Using S Thread Mesh

Using Thin Thread - Mesh Discharge Ink: (view PDF for images)

Discharge Prints are more vibrant and have greater details using the proper thin thread mesh. S-thread mesh allows the ink to pass with ease through a greater open area than is achievable with T thread mesh. Typically to get good discharge color the print must soak the shirt 50% of the way through the fabric so that during curing the surface fabric and underlying weave is completely discharged to a greige goods color. Generally the greige goods color is a tan color. Different colors of fabric have different discharge ratings, 5 being best and 1 being marginal. A black shirt is typically a “5” while a turquoise shirt made with dischargable reactive dyes does not discharge as well and is rated at 1-2 on discharge effectiveness. 

Look at the detail below in this discharge print. S thread allowed lots of discharge ink to pass through the mesh, in this case a 150 thread per inch with a 48 micron thread. In the past this would be classied as an S thread. Today with the variety of thread sizes available we refer to it as a 150/48. When S Thread is combined with Aquasol HV or HVP the screen has the best combination for printing discharge. S-thread helps the ink print well, and Aquasol HV or HVP can stand up to the longest print runs you can produce.

However there are many different fabric weights and weaves that require specific mesh counts to achieve brilliant detailed discharge. Typically shirts have different fabric weights from very light 4.3 oz up to 6.1 oz ‘Beefy T’ weights as well as different thicknesses of yarn and singles count. The chart below are fabric weights and the highest mesh count suggestion that can be used. Press set up can have many more adjustments to yield a good print. Squeegee angle, durometer and speed also play an important part of a good print. S thread can eliminate some of these adjustments so that press settings of the squeegees do not need minimal modification.

To obtain the detail of the example shown you need S-Thread. The increased open area allows the ink to soak the shirt while the higher mesh counts improves the detail the screen is capable of printing. The mesh statistics in the chart below shows why. 150-48 has an open area of 51% but has 40 more threads per inch than a 110-T mesh which only has a 43% open area. So more threads and more open area all create a sharper discharge print with excellent color.

Plastisol Ink: 

S thread is the best improvement you can make for your base plates. A 150-S can print brighter and more detailed base plates than a 110-T typically used on most plastisol base plate printing. Just like discharge, base plates made with 150/48 can hold more detail, and in the case of plastisol, use much less squeegee pressure resulting in a softer hand print since the ink is laid on the surface of the shirt and not driven into the fabric. As a bonus 150/48 uses less ink than a 110T.