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Beginner mistakes

Most of these are habits, not equipment problems. Each one comes with what to do instead and a link to the guide that explains why.

Updated October 20265 short topics~3 min to read it all17 sources

In short

  1. Prove cure with a wash test. Use a probe or strips to see what the dryer is doing, not a temp gun.
  2. Test, don’t guess: exposure, mesh, garment lots.
  3. Use less pressure than you think you need.

In this guide

  1. 01Curing mistakes
  2. 02Screen and stencil mistakes
  3. 03On-press mistakes
  4. 04Garment mistakes
  5. 05Shop and safety mistakes
Sources for this guide (17)
  1. Avient, Mapping your conveyor dryer (PDF)
  2. Davis International, FAQs
  3. Wilflex (Avient), Ink curing tips (2020, PDF)
  4. Vastex, Mesh information
  5. Catspit Productions, Proper emulsion performance
  6. Chromaline, Causes of pinholes during screen making
  7. Murakami, Emulsion coating tips (PDF)
  8. Screen Printing Magazine, Squeegee consciousness
  9. dot B, Low printing pressure: what is zero point?
  10. Lawson Screen & Digital, Understanding off-contact printing
  11. ScreenPrinting.com, Sizing strategies for large shirt runs
  12. OSHA, Hazard Communication (29 CFR 1910.1200)
  13. NIOSH, Health hazard evaluation 2007-0053-3092 (PDF)
  14. Cedar City, UT, Screen printers best management practices
  15. Printavo, Screen printing pricing
  16. International Coatings, Curing ink with a heat gun
  17. Lawson Screen & Digital, Curing plastisol inks

Ranges are starting points from these sources. When a source and your ink’s tech data sheet disagree, follow the tech data sheet.