I've been using pmi pallet gel for a while now, and truthfully, I don't think I could ever go back to these messy aerosol cans. If you've spent any time with all within a display screen printing shop, a person know exactly what I'm talking about. That fine mist of spray backing that appears to discover its way on to every single surface—your hair, your clothes, the floor, and somehow even the inside of your coffee mug. It's a nightmare. Switching to a water-based gel adhesive isn't simply a minor tweak to the workflow; it's a substantial upgrade for your sanity as well as your shop's cleanliness.
Let's be real with regard to a second. Aerosol adhesives are a relic of the particular past that we've just collectively tolerated because "that's just how it's been carried out. " But as soon as you get your hands on the tub of pmi pallet gel, you begin to realize just how much time and money you were literally spraying into the air flow. These products is thick, reliable, and stays exactly where you put it.
Shifting away from the particular aerosol mess
The biggest challenge for the majority of printers when switching to pmi pallet gel will be the change within routine. We're so used to that will quick "pssh-pssh" in between shirts that the particular idea of distributing a gel seems like it might impede things down. Within reality, it's the particular opposite. Think regarding how much time a person spend cleaning up overspray. Think about the particular sticky film that will coats your press arms and the particular floor around your own feet. When you use a gel, that mess simply doesn't exist.
The gel remains on the pallet. Because it's the liquid you apply manually, you have got total control over the coverage. A person aren't coating your expensive screens in a layer of glue, and you aren't breathing in those nasty fumes all day. I've noticed that the lungs feel a lot clearer in the end of a long change since I ditched the cans. In addition, you don't have got to worry regarding the adhesive drifting onto the "good" side of the particular shirt you just put down.
How to actually apply it for best results
You don't require to be some sort of scientist to use pmi pallet gel, but there is a little bit of the learning curve when you're coming through sprays. The key is in order to start with the clean pallet. I usually scrape off any gunk and provide it a fast wipe. Then, I just dab a few the gel—usually concerning the size of a quarter—right in the middle of the platen.
Following that, you simply spread it away. You can use a plastic spreader, a classic credit credit card, or even a scrap piece of cardboard. The goal is a thin, even layer that covers the area in which the garment can sit. You don't need it dripping off the sides, and you definitely don't want big globs. A thin coating dries faster plus actually holds better.
Once it's spread out, you can either allow it air dried out for a several minutes or, if you're in a rush, operate it through your display dryer for some secs. You'll know it's ready when it goes from looking wet and milky to clear and unattractive. It's a different type of "sticky" than spray adhesive. This feels larger, like the shirt is really anchored to the particular board rather than just resting upon a fuzzy coating of glue.
Dealing with soot and "the re-tack"
One of the coolest things about pmi pallet gel is that it's water-activated. With spray adhesive, once the particular lint from the several dozen shirts creates up, the add is gone. You usually have to spray more on best, which creates this particular thick, gross meal of glue and fuzz. Eventually, you need to scrape the whole mess off, which usually is a total pain.
Using this gel, when the surface gets fluffy and loses its grip, you don't need to reapply immediately. Instead, you just take a moist sponge or a spray bottle along with a little water and wipe the particular pallet down. This particular clears off the lint and "reactivates" the adhesive beneath. It's like magic. You can get through hundreds of shirts on one software just by wiping it down every once in a while. This on your own saves a ton of money over the course of a month.
Heat resistance plus flash curing
If you're performing multi-color jobs that will require flashing between colors, you understand that heat could possibly be the foe of cheap adhesives. Some sprays can actually lose their own grip when these people get too warm, causing the shirt in order to shift and ruining your registration.
pmi pallet gel handles the particular heat just like a champ. It's made to remain tacky even if the particular pallets get cozy from the flash dryer. I've found that it doesn't get "gooey" or begin to liquefy below the heat, which is a large relief when you're seeking to keep the tight 4-color printing lined up completely. It provides a stable, consistent surface area that won't allow you down halfway through a work.
Why your own wallet will appreciate you
Let's talk numbers for a second, even though I know most of us hate the "business" side associated with printing. A individual tub of pmi pallet gel may look more costly than a may of spray adhesive at first glance, but the math doesn't lie. A single gallon of gel can replace dozens and dozens of aerosol cups.
Considering that you aren't wasting half the particular product to the atmosphere and that you can "reactivate" it along with nothing but a wet sponge, the particular cost per t-shirt drops significantly. You aren't paying for the propellant or maybe the feel like can; you're simply paying for the adhesive. In the long run, it's one of the particular easiest ways to cut down on your shop's overhead with no sacrificing quality.
Environmental and health perks
It's simple to ignore the "green" stuff when you're just trying to get an order out there the door, but using pmi pallet gel is really better for the particular environment—and your health. Most aerosol adhesives contain some pretty sketchy solvents and chemicals that you really shouldn't be breathing in.
Due to the fact this gel is usually water-based, it's very much safer to manage. It doesn't have that sharp, chemical smell that lingers in the shop all day. Also, a person aren't throwing away clear pressurized cans every week. It's an inferior footprint, less waste, and a much more pleasant functioning environment. My shop smells like ink and coffee today, rather than a chemical factory, plus I wouldn't have it any other method.
Is it right for every fabric?
I've used pmi pallet gel on almost everything—standard cotton tees, hoodies, polyester combines, you name it. For heavy fleece like hoodies, a person might need to use a slightly wider layer or re-tack it more frequently because fleece falls a lot of lint. But even then, it stands up better compared with how spray.
For really sensitive fabrics or expensive tri-blends, the gel is great because it doesn't leave the "ghost" of glue on the inside of of the t-shirt. You know that weird rectangular sticky patch you sometimes get with spray? That rarely happens having a properly applied gel. The t-shirt pulls off the pallet cleanly, plus any little bit associated with residue that might transfer usually disappears as soon as it hits the drier or the first wash.
Conclusions on making the particular switch
When you're still on the fence about pmi pallet gel, my advice is usually to just get one small container plus try it out on one of your platens for the day. Compare it for your spray-covered platens. Notice how very much cleaner the area is. Observe the way you aren't coughing each time you prepare a pallet.
It requires about a 7 days to really obtain the "feel" for how much drinking water to use whenever re-tacking and how thin to spread the initial coating. But once this clicks, you'll wonder why you patiently lay such a long time. It's just one of all those simple upgrades that makes the daily grind of screen publishing a little softer, a little cleaner, plus a lot more efficient. Plus, your floors won't end up being sticky anymore, plus that's a win within my book any day from the 7 days.