looking for nazdar 5900 enamel ink tips

[jimmystrong]

first time poster, long time lurker.

I've been printing shirts for years and want to try printing onto other things like sticker vinyl and metal. After doing some research it seems that the Nazdar 5900 series ink will work best for what I want to do, but I had some questions.

The Nazdar technical data sheet recommends thinning it up to 15%. Is this necessary? I bought an additive for Nazdar WB ink thinking I would need it, but haven't needed to use it. Also, will I need a different ink remover thats stronger than my regular plastisol ink remover?

Thanks in advance. Let me know if there are any other special tips for printing with enamel inks that I should keep in mind.

[El Roacho]

the thinning is not necessary but will help you save on your ink costs, that ink is very concentrated, no need for it to be that thick unless you're printing on super dark materials. i have used some press washes that will just smear the ink around on the screen and end up making it even harder to clean up, the nazdar press wash work great, however it is really, i mean really brutal to breathe. i use the company ICC press wash 876, it's low voc's, non-caustic, drain safe and it smells like cotton candy bubble gum. now go premium, this knowledge ain't free.
here's a link to the stuff- River City Graphic Supply

[Art Hackett]

The 59000 inks will work well on vinyl and metal. They will need to be thinned with the thinner/varnish. Sometimes more than 15% if it is cold < 60 degrees. You want to thin it to be like warm honey to print and release well. If you thin them with mineral spirits, it will work OK but you will loose some gloss in the ink. The big downside to the enamel is dry time. Usually one hour to touch, four to six for complete drying to print another layer. Should that be an issue, try the 9700 Nazdar ink. Drys faster and will work on many metals, vinyls, and paper. Both inks will require xylene or the ICC press wash.

[squeegeethree]

Mineral spirits works for thinning and clean up.

[Andymac]

I liked thinning with gloss varnish and a touch of mineral spirits.

We used furniture grade lacquer thinner for cleanup, but I think the ICC or similar cleanup is probably better/safer. You need gloves and ventilation/mask for the lacquer thinner, or any other cleaner.

I wouldn't use enamel for vinyl stickers. use a general purpose plastic ink. The drying time is a factor.

[failsafe]

I tend to use Boiled Linseed Oil from Lowe's or HD as a thinner for enamel. Gives a good flow and retains gloss. Works well with 5900 enamel and 6100 fast dry.
Xylene for cleanup. Dries much faster than mineral spirits and leaves no oily feel. Smells alot less also.

[squeegeethree]

just make sure you use the boiled or "burnt" kind. Unboiled linseed oil does not dry. At my old shop a fancy restaurant opened below me. They did a fancy wall treatment outside one day and as I was leaving I noticed that they had used linseed oil but not the cooked kind. I went up to the owner and told him that it was never going to dry and to get his money back so he could strip it off. He laughed at me and told me he had paid top professionals. The joke was on him though because we were in the meat packing district and because it never dried the whole wall became a giant fly trap. gross. They had to strip it and redo it.

[Bozzman]

Xylene for cleanup. Dries much faster than mineral spirits and leaves no oily feel. Smells alot less also.[/QUOTE]

Good enough to kill you. Stay away from Xylene unless you wear good masks and gloves!!!