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Sticky Subject: Adhesives

By Rick Roth

Let’s talk pallet (platen actually…) adhesives. These are also called spray tack or roll tack.

People think they are all the same. They are not. I actually consulted with a shop where bad adhesive was ruining their entire printing effort. They could not print in register and their shop was a mess. It does matter.

Using the right adhesive means you get good registration, your shop and people are not a mess, it is healthier, you run production fast, and you make more money (or save money, same difference.)

The basic thing is that if the shirt does not stay in place, by moving the registration of the next prints in the sequence will be off register. If you overglue the shirt down then it will distort or get glue inside the shirt. Gross. If you have to use too much it will make your shop a mess, get over your employees and they will quit, and it will cost too much.

I don’t have to mince words here, we use Albatross adhesives and they are really good stuff.  Here is what we use for what:

We use brush tac or roll tac and we use a cheap disposable paint roller to apply it. The subject of another post will be the advantages of this method over any spray type adhesive. This is your go-to adhesive day in and day out.
We use brush tac or roll tac and we use a cheap disposable paint roller to apply it. The subject of another post will be the advantages of this method over any spray type adhesive. This is your go-to adhesive day in and day out.
Bulk adhesive applicator, i.e. a cheap ass paint roller
Bulk adhesive applicator, i.e. a cheap ass paint roller.

Sometimes you can’t use roll adhesive, and as a secondary measure use these or something like them if you can find it.

This is all purpose, you can use for printing without a flash or in some flashing situations. All-purpose means it doesn't work as well for specific purposes.
This is all purpose, you can use for printing without a flash or in some flashing situations. All-purpose means it doesn’t work as well for specific purposes.
Some spray adhesives are for non-flash situations. They will work very well in terms of even application and just the right amount of tackiness. They WILL NOT FLASH well!
Some spray adhesives are for non-flash situations. They will work very well in terms of even application and just the right amount of tackiness. They WILL NOT FLASH well!
If you have to spray adhesive and you are flashing use an adhesive made for this application. This is very important, don't cheap out as it will cost you money in the end. Properly designed flash adhesives actually work better as the heat rises. Crappy ones will not hold the shirt down and you will spray them all over the place.
If you have to spray adhesive and you are flashing use an adhesive made for this application. This is very important, don’t cheap out as it will cost you money in the end. Properly designed flash adhesives actually work better as the heat rises. Crappy ones will not hold the shirt down and you will spray them all over the place.
Web adhesive can help with fleece printing. Spray it from a little farther away so it dries a bit before it hits the platen because if too wet it will adhere too much to the inside of your sweatshirt and not enough to the platen.
Web adhesive can help with fleece printing. Spray it from a little farther away so it dries a bit before it hits the platen because if too wet it will adhere too much to the inside of your sweatshirt and not enough to the platen.

To review:

Roll on adhesive: usually all-purpose, the only thing you should use if possible.

All purpose spray: Handy for all kinds of small jobs.

Non-flash spray adhesive: for long runs when not flashing

Flash spray adhesive: if not using roll on, then essential in flashing situations, particularly multiple flashes or long runs

Web adhesive: only for fleece

Comments

  1. Ahhhh I see what you did there. We use mostly water based tak and just put a few drops down then scrape in evenly across using a cleanup card, the same card over and over. Webbing is a necessary evil though for fleece . Speaking of fleece, I better get back to work.

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