Flash Dryers in Screen Printing

When I first started screen printing, I knew that having the right equipment would make all the difference. One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was figuring out how to cure prints efficiently. I was using a heat gun to dry my prints between layers, but it just wasn’t cutting it. The process was slow, uneven, and I was struggling to get the consistency I wanted.

Then, I had the opportunity to get my hands on a flash dryer from another screen printer, and it completely changed the way I worked. Here’s a bit about my experience with flash dryers and why they’ve become a must-have in my setup.

A flash dryer is a piece of equipment that helps to partially cure screen prints during the printing process. It’s used to flash dry prints between layers of ink, particularly when you’re printing multiple colours. By doing this, you can prevent colours from smudging and ensure better registration when printing on top of another layer.

Unlike a conveyor dryer, which is used for full curing at the end of the print run, a flash dryer works by applying intense heat to the ink for a short time—usually around 30-90 seconds. This partial curing helps the ink set and harden slightly before you move on to the next layer or colour.

It’s perfect for multi-colour prints, ensuring that each layer is dry enough to print on without messing up your registration.