Tips for Preventing Scorching

Every screen printer knows that screen printing requires heat to create a print that fully adheres to your substrate. Regular plastisol ink cures at a higher dryer temperature causing brown or scorch marks on synthetic substrates. This destroys the quality of the print. These tips will prevent scorch marks on your final products.

#1: Know which substrates are prone to scorching. 

  • White or light-colored garments
  • Lighter weight cotton
  • Synthetic fabrics that won’t tolerate heat

#2: Switch to Fusion 180. 

Prevent scorch marks on your final product by using low cure ink.

#3: Cure at a Low Temperature. 

Fusion 180 cures at 260 degrees for 40 seconds through the dryer. Lowering the temperature of your dryer prevents these marks from occurring and will essentially keep your prints looking crisp, clear, and sharp. With regular Plastisol-based ink, you have to adjust the speed and heat settings to a lower temperature for a longer time, however, with Fusion 180 you will not have to make any further adjustments and you would only need to make sure that you are curing at the proper low temperature. This will prevent fabrics from scorching.

#4: Adjust your flash cure unit. 

The temperature of the flash cure unit should be lowered when using Fusion 180 and dealing with fabrics that are likely to scorch. The height of the unit should be raised so the substrate is farther from the pallet.

QUICK TIP: You do not need a catalyst to print with a flash.

#5: Remove Scorch Marks. 

If garments suffer scorch marks under the flash cure unit you do not have to toss them into the pile of damaged garments. White garments CAN have the scorch marks removed by running them through the washing machine or spraying them with hydrogen peroxide and water.

Scorching is common for nearly every screen printing shop and can be avoided by following our simple tips.

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