Screen Printing - Different Kinds of Squeegees

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Different Kinds of Squeegees

Screen printing is popular for two reasons: (1) it is versatile, and (2) it is profitable. This printing technique can be done on plenty of materials, and the income-generating possibilities are boundless. Some of the popular screen printing products are T-shirts, labels, and decals. Although the process of screen printing takes getting used to, learning it can be fun.

For people new to screen printing, the word squeegee is a funny word. But this funny-sounding item belongs to the screen printing must-haves. There are several types of squeegees, identified by their different characteristics. A squeegee, just for a quick recap, has three qualities, namely blade profile, durometer, and sharpness.

The durometer is a squeegee's rigidity. The quantity of force applied on the surface screen depends on either the softness or hardness of a squeegee. A soft squeegee means that it is more flexible, therefore, it applies less force onto the screen compared to a hard squeegee.

Squeegees has three blade profiles or shapes: round, square or rectangle, and beveled. Different types of blade profiles are used to render different printing results. It is imperative, therefore, to know what type of blade profile is suitable for a screen printing task. The blade sharpness of a squeegee determines how much ink is transferred onto the substrate. A sharper squeegee blade transfers lesser ink.

Combining the three squeegee qualities can produce an approximate number of twelve squeegee types. Depending on what squeegee is used, printing results may vary. It is important to analyze every squeegee quality to know what type produces a certain printing result. For instance, if a sharp image is to be printed, the proper squeegee to use is the one with a sharp blade edge. When ordering squeegee, it is crucial to specify the type one wants.