| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | with hardener 1000H/1000KGL have a pot life of |
| Ink mixing is a basic but very important step to | | | | about 8-10 hours. |
| achieve a quality imaging with screen printing or | | | | 5. Begin adding thinner at a ratio of about |
| pad printing. If it is not done properly, the entire | | | | 5%-10% then re-mix. |
| printing process can get very frustrating and, in | | | | 6. Continue to add thinner at a drop by |
| turn, may cause a loss of production and a waste | | | | drop rate until a working viscosity is achieved. |
| of valuable time and energy. | | | | Adding all the thinner at once tends to |
| Before you start, it is essential that you be using | | | | shock the ink. Typical mixing ratios are |
| the proper equipment. Unlined mixing cups (no | | | | 15% thinner to the weight of the ink. Remember, |
| wax), mixing sticks and a quality electronic scale | | | | it is easier to add than to take away. This also |
| with an accuracy of .1 grams are all very | | | | helps to prevent ink over thinning. |
| important. Without these items, ink mixing | | | | Please note that Sapphire Pad Printing & Screen |
| becomes guess work, causing the quality and | | | | Printing Inks are highly opaque and take more |
| precision of the print to suffer. | | | | thinner than most inks. The adjustment of the |
| Step by Step Ink Mixing: | | | | viscosity of the ink depends on the quality of |
| 1. Zero or tare out the scale (make sure it is on a | | | | thinner that is being added. Generally you should |
| level surface). | | | | never exceed 20-25%; however, dilution varies |
| 2. Add the ink to a mixing cup. Try not to use | | | | from series to series. |
| less than 40 grams as it will not flow well in the | | | | If you follow these simple steps it should help to |
| cup or inkwell once mixed. | | | | improve your pad or screen printing process. If |
| 3. Add appropriate hardener ratio (4:1 for 1000H = | | | | you ever have any questions please contact me, |
| 25%, 20:1 for HGL = 5%). | | | | Pete Baxer, at 1-978-646-8980 and I will be glad |
| 4. Mix these two ingredients completely. Note: pad | | | | to help you. |
| printing and screen printing inks that are activated | | | | |