The Right Squeegee For The Printing Job At Hand

In a previously published article and blog (article published in 'Printwear'), Kieth Stevens outlined the various differences between squeegee blades and handles and what to use for what.  This topic seems to be a confusing one for many printers and during our seminars, we often hear  "Ohs" or "Ahs" of dawning understanding when Kieth goes over this topic. So here we are re-posting this blog What are the different types of squeegees and which should I use for any given scenario? Here’s what to look for when choosing a squeegee for the printing job at hand: Handles: When printing manually, choose one that fits your hand comfortably. There are many types from which to choose including wood, plastic or metal. Some are even ergonomically designed. Blade shapes: There are three different types—square, round and V-shaped.

• Square (straight edge) blades are most often used by screen printers. They work well for standard or regular ink applications.
• Round (ball or bull nose) squeegee blades deposit more ink. Use this type for special effects inks such as gel or puff.
• V-shaped (single- or double-bevel) blades are typically used for printing on irregular or cylindrical-shaped substrates.

Durometer: Denotes the hardness of the blades.

• A 50-60 durometer is soft blade that will deposit more ink. Choose this durometer for heavily-textured fabrics to lay down more ink (may help with fibrillation) or for use with special effects inks, such as gels and puffs.
• A 60-75 durometer designation ranks medium on the hardness scale. It is good for general printing.
• The hardest option is an 80 durometer blade. It will deposit less ink and is great for printing fine detail or four-color process prints.

Composite blades: This type of squeegee blade consists of a couple or several different blades of varying durometers sandwiched together, such as a 60/90 or a 70/90/70. The benefit to using this type is that the harder durometer gives the squeegee great support, yet has the softer edge for printing. Kieth Stevens is the Western regional sales manager for International Coatings. He has been teaching screen printing for more than 10 years and is a regular contributor to International Coatings’ blogs. For more information, visit www.iccink.com and read the company’s blog at internationalcoatingsblog.com. International Coatings manufactures a complete line of non-phthalate screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.