Pad Printing Ink Thinning Rule - 20 Percent Tops

Don’t try to over-thin by stretching out the life of pad printing inks with excessive solvents. This is false economy. It weakens the ink and can shift the color and opacity. Maximum recommended thinner ratio is 20%. Most applications are fine at 15% thinner. Cutting corners by extending your printing ink does not necessarily save money. Plus, you are risking the most important goal of your finished decorating job: a quality image!

Speaking of quality control, invest in a good electronic weighing scale and use it. Don’t eyeball or use guess work in mixing, Measure everything by weight. You’ll find it’s more reliable and repeatable.

Last but not least: Thoroughly stir your ink in its can as soon as you open it. This ensures that any ingredients that may have settled are properly mixed into the entire contents. Good ink deserves good mixing.
 

Pad Printing Ink Thinning

You can tell what is happening with your pad printing ink just by speeding up or slowing down the machine. If it prints better going slower, then your ink is too wet; you have either over thinned the ink or need to go to a thinner that evaporates faster. You could also use your pad delay. If it prints better by going faster, then the ink is too dry - add more thinner. This test works best on our mechanical pad printing machines. If you are using a automatic pad printing machine, cycle the printer at printing speed with the start button, then stop it before the pad goes down onto the part. Quickly rub the ink on the pad; if it smears, then your ink is too wet; if it balls up, then it is too dry.