Screen Printing Tee Shirts: Can A Heat Gun Cure Plastisol Inks?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- This educational video features a screenprinting question about printing tee shirts with plastisol inks that we get asked very often. Is it possible to cure plastisol inks with a heat gun? In this video Jonathan answers this question officially for all to benefit from. Since we get this question almost weekly we thought it was time to make a video. If you have ever had this question in your mind when beginning to screenprint tee shirts for fun or for profit, then this video is a must see. Follow Jonathan along as he shares his thoughts on this topic in his usual animated way of teaching. He'll explain to you why this method is inconsistent at best and what makes the process unsuitable for commercial applications. But can it be done? Is it possible? Can I do this at home with a heat gun? Watch this video and find out. You'll be very happy you clicked on this entertaining and informational screen printing video tutorial.
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“AND BELIEVE ME YOU!”
Man, I laughed pretty hard when you said that after the cut. Thanks for this video, it’s helped a ton.
LOL... you're welcome. Glad I can help out through my videos :) Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
I used a heat gun ,because it was all we had in the beginning, We had some wash out issues. Thanks for the memories
@Iman Hartani You're very welcome, thanks for watching!
I think "more easily" was correct. Thanks again for another great video!
My plan is using gun to "predry" between color layers and after that i will make final cure in heatpress. I know this option definetly not replace good flash unit but i want use this system as start. Thank you for another very helpful video maister.
I'm happy to help out where I can. Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
Thanks. I think I thought I said “more easier.” LOL, but cool, I’m glad it was actually correct. I knew I was somewhat literate ;) Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
"If you like what you see (ladieeeeeez ;) )" lol
I died at the very beginning from you swinging the heat gun around. Thank you for the giggles this morning.
LOL... my pleasure. Was I being an idiot again in this video? Hahaha.... :) Yeah baby! Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
CatspitProductions Not an idiot, just silly. It's a good thing. :) Grrr baby, very grr. lol
CMenpes LOL... grrrr
Thanks for your support!! Your videos are really helpfull for me... I learn a lot since I watch your first video...
Greetings from Argentina.
Many if not all the printshops here in the philippines used heat guns to cure inks. In fact most of them never invested for a flash dryer at all in their entire printing career and they all worked fine. Whats popularly used by printers here in the Philippines are line table with heat gun. And to some few who could afford it uses rotary press with flash dryers.
Thomas Aquinas Yes, we call it long board printing or long table printing. It's popular where space is a commodity and labor is cheap. I rather like the long table set ups and think it would be very cool. But most of the commercial long table set ups use a moving flash cure unit on tracks or what have you. Using a heat gun is very slow and you must have excellent attention to detail. If you miss a spot the slightest bit with plastisol inks, it will wash out. But to each his own. Some people use a kitchen oven despite the fact that it is dangerous. But what works, works. Have you seen this video?
th-cam.com/video/dMclldR9ZQ4/w-d-xo.html
Ultimately when time is money a belt dryer is the best solution. I just don't recommend using a heat gun to do your final cure. That's how I teach. I want my students to be successful with minimal effort. And it does require the right tools for the job. But many people do it every day and if it works for them then, run with it ;) Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
+CatspitProductions Nice. Well the reason why most printers here in the philippines never invested for a flash cure dryer is due to financial reasons. They cant afford. So they often resort to using heat gun. Or since philippines is a tropical country they just expose the printed shirts in the sun since its ridiculously hot here during noon time. And most plastisol printers uses heat press for final curing.
+CatspitProductions Oh yes. They dont use heat gun here for final cure. They only use it for flashing. For final curing they use heat press. And it gives glossy finish to the print.
+Thomas Aquinas I understand. I n the end you do what you have to in order to get the job done.
Thank you! You’re very welcome. Is that what I said? I may have thought I said “more easier.” LOL, but cool, I’m glad it was actually correct. I knew I was somewhat literate ;) Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
You’re very welcome. It certainly could be the problem. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
Thanks for this wonderful presentation... I just wanna ask you that is there any possibility of using hot iron to cure the ink...
You're very welcome. Probably not with plastisol inks. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
Hello there! You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure to help out and share information. Glad I could help out from afar. Check out the Catspit website for a lot more free info on screen printing. Link is on the channel page. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
Yeah eventually. Sometime. In the future I’m sure. LOL. I will do some water based videos but I have no idea when I will be able to. Much of the plastisol information can be applied to any ink as far as printing. Curing is another story. Please stay tuned. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
Well that explains the cracks. Thanks now I know what the problem is.
LOL... I hear that ;) Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
You’re’ welcome, my pleasure. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
Thank you Sir for the tips.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
Thank you!! You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure to help out and share information. Thanks for rating thumbs up :) Check out the Catspit website for a lot more free info on screen printing. Link is on the channel page. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
Many hair dryers are not hot enough. Even for an easy water based cure. But that's great if you can do it. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
Thanks for this Caspit !
But the dryer is expensive 😔, anyway how long ? How close , what temperature on 100% cotton?
Check out my video on curing plastisol inks. Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
what ink you recommend more for screen printing plastisol ink or water base....
+Yaritza Tinoco For learning how to screen print I recommend plastisol. Once you have a handle on things you can use either ink depending on what you want to print. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
big question, can this paint be used to paint brush on fabric/cloth banners? Or does it have to be used solely with a screen printing mechanism?
Technically it's ink and plastisol ink is pretty thick. You would simply have to try it. I have never tried to paint with plastisol inks. Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
What about just using an iron on the highest setting and putting a sheet of parchment paper on the shirt so it doesn't burn it?
Irons usually do not reach 330 degrees F. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
thank you sir thats very hlpful
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
thanks millions .
thank for videos ... u r best youtuber for screenprinting... i just want to ask 1 question,,, can i use heat gun just for drying 1 color so that i can print another... how long it will to dry ink,,, i try with hairdryer and it sucks... i am from nepal and we have major load shedding problem , so run the flash dryer on generator cost expensive...
+shreechan chitrakar Thank you very much. Glad I can help out through my videos. That may be possible, yes. You might be able to efficiently "flash" a smaller design with a heat gun. How long will it take? That depends on how big the design is and how much ink you actually print. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
Hi there, im going to build my own exposure unit, i'll buy fluorescent light tubes, what is the recommended total wattage for a good exposure, i know it depends on the emulsion, the quality of the film, etc, but there must be an aproximate. Thank u for all your videos.
Well these are the bulbs I would recommend. catspitscreenprintsupply.com/small-tools-electrical-items/ Thanks for watching! www.catspitproductionsllc.com/
You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure to help out and share information. Check out the Catspit website for a lot more free info on screen printing. Link is on the channel page. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
yo, are you ever getting into water base inks?
I tried the heat gun method when I first started. I had all the issues you mentioned. Heat gun is fine for a small logo on a pocket or sleeve. But when you try large images you have no way to tell what part of the image is done and what part is not. So you tend to go too long, one part of the shirt will get burned, the other side won't be cured, etc,etc. It gets frustrating. I never tried oven method.
Yeah I recommend at least a flash cure unit really. And even that you have to be careful with. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
Thank you for the information. I have a question. Can I cure Angeles Acrylic leather paint on a t shirt with a heat gun? So it doesn't wash off. THX!!
You're welcome. I'm sure you could dry it with a heat gun if it's an air drying paint. But I have no idea if that paint would be wash safe on fabrics. You could try it out and see. Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
At what tempeture should I cure plastisol ink using a heat press???
Hi, you´ve right I did some t-shirts a few months ago, and I used the heat gun to cure the print, but 4 weeks later the draw began to felt, do you thionk i was better did it whit a oedinary lron? regards, and have a nice and very productive week, from Toluca. Who loves you Baby?
what about sunlight? can you do it with sunlight? and which one is easier to cure? is it water based ink or plastisol ink?
No sunlight cannot cure water based or plastisol inks. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
in my country some people use sunlight to cure water based ink. but i never really pay attention with the result. thanks btw, i really like your videos. i learn a lot from your videos.
Abi Setiaji Thank you!! You're very welcome. Iv'e never heard of such a thing since most water based inks need to reach about 250 degrees to be heat set and wash safe. Maybe you all are using a different type water based ink.
i think its something called rubber ink. i dont know exacly what it is, but it is water based ink.
thanks again for the information. :)
Abi Setiaji Then I would check with the manufacturer to find out what ways you can heat set it. You’re very welcome. I appreciate your support.
So I made a bunch of shirts with plastisol ink/ one image with waterbased ink. I thought I cured them enough, put one in the wash as a test and the ink is not holding now. It's kinda cracked/ not full. So I am stuck on what to do with the rest of the shirts that were made? Should I put them in the oven to ensure they fully cure? I have had them dry for about a week already though.
Thanks for your help!
Yes, if the plastisol printed shirts were semi-cured and have not been washed or laundered then you may simply put them through the oven again and give them a good cure. The same should be the case for the water-based prints. As long as they are heat set for water-based or cured for plastisol they should be just fine. Hopefully the plastisol prints were semi-cured and none of the plasticizer went out into the fabric during that week they were sitting. That is your only variable that you have to worry about. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! www.catspitproductionsllc.com/ - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
Ok awesome, thanks! I am getting a flash dryer this weekend as my garage and my pocket aren't ready to drop 2 k on a belt dryer :)
superchanneljim You are very welcome. I can relate to that. Good luck and let me know if I can help out any time.
You've been a ton of help thanks!
superchanneljim My pleasure.
Would a heat gun be okay for waterbased inks ?
It might if you do a meticulous job at curing them. I think people do that. It may be slow but it could be done. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! www.catspitproductionsllc.com/ - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
Thanks a lot :) like your videos ... from tijuana
I'm stuck. I really really want a flash unit but I can't afford a flash unit. 250 -400 I just can't afford it so now I'm scared to start screen printing
Timothy Rowan If you want to use plastisol inks with a heat gun then you're caution is appropriate. It can be done and it is by many people but the chances of under curing portions of the print are very high so if your attention to detail sucks then you may not want to try it ;) Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
CatspitProductions thank you so much! I am still going to give it a try i am enjoying just getting set up so i cant wait till i get some designs and actually give printing a go. I am very patient and will try give it the best attention to detail I can. Also ordered a thermometer to measure the ink heat
Timothy Rowan Good luck and let me know if I can help out anytime ;)
nice vid, thanks :)
can you cure the base layer with the heat gun then lay the second layer then use a heat press? if its a black garment and white ink?
It's the same difference as I stated here. Watch the video from start to end and I think you'll get the idea. You can try anything you want. I have never used a heat gun and a heat press to cure a shirt so I cannot guide you on that. This video is about using a heat gun. Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
LOL who loves you baby? Catspit loves you ;) Yeah I think an iron would be about the same. Not really hot enough actually I think. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
Awesome vids im looking to go into bussines, and make a big investment ill be sure to hit up your supply store. Thanks alot for the vids very informative.. if I had more thumbs id put um up. Good day sir
No, not at all. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment! ☠
Where can I get a Flash Dryer unit?
You can buy one from yours truly:
catspitscreenprintsupply.com/flash-cure-units/
Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
I really want to learn screen printing. I have a basic set up. The only thing I have to cure the ink is a heat press and a heat gun. What is the name of the flash dryer to you recommend a newbie to purchase for plastisol ink? Right now, I have been practicing with water based ink. However, I read somewhere you recommend plastisol ink for a newbie. Please help.
Yes, plastisol is easier to learn with because it will not dry while you are printing. I would recommend the 16x16 I sell on my ecommerce site:
catspitscreenprintsupply.com/ranar-d-162-16-x-16-infrared-flash-cure-unit-120v/
Thanks for watching! Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - CatspitScreenPrintSupply.com/
"More easily" is certainly grammatically correct. Don't sweat it, brotha.
More easily is grammatically correct.
Ah ha! Thank you ;) Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
No matter the method plastisol ink needs to thoroughly reach about 330 degrees F. It can vary in time depending on the amount of ink printed. Thanks for watching & commenting! ☠
yes you can... Flash with heat gun, the fully cure using heatpress :D
Technically that would be the heat press curing the ink ;) But yeah, you could do it that way. Some people just use a heat press alone. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
Can you cure plastisol ink in oven:? What is your opinion?
I suppose it is possible but not recommended. It could be hazardous with red hot electric elements or gas flames, yes. Use a device made for the purpose so you have better control over it. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
+CatspitProductions could you cure shirts ina metal box witha lid and place ina oven for 1 min? or is air flow recommended or necessary
+XxxCR1SPYxxX I have no idea. I never tried anything like that and air flow is necessary for more even, consistent results I think. I would not try to cure anything in a kitchen oven due to hazard of fire. That's why we use infrared panels mostly. They're very safe to operate. Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
CatspitProductions
hmm infrared panels ill be researching all the lighting again but yeah idont think ill be using the oven it seems a little too ghetto hehe thanks tho for replying to all my noob comments haha ill definitely be buying from your store in the future and recommend it. what was that viewer artwork thing you should do more of that and do raffles every week for a shirt or somthin
You're very welcome, my pleasure to help out where I can. Yes, now and then we take viewer submitted artwork and do a printing video with it. But I'm too under staffed and busy to do one every week with raffles ;) That would be a tremendous amount of work. But I do have another on deck with an artist and screen printer from the UK. Check out @catspitscreenprintsupply on Instagram for behind the scenes images and news.
Can you use an oven lol
You may be able to but with a very high risk of fire.... LOL ;) Thanks for watching. Screen Printing Equipment & Supplies - catspitscreenprintsupply.com/