What pallet adhesive should I use?Updated 2 days ago
The truth is - there are a lot of options out there today, all with positives and negatives to their use, but there is one out there that will work for your shop/ volume.
It has been the go to for a long time. Why? The longevity of the water-based adhesive is amazing. You can print hundreds of shirts without needing to reapply the adhesive. You can dilute the adhesive up to 50%, and it still works perfectly. Having the option to dilute the product means that it'll last longer in your shop (who doesn't want to save some cash?). With water-based pallet adhesive, you're not spraying the glue everywhere. You're not inhaling the adhesive particles from the aerosol can. Your shop and your lungs will thank you over the long run. To hear a printer's experience with water-based pallet adhesive, watch this video.
AlbaChem's spray adhesive is the go to for Aersol Adhesives - they offer it in two styles, Dri-Web and Flash Spray. Dri-Web is your go to for most projects. It doesn't transfer, it is also repositionable, clear, and non staining, while providing dependable adhesion for your blank to the platen. The Aersol makes it easy and quick to use, so you don't have to slow down to apply, making it super convenient for a fast paced shop!
PrintGRIP is a 1mm polymer gel pad that is the clean, reusable, more effective alternative to traditional pallet adhesives. It is offered in 3 different varieties to fit any need, Yellow (High Tack), White (Medium Tack), and Black (Super High Tack). It works best on a variety of blanks, from 100% Cotton and 50/50 Cotton/Poly Blends, 100% Polyester, Light to Medium weight fleece and Tri-Blends. Once enough lint has built up on the adhesive, you just need to add some water and use a scrub pad (or the dedicated mit) to clean it off and it's good to go again! These sheets can last from 3-6 months, depending on the amount of impressions the platen takes in that time, making them easy to use, economical, and great for a fast production shop!
PMI Palletgel is product in the gel adhesive space that has some added features, in addition to being easy to use and easy to clean. It changes color as the platen is heated, and when the platen is at 120 F degrees it will turn yellow to denote that the platen is properly pre-heated. It also applies without the need for paper pallet tape, and is easy to apply directly to the platen. It's durable and provides enough tack for up to 100,000 impressions until a replacement is needed.