipment is your livelihood; you want dependability and efficiency.  I take great pride in seeing our customers succeed and grow, and I have seen more than my share outgrow their initial purchase and that equipment now sits, generating no revenue for them.  Consider your startup package purchase carefully, and analyze your growth potential.  All of us at Texsource are here to help you with any equipment or supply item questions!

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Texsource Screen Printing Supply

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Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Introduction to Screen Printing Class - What Goes On?

Posted by Harvey Cole - Outside Sales on 10/30/2014

If you have ever considered attending one of our most popular Screen Printing 101: Introduction to Screen Printing classes but really didn't know what to expect, here is the low-down!

Classes are offered here at our NC location normally on the 3rd Friday of each month.  Our locations in TX, IN, and GA can sometimes have less structured class dates, so a regular check of our Screen Printing Classes page will be helpful there.  By far our most popular class is this class, which will usually fill up within a week of posting on our site here.  This class is normally taught by myself (Harvey) with cooperation from Dwayne and Ronnie, two of our other outside sales guys and absolute treasuries of knowledge and experience.

This class generally runs from around 9am to around 4pm, with a break for lunch (which we provide for you here).  During the first part of the class, you will be able to follow alone in a workbook with a lecture and demonstration of the very basics of screen printing equipment and techniques.  You are always free to ask questions at any time.  You will learn the basics of artwork (we have classes at other times of the year specifically geared toward Corel and Illustrator programs relating to Screen Printing).  Then the fun begins.

No class would be worth its while without real hands-on training, and this is where Texsource excels.  Because we are one of the largest US supply warehouses of screen printing equipment and screen printing supplies, we have everything at the ready, and plenty of time and expertise to help you get the most out of your expectations of the class.  Everything from coating a screen with emulsion to press setup, screen exposure, ink selection, press prep, printing, flashing, and curing; it is all covered hands-on meaning you will be doing the work under the watchful eye of experienced, seasoned veterans who are there to help you with each step.  

We have yet to receive feedback from a single attendee that the class did not meet or exceed their expectations.  Often you will see our reps staying for hours after the class to answer questions or perform even more demonstrations.  We don't want anyone to leave without feeling that they have a thorough understanding of the basics.  

It is an absolutely outstanding introductory class that we have offered for many years.  Every year we look at our comment cards, analyze our techniques, and streamline our methods to make this the best class possible, and we know that if you are considering such a class, this one will surely be worth your while.  We look forward to seeing you here!

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

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Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Expanding Screen Printing Possibilities

Posted by Bubba Thomas - Georgia Location Manager on 10/8/2014

If you shop is typical, then printing shirts is your bread and butter.  But there are many other substrates that can be profitable to your Screen Printing business.

Texsource supplies plastisol inks, screen printing equipment, and accessories to most of our customer who will probably only ever print on t-shirts, hoodies, and jackets.  One thing to keep in mind, however, is that your press can actually do much more.  I should qualify by saying that your press, with certain additional hardware, can likely do much more than just shirts.  Printed sweatpants are hot right now, especially athletic, gymnastics, school and college related logos.  To print sweatpants, you will need a pallet that can work with them.  You can get a smaller pallet for printing, say, a pocket logo; or you can buy a larger one and print all the way down the side of the leg.  

The ability to print on surfaces other than cotton or polyester fabrics are there as well, and usually will require additives or additional equipment.  You can print on glass, nylon, plastics, etc. by adding Nylobond to your ink.  This will harden the ink fairly quickly for much better adhesion to these surfaces.  Umbrellas, some hats, plastic promotional products, and more can be printed this way, expanding your business opportunities.

  

How about printing on wood?  Wood panel printing is fairly popular in the art community and is easy to do.  It requires no more additional equipment than you are likely to have, since wood can easily be run under a typical dryer without scorching or burning (unlike nylon, which typically has to be run through much quicker and under lower heat to prevent burning.  

Many shops we see offer services in addition to screen printing such as trophies, engraving (either cutting or laser), vehicle wraps and lettering, embroidery, banners, sublimation, and more. All of these services seem to work together for the screen printer, and can expand your offering to your customers!

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

888-344-4657

Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Inks, Colors, and Ink Mixing

Posted by Robin Bumgardner - Custom Color Mixing on 9/29/2014

Texsource carries the largest selection of Screen Printing Inks available in the US, but how do you know what ink (and what color) is what you need?

If you have visited our ink section on our site here, you have no doubt noticed that our selection is extensive, more than any other source on the web.  But sometimes new customers can get overwhelmed with that selection and be left wondering exactly what they should buy.  

Ill touch on just a few of the more popular ink varieties, without getting into specialty inks (which can be covered at a later time).  

Every brand we carry including our own brand will have an excellent general purpose ink.  Generally, these inks will work well on your cotton and 50/50 garments.  Depending on the color of your garment, it if often advised to lay a white underbase when printing colors on darker material.  This will help the colors stand out better against the darker material.  If bleeding is a problem, then you should consider a variety of Super Opaque inks.  These inks can be a bit pricier, but can sometimes save you the underbase step, thus saving time. 

If you are printing on polyester, then poly inks are going to be the way to go.  These are specially formulated to help the ink adhere better to that material.  

If you are printing on more unusual materials such as nylon, then an additive like Nylobond will mix with your general purpose plastisol to make it adhere well to this material.  

What about colors?  How do I know that the color I see on my screen is accurate?  Well, you don't; and the reason is that all screens on all computers, phones, etc. will all display colors a bit differently.  Our color swatches that you see on the screen are taken directly from the manufacturers; they are only cropped for display size and have not been altered in any way other than such.  So you are getting the most accurate color available represented on our site.  However, due to the differences in screen color, you should always verify the color you need by consulting a PMS color chart.  

Using this same color chart, Texsource offers custom ink mixing and color matching, and your product can usually ship out same day if ordered by 2:30pm EST.  

Finally, we are here to answer your questions.  If you need to know something about an ink, or need an ink for a specialty application, please feel free to contact us.  We carry screen printing inks  for almost every purpose, and will be happy to help you!

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

888-344-4657

Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Demand for Special-Effects Printing

Posted by Ryan Bolin - Outside Sales on 8/7/2014

The industry is experiencing great demand right now for special-effects printing, and Texsource has you covered!

So what is special-effects printing?  It actually may be pretty much anything outside the normal of plastisol ink printing.  Usually it involves special printing or drying techniques, or introducing new elements to be mixed or added to the ink itself.  You will see things like puff prints, glitter prints, foil overlays, textured prints, glossy prints, even gold-in-the-dark and 3D prints.  

Here are a few of the newer techniques that our customers are experimenting with and profiting from.

 - Simulated embroidery  Puff was used as an underprint, but in this case as a small portion of a much larger design to simulate embroidery on top of a print. It kept the shirt much softer than authentic embroidery could. This fairly subtle treatment didn’t overpower the graphic. This technique was not used for the novelty of the effect, but rather because it worked well with the particular graphic and reduced the cost of production compared to embroidery.

 - Heat transfer on specialty ink  A typical puff ink was used as an underprint, and a halftone blend was then printed on top of the puff after flashing. The fabric in this example had a high polyester content, so a low-bleed white ink was printed under the puff to prevent dye migration. The finished design was then lightly heat-sealed with a dull transfer paper for just a few seconds to smooth the top surface of the print slightly. This effect is much different from a solid area of highly lofted puff. This technique adds some luster and depth to the graphic without being overly simplistic and gives it a different look.

High-solids inks  Some high-solids or opaque water-based inks can work well on some polyester and most polyester/cotton blends. The potential for dye migration is minimized because these inks do not contain a true plasticizer and because the dryer temperatures can usually be a little lower than what would be required for a standard plastisol. However, you must test on a case-by-case basis before proceeding with production quantities

Foil Overlay  Using Transfer Foils on top of already printed garments can add uniqueness and value to an otherwise ordinary print.  Consider too that different colors and textures of foil can be used at the same time on different parts of the garment.  To see this demonstrated, see this video - 

As you can see, this has a dramatic effect on the appearance of this print, and also increases the value of the shirt while being quick and inexpensive to produce.  Texsource carries a full line of all products you need to get your foot in the Special-Effects Printing door!

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

888-344-4657

Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Considerations of Direct To Garment Printing

Posted by Steven Grant - Texsource Indiana on 7/10/2014

Often we at Texsource field lots of questions on DTG (Direct To Garment) products and techniques.  For those who might be considering such a process, it is important to understand some things in making your decision. 

 - Carefully Control Your Environment - The physical properties of the water-based inks are incredibly sensitive, changing drastically based on the external environmental conditions.  For instance if the air in your print room is too hot or dry, the ink will quickly dry in the print head causing nozzle blockage and other related issues; this can manifest in moderate to severe banding (missing or rough lines in the printed image) or even entire nozzles dropping out.

 - The Process Is Slow - Here, screen printers have a huge advantage when the ink actually hits the t-shirt; screen printing presses (even the manual variety) are considerably quicker when it comes to actually printing, whereas the process on a DTG printer can take quite some time.  Although white shirts are relatively quick (its not uncommon to knock out 20-50 white shirts per hour, depending on your particular equipment, setup and print resolution), dark shirt printing can be the bane of any DTG print business – realistically, expect to print about 8-15 black shirts per hour under normal circumstances.

 - Garment Selection is Very Important - DTG printing is not intended to be used on all garment types; in fact, the inks tend to work best when applied to 100% cotton, so it is best to avoid 50/50 blends and other non-cotton fabrics as much as possible.

Equipment and Supplies Are Expensive - Getting into DTG printing can represent a huge financial risk for a small business on the edge; with many DTG printers averaging around $20,000, you can easily wind up spending $25-$30,000 for an entire printing package (complete with printer, pre-treatment machine, heat press, supplies, shipping, training, etc).

You Must Pre-Treat Some Garments - While you won’t find yourself laying emulsion or burning screens, most people don’t realize that every single dark garment that you print must be sprayed with a “pre-treatment fluid” to prepare the surface for receiving the ink.  Unfortunately, this is currently true regardless of which brand of DTG printer you are using or which brand of ink you are using.

Not As Durable as Screen Printing - A very important point, and it is still a common issue among many DTG print shops, especially when they don’t fully understand all the factors that ultimately affect the wash-fastness of the print.

Impossible Color Matching - Well, perhaps not impossible, but there is no “magic color profile” that will work for all situations, all the time!  Your own subjective opinions, as well as those of your clients (which will vary greatly), will ultimately affect your expectations regarding what you want to see on a t-shirt

Texsource knows and understands screen printing, and we stand behind it as we feel that it is the very best method of garment printing both now and in the future.  

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

888-344-4657

Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Workhorse Sabre Series Press is Impressive

Posted by Jason Cabaniss - Outside Sales on 6/23/2014

The newest series of automatic presses from Workhorse is the Sabre Series, and it is a truly impressive machine.

Workhorse Equipment seems to have given significant thought to every aspect of the design and function of the new series and it shows.  Our demo unit here at Texsource has proven to be extremely easy to learn for those who would be considering moving up from a manual press, which is important.  Here are some words on it from Workhorse themselves - 

Workhorse is excited to introduce the latest from our stable of automatic presses. The new Sabre Series line has set the standard for high production and high quality at an affordable price. Workhorse combines their 30 year history of quality products, services and resources with some of the latest in screen printing technologies. These technologies include a revolutionary patent pending indexing system and a never before seen touch screen control panel offering unmatched functionality. The Sabre is available in 6, 8 and 10 color configurations. All models feature our patented flashback capabilities, a pivoting control panel with touch-screen display, micro-registration, independent floodbar and squeegee pressure adjustments, quick release pallets with a standard 20X20” (51CM X 51CM) image area.

Some of the features that are not in that write-up are 

 - Foot Pedal Control

 - Index System

 - Adjustable Screen Clamps & Holders

 - Flashback System

 - Operator Control Center

 - Enhanced Micro Registration

 - Improved Squeegee / Floodbar

 - Two Year Warranty

Practically every part of the operation of the Sabre can be controlled from the integrated touchscreen pad, which can also save all job settings into cloud storage.  Need to run a print that you did 4 years ago?  Pull it up, enter it, and hit go.  Have a look at a video that explains it better than I can.  

The best news is that Workhorse has made this the most affordable automatic to date, and with Texsource financing it is easy to see this sitting in your shop soon.  Call Texsource to schedule a personal demo of the Sabre Series today!  

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

888-344-4657

Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Screen Printing Classes - What Can I Learn?

Posted by Ronnie Cannon - Outside Sales on 6/12/2014

What can I really learn at the Texsource screen printing classes that are offered in the various locations?  Is it worth it for me to take the class?

One of the things that sets Texsource apart from other supply dealers is that we believe in a well informed and educated customer, and we believe that it is our responsibility as industry leaders to stay on top of all the latest trends, products, and techniques, and to pass that knowledge on to our customers.  

Texsource spends a good deal of resources keeping our staff educated.  We attend trade shows, seminars, product introductions, and generally try to keep up with everything we can.  We pass this information on to you here on our website, at our open house, at other industry trade shows, and in our classes.  When you spend your money on a product at Texsource, we want you to know the ins-and-outs of that product, to know how to maximize its use and get the most for your money.  

Our classes are an excellent example of this.  Texsource offers classes such as introductory classes, for those who have never screen printed at all.  Specialty printing classes, for using materials other than standard screen printing inks.  This lets you offer products that other printers will not, and give you an opportunity to increase your profits.  We offer embroidery classes, sign-making classes, Corel and Illustrator classes, website classes to help with your marketing.    Anything that we believe could benefit your business, we will try to help with.  

Our classes used to be quite large, with several dozen attendees.  But what we found over time is that we were not giving the singular attention to each attendee that we needed to give.  So we have trimmed down our available seating to around 12-15 at most.  This gives our instructors time and opportunity to get to know you, what your experience is, your level of knowledge, and what your goals are.  Classes are about half lecture, half hands-on, so the smaller class size gives each attendee much more time with the actual process.  This is likely the biggest benefit, and the part of our classes that gets the most positive comments from attendees.  And there is always time for questions.  We feel that if you go away with unanswered questions, then we have not done our job well enough.  

So rest assured that when we have a class, we have done our homework too, and are bringing you the most accurate information that we can.  We are here to serve our customers, and take educating you very seriously.  Our success depends on your success! 

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

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Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Reclaiming Difficult Screens

Posted by Dwayne Collins - Outside Sales on 5/29/2014

Recently I had an opportunity to do a short video demonstrating a technique to clean very difficult screens.  I thought I might follow up with some words and instructions to make it even easier.  

The screens that we were using were taken from our washout booth that we use for our screen printing classes here at Texsource.  There were being used in the filtration system for the booth, so as you might can imagine they were absolutely saturated with emulsion, ink, diazo, chemicals, and everything else you might can imagine going down that system.  The screens were in a dual-layer configuration - one was on top of the other.  Both of them had been covered to the point that water could no longer go through the screens.  They were completely covered in this mess of chemicals - it is doubtful your shop would ever see screens in this condition (other than being used in a filtration system, of course).  

I started by spraying a generous amount of Easiway EasiStrip on both the front and back of the screen, followed by a similar amount of Easiway 701.  EasiStrip is primarily an emulsion remover, with 701 service as a haze remover and degreaser.  Now in the video I spray and pretty much immediately spray with a pressure washer.  As you can see, the screen came amazingly clean on first application.  Ideally, I would have let the screen soak just a bit longer with my sprays - you would have seen even greater results; but we had great results either way.  

As a follow up, I sprayed a small amount of each on the screen again and utilized a scrub brush briefly, then pressure washed again.  As you can see, this screen came out looking like new.  You could have easily went and dried the screen and used it on the press.  

I have been asked how to get out 'impossible' stains on a screen.  Well, as you can see these screens were in pretty bad shape.  If you continue to have a problem area on your screen that seems to defy even this cleaning, try using a 50 cent piece-sized drop of Rhino HR2800 on the stain, following the directions on the carton.  This is some of the strongest stuff that is made for stain removal and should be able to reclaim even the most difficult areas.  

Now have a look at this video and see the difference the Easiway products made on both of the screens we cleaned - both in less that 5 minutes.  

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

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Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com

Screen Printing Press Pallet Adhesives - The Differences

Posted by Bubba Thomas - Georgia Location Manager on 5/14/2014

One thing that I have been hearing a fair amount lately is customers asking about pallet setup and pallet adhesives.  Here is a rundown of what Texsource offers, and proper use of adhesives.  

Flash Tack Adhesives

A flash tack adhesive, such as Albatross 1786, Camie 375, Sprayway 87, and Texsource Texflash Tack work well on darker colors and when using a flash unit.  They stick better and become tackier when heat is applied.  You will apply flash tack adhesive much less often when using heat, but these also have a good tack when used cold.

Mist Adhesives 

Mist adhesives work best on light colored garments, and when no flash is needed or used.  Excellent examples of these include Albatross 1782, Camie 380, Sprayway 382, and Texsource Screen Adhesive.  This type of adhesive is less ideal for thicker garments and may need to be applied more often.

Web Adhesives

Web adhesives is a very tacky adhesive that is an excellent choice for heavier garments such as sweatshirts, towels, and other garments with a more uneven cloth pattern.  The adhesive comes out and makes a 'web' of adhesive on the pallet that is not as evenly distributed as mist or flash tack, but is sticker and thicker then either.  Consider Sprayway 383, Camie 385, or Texsource Tex-Webb adhesives.

Water-Based Adhesives

Water based adhesives give several advantages over aerosol-based adhesives.  They are non-aerosol, so there are no fumes or airborne agents that can easily be breathed in, they can be purchased in larger quantities, there are spray adapters and sprayers that make frequent applications in busy shops much easier, and they typically last longer on the pallet than spray adhesives.  The Albatross 1082, Tekmar TB-10, and Tekmar TB-EZ are all excellent water-based adhesives.  These adhesives are generally not as good on heavier products that web adhesives would be used for.  

Tekmar TB-EZ is an excellent water-based adhesive

Pallet Paper

As always, you should cover your pallet with a good pallet tape and paper, such as the Texsource Pallet Paper.  Use the appropriate spray or water-based adhesive and your shirts will remain in place throughout the printing process, and cleanup will be quick and fast!

Texsource Screen Printing Supplies | Screen Printing Equipment | Screen Printing Inks

Texsource Screen Printing Supply

888-344-4657

Texsource Screen Printing Supply  www.screenprintingsupply.com