The following explanation of RUCO Thinners and Additives for pad and screen printing inks is meant as a guide.
Please call or email for further information. We recommend tests prior to making any change to ensure that the
product is suitable for your application.
The terms "thinner", "reducer" and "retarder" are often used interchangeably to describe a product that reduces an inks
viscosity while adjusting drying time. To avoid confusion, we use the term Reducer to describe a fast drying thinner,
and the term Retarder to describe a slow drying thinner. All Ruco inks (except UV) require the addition of either a
reducer and/or a retarder prior to printing.
Reducers
(In order from fastest drying to slowest)
- 100-VR-1291 - Spray thinner for all Ruco inks
- 35353 - Fast Drying Reducer
- 38571 - Fast Drying Reducer
- 100-VR-1370 - Fast Drying Reducer (for T25 Series only)
- 35696 - Fast Drying Reducer (for Glass inks only)
- 38279 - Medium/Fast Drying Reducer
- 38472 - Medium Drying Reducer
Retarders
(in order from fastest drying to slowest)
- 35928 - Slow Drying Retarder
- 38693 - Slow Drying Retarder (for Glass inks only)
- 100-VR-1379 - Slow Drying Retarder (for T25 Series only)
- 34392 - Slower Drying Retarder
- 100-VR-1170 - Super Slow Drying Retarder
- #11 Extreme Retarder
Hardeners
- 100-VR-1286 - Glass Hardener (for 10-KK Series only)
- 37172 - Standard Hardener for 180-PE, 10-KK,380-DD
- SE-5214 - Standard Hardener for 700-ST
- FL-1484 - Standard Hardener for 110-ZK
Adhesive Modifiers
- 100-VR-1260 - For use with solvent based ink (for PP and some other materials)
- 100-VR-1294 - For use with 110-GE glass inks
Special Additives
Below are specific details regarding recommended percentages, when to use certain additives plus more. On each
individual ink series page there are recommendations for solvents, hardeners etc. These are listed as
the best possible starting point for reaching good printing results. However, as seasons change and temperature
and humidity levels rise and fall you may see the need to adjust your type and/or level of thinner. For more information
on this topic please call to speak with a technician.
100-VR-1075 Primer
This product is used as a pre-wipe to clean or pre-treat parts prior to printing. Typical applications include removing mold release or raising surface tension of polyolefines (in lieu of flame or corona treat).
100-VR-1194 Matte Powder
This product may be added to any Ruco ink to achieve a matte or satin finish. To use, weigh 3-4% separately in a mixing container. Add the desired thinner and mix to create a paste, then add the paste to your ink and stir thoroughly. Higher percentages will yield a more matte appearance.
100-VR-1241 Anti-Static Thinner
Add 1-5% by weight to ink to reduce or eliminate static. This product uses as a base carrier a fast drying reducer similar in drying properties to 38571.
100-VR-1260 Adhesion Modifier for solvent based inks
This product may be added to conventional inks at 10-20% by weight to increase the cured ink films hardness and improve the inks adhesion to marginally pre-treated polyolefines.
100-VR-133 Flow Agent
This product may be added to any ink at 1-3% by weight to decrease foaming/bubbling or to reduce moiré patterns in ink films.