When you are screen printing, most printers either push or pull. And while both work well in our opinion, we consulted the screen printer pro’s at Ryonet to get their take on the matter.
Read on to learn the benefits of each technique!
The Push Method
Pushing is much more ergonomic for your body. Pushing the squeegee puts less pressure on your wrists, shoulders, and joints because it allows the strength of your upper body to push the squeegee across the project you’re working on. Because it requires less effort, it results in faster production time. The disadvantage? The push method only works well at a forty-five-degree angle which means you can’t get to those hard-to-reach sharper and lower spots. All in all, if you need a large amount of ink applied to a print, this is a great method to use.
The Pull Method
Pulling your squeegee is a lot tougher on your body. It’s a little uncomfortable because you’re going against what feels natural. With that said, the pull method makes it easy to achieve different angles and position at lower angles. This method allows you to adjust the quality and thickness of the project, too – a more upright angle deposits less ink and a less upright angle deposits more ink. Make sense? You can apply a large amount of ink or a little amount of ink with this method, making it work seamlessly for inside label prints and smaller details like seams.
All in all, a printer who’s dedicated to their craft should be well versed in both methods. Each boasts unique benefits and also has drawbacks, so learning both will allow you to create the best quality product on a variety of materials.
Do you have a favorite technique? If so, we suggest switching things up every now and then for a different effect!
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