This is one question we often get asked and the answer is: it depends. A “flash dryer unit” can mean so many things, from a small-scale handheld model to a bulk oven. Manual presses, automated equipment, and even lamps all fall under some form of flash dryer unit.

There are two kinds of Flash Dryers – Electric & Infrared (IR). Electric ones use an element that heats up but does not put off heat into directly touching objects as infrared ones do. It’s just as hot as an infrared one but it doesn’t come with the drawbacks of direct contact with your garments or screens. If you don’t touch them right away then there won’t be any residual heat that would help burn the design into your screens.

Electric drying units are cheaper, more practical for small setups, and less damaging to your garments which is why we recommend going with them on a budget or as a newbie for now even though Infrared ones have their place in a commercial setting.

Infrared flash dryers for screen printing – Reviews

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The best Automatic Flash Dryer

The VEVOR flash dryer is a fully automated screen printing flash dryer that has an excellent quality, large drying area, and accurate temperature.

• Large drying area
• Accurate thermostat
• Solid base

From the stable base to the large drying area, this screen printing flash dryer is a practical tool for every printer.

Large Drying Area: The effective heating area of the dryer reaches 18″ x 18″ (45 x 45 cm). The heating tubes are wrapped by a stainless steel wire mesh that has higher thermal efficiency, especially more practical for large areas that need to be dried.

Accurate Thermostat & Sensor: Equipped with an accurate temperature controller and sensitive sensor, the temperature control range is 0-100℃. When the sensor detects that the heating area has reached the set temperature, the flash dryer for screen printing will automatically stop heating in time.

Adjustable Height: By adjusting the height adjustment knob, you can adjust the corresponding height as required. And the range of adjustment is from 30″-48″.

Pros

• Automatic
• Has an adjustable height
• It works like a dryer should

Cons

The VEVOR Flash Dryer is a good choice for anyone who needs an infrared dryer. With its automatic operation, adjustable height, and easy-to-use design, it will be hard to find anything better on the market at this price point. If you’re looking for something more than just your average dryer but don’t want to pay $1000+, then we recommend checking out the features of this product today!

The Best Flash Dryer for screen printing

VEVOR’s dryer is a specially designed product that successfully balances performance with affordability for this particular need.

Housed in an enclosure of durable steel, the VEVOUR 16×16″ Dryer has an adjustable height allowing it to be used on any variety of surfaces while offering an XL heating area ensuring your needs are met.

No matter what type of materials you wish to process so long as they offer ample air-flow, there will be no problem. The adjustable belt & wheel provides simple adjustments for convenience and added safety too!

• The dryer is a special design product that has balanced performance with affordability for this particular need
• Housed in a durable steel enclosure, the VEVOUR 16×16″ Dryer has an adjustable height to allow it to be used on any variety of surfaces. It also offers XL heating area ensuring your needs are met.
• VEVOR’s dryer doesn’t only offer excellent quality, but great customer service as well that can answer all questions you have.

VEVOR’s dryer is a specially designed product that successfully balances performance with affordability for this particular need.

Pros

• Solid X-shaped Base
• Easy to set up
• Affordable

Cons

The VEVOR 16×16″ Dryer is a great option for screen printers who are looking for affordable yet high-quality equipment.

The dryer has an adjustable height and XL heating area, so it can be used on any variety of surfaces while still providing the performance needed to handle your job in a timely manner.

If you’re considering purchasing this product, we recommend reading reviews from other customers before making your final purchase decision. It’s important that you know what others think about the product before deciding if it should become part of your business too!

The best Flash Dryer for sale

The TECHTONGDA 16”x 16″ 11600W Flash Dryer is a large, durable piece of equipment that will last for many years with minimal maintenance.

• No Risk of Fire–The design ensures that there is no risk of fire to worry about, which makes it perfect for beginners or anyone who has had a previous experience with an unsafe machine before.
• High Quality Work- Less time means more production, so you can get your job done quicker without sacrificing quality in any way.
• Long Lasting Ceramic Heating Tubes- The ceramic heating tubes are long lasting and energy efficient, which means you won’t need to worry about frequent replacements.

The best flash dryer unit is the TECHTONGDA 16”x 16″ 11600W Flash Dryer. It features high-quality work with minimal time and produces no risk of fire. The long-lasting ceramic heating tubes are energy efficient and produce top-quality work in less time than other products on the market today.

Pros

• The design ensures that there is no risk of fire to worry about.
• Less time means more production, so you can get your job done quicker without sacrificing quality in any way.
• The ceramic heating tubes are long lasting and energy efficient, which means you won’t need to worry about frequent replacements.

Cons

The TECHTONGDA 16”x 16″ 11600W Flash Dryer is a large, durable piece of equipment that will last for many years with minimal maintenance. If you’re looking for an affordable yet powerful machine, this may be perfect for what you need!

The Best silk screen Flash Dryer

The TECHTONGDA Flash Dryer 16×16 inch 1600W Flash Dryer for Screen Printing Ink Curing Dryer uses infrared heat that penetrates through the full depth of the drying box instead of just on top like some other dryers.

The industrial-grade aluminum plate heats more evenly, cutting down on time and providing better quality prints.

Drying heads can be rotated in 360 degrees to customize placement to suit your preferences or needs. This durable, efficient unit is perfect for screen printing shops with limited space.

• Durable: Heating tubes adopts 1600w stainless steel heating tubes, can be used for more than 10000 hours normally.
• High efficiency: With an aluminum plate on the top of the heating tube, help to improve thermal efficiency. Metal stand with universal locking casters, stable and easy move.
• Easy to assemble: Sturdy design with powder coated housing to prevent rust. Easy assembly. With full set installation tools, test thermometer and installation instructions.
• Easy operation: Movable wheel and height adjustable Stand The drying box can rotate in 360 degree and can be fixed at any position The temperature can be achieved by adjusting the height of the drying box The drying head can be adjusted in 1.6″ from up and down.

TECHTONGDA Flash Dryer 16×16 inch 1600W Flash Dryer for Screen Printing Ink Curing Dryer is the most economical, efficient, and durable dryer on the market. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert, this is the perfect machine to suit your needs.

Pros

• 2-year warranty.
• Dryers are affordably priced and come with many features not found in our competitors’ products.
• Comes fully assembled and ready to go right out of the box! With test thermometer and installation instructions included, setup couldn’t be easier!

Cons

They come fully assembled, with a test thermometer and installation instructions included making setup easy!

The durable stainless steel heating tubes will last more than 10,000 hours of continuous use without needing replacement. With height adjustable standers that can be fixed at any position, you’ll have the freedom to customize placement as needed or desired.  

This unit is affordably priced compared to our competitors’ products on the market today. If you need an affordable dryer that also comes with many features not found in other models available on the marketplace today, this may be your best option!

The Best Flash Dryer on amazon

The INTBUYING 16″ x 16″ Flash Dryer Silk Printing is an excellent machine that can dry large areas for screen printing at a fraction of the cost of other high-end machines. It also helps to save time by being able to flash your screens faster than traditional methods.

• Flash drying can save production time.
• Air circulation is clean and dry, making the process nearly odorless.
• Low vibration levels make it easier on your equipment to avoid damage.

Many screen printers have been using this method for years because it’s so much faster than other methods of drying screens. In fact, some shops that use this machine report a 50% increase in productivity!

It’s easy to see why flash-drying is becoming more popular every day. The INTBUYING 16″ x 16″ Flash Dryer Silk Printing has many benefits that anyone who does screen printing should know about before buying another type of dryer.

Pros

• It has a drying time of 10 seconds, which is faster than other types.
• The machine also has such features as casters and easy adjustment for height.
• This dryer can work with any screen size, even larger ones that often cannot fit in regular models.

Cons

With so many benefits, the INTBUYING 16″ x 16″ Flash Dryer Silk Printing is a great investment for any screen printer. The low vibration levels and air circulation make it easy for your equipment to avoid damage while saving you time in production by being able to flash screens faster than traditional methods.

For these reasons alone, we recommend this machine for anyone who does screen printing. However, with its high costs and cons that could be dealbreakers for some people, everyone has their own preferences when it comes to investing in tools like dryers.

Whether you’re just getting started in screen printing or are an established business, you’ll almost certainly have at least one flash dryer scooting about the shop. When you begin and progress in screen printing, it’s critical to know the many sorts of flash drying equipment available on the market so that you can determine which is best for your needs.

Flash Dryer Lineup Each of these electric dryers is a different variation of a product line called Turbo Heat Lamps by LowTemp Industries, which you can find at wholesale prices on Amazon. They’re far from the best but they do qualify as one of the best flash dryers out there that won’t break your wallet. You could buy all three and still be below most infrared heat lamps’ price range (which will probably be the other option that pops up when you search “flash dryer” on Google) without sacrificing too much in terms of quality or features.

Infrared heat lamps are a bit pricier than electric units but they also have a number of benefits you should know about before making your choice. The main difference between them is that infrared units do not touch the object you’re trying to dry, unlike electric ones which actually come into direct contact with it via a heating element that can warp screens and/or burn garments. No risk of warping or burning if you use an infrared heat lamp and we actually recommend going with that option if you’re serious about printing and making a long term investment (we’re pretty sure 25% of people who search “flash dryer unit” on Google will end up here, read this article and go for the best one without even thinking about it).

Infrared Heat Lamps Infrared heat lamps might as well be called the best flash dryers out there because they offer all the benefits of both drying methods – They don’t touch your screens/garments, have zero risk of warping, or burning them, and are more cost-efficient than electric ones. If being gentle to your garments is not a top priority then they’re almost certainly worth the extra price.

To avoid buying a knock-off we recommend going with either: DryingTech, Infrared Dynamics or Grab. All of these companies sell infrared flash dryers well above $1,000 and their products are getting more popular in the screen printing industry just like LowTemp’s electric model is. However, they’re still very rarely seen in small shops which might also be an obstacle to purchasing them if you’re just starting out.

If you’re into screen printing then you’ve probably heard of flash dryers. They are used to force ink to quickly dry on a substrate or surface in order for it to stick better and be resistant to smudging or rubbing off easily after printing.

However, selecting the right equipment is not always easy because they come in so many shapes and sizes with different capabilities than others which might leave you feeling overwhelmed if it’s your first time buying one.

We’ll give you some tips on choosing the best unit but before that, here are some general facts that I’m sure all screen printers know about them:

1) Flash dryers cost $300 for screens for between 10″ x 12″ up to 17″ x 20″. This is the most common size range.

2) Costs triple for  19″ x 24″ screens

3) Acceptable drying times

• Only one hour for mesh counts of 155 ~ 305
• Two hours for mesh counts of 110 ~ 154
• Four hours for mesh counts higher than 305 or anything with a thick emulsion layer (water based, photopolymer, etc.)

Higher heat outputs produce faster drying times which might damage the fabric if they’re not strong enough to withstand it . You should always check online reviews before buying any flash dryer unit because screen printers are usually pretty harsh when it comes to these products and you can learn a lot from their experiences.

1) Before buying one, take into account how much time it takes your garments to dry. For example, if you’re using mesh counts lower than 155 then there is no point getting an industrial level unit because they would simply be wasting electricity and doing nothing.

You should buy an inexpensive garment/screen dryer instead which takes less time to use but also generates less heat than industrial ones. On the other hand, if your mesh count is higher than 305 then you’ll need something that packs enough heat power that will quickly force ink to dry in under four hours. A commercial-grade flash dryer can do just that and sometimes even faster.

2) The size of the unit matters. It’s a no-brainer that bigger screens will take more time to dry so having a big enough flash dryer for your shop is crucial. In the same way, if you’re using smaller screens then it might be too frustrating and slow to use a larger unit for them; we recommend buying something in between instead (you’ll see what I mean later).

3) Consider the capabilities and features. You should look for: Heat Output: This is probably the most important factor when selecting any type of flash dryer out there because it indicates how quickly it can force ink to dry on your garments.

Yes, other factors like size and cost come into play here but heat output always determines drying times, periods. There is no such thing as a “commercial” unit that can dry in one hour if it’s not capable of generating enough heat to do so.

Temperature Settings: Higher temperature settings will produce faster drying times but they might also damage the fabric or cause the ink to fade over time. Keep this in mind and consider buying something with adjustable temperature controls so you can adjust accordingly and prevent any damages from happening by making it cooler when necessary (this is especially true for polyester garments).

Timers: This feature comes in handy when printing on white garments because it prevents ink from drying on the flash dryer itself; most units come with automatic timers (and may even include ones that can be programmed) which releases an infrared beam across the screen and automatically turns off when it dries. This saves a lot of time and reduces the risk of ink contamination, especially when using 8-hour timers (which is what we recommend).

4) Consider the type of emulsion you use. If you use water-based or photopolymer inks then I’m sure you already know this but if not: These types of emulsions generally take longer to dry because they’re heavier and composed of multiple layers of protective coatings that prevent them from drying quickly by themselves.

For example, some screen printers say that their mesh counts lower than 150 or 180 won’t dry completely after eight hours which forces them to leave them on the unit for 24+ hours (which can damage certain fabrics like polyester and spandex). We recommend getting a unit with higher temperature settings if this is the case.

5) Where you live matters too. If your shop is located in an area where humidity levels are high then you’ll need a commercial-grade flash dryer that can generate enough steam and keep it away from the screen so it won’t damage them over time.

Otherwise, moisture will accumulate which leads to wrinkling and peeling of both images and emulsion; this can be prevented by adding a desiccant (a drying agent that absorbs humidity) into the unit’s storage compartment but some brands like Ultra Dry include these as well.

This feature also shortens drying times because humid air takes more time to heat up which makes it advisable for screen printers living in areas with high humidity levels to get one.

6) What types of screens do you use? This is another determining factor because some screen printers need units that can work with rigid frames and smaller mesh counts (150 or 180) which makes it difficult for them to find a powerful enough flash dryer that can support their needs.

Before buying anything, you should first check the dimensions of your screens then measure how much space is available on your wall or table because most units come with three feet wide frames but there are other brands like Flashback, Ultra Dry, and Yield Lab’s DRY-ALL XL Hybrid (they’re thicker and stick out more) which should be considered as well.

If you plan on using 175 mesh count screens (or lower) then you should also get a unit with adjustable temperature controls because higher settings can damage them over time.

7) Size matters too. Flash dryers come in different shapes and sizes so it’s important to measure the installation area before buying anything; this is especially true for tables or workbenches because if you’re working with limited space then the smallest units like the Drying Space Flash Dryer will do just fine.

This particular unit comes with an easy-to-use control panel that doesn’t take up much space which makes it perfect for smaller shops; It has six feet long legs that can be adjusted so you can perfectly center your screen while drying plus it doesn’t generate enough heat to damage your table, unlike units with high wattage.

8) What are your budget and needs? Flash dryers come in different price points so it’s important to set a reasonable budget before looking at any models; we recommend buying something within $500 if you’re just starting out but if you already have the knowledge and experience then spending $1,000 or more won’t be a problem because these types of flash dryers can generate enough steam for multiple jobs per day (and they’ll last longer).

There is such as thing as too much but chances are that if you use large mesh counts on rigid screens then you need an expensive unit that can power through anything without breaking down.

Heat guns are simply used to keep images warm so they don’t cool down too quickly (this is usually done before printing).

The good news is that most brands like the Ultra Dry Flash Dryer and the Yield Lab DRY-ALL XL Hybrid come with adjustable settings so you can use them for silk screen printing; you just need to set the temperature below 200°F (90°C) or around 100°C (212°F) if your emulsion allows it.

Operating this kind of flash dryer is easy, all you have to do is press a button then wait for the green light to turn on which indicates that steam will start flowing; adjust the dial’s setting according to your mesh count and unit’s manual then let it do its magic.   

1. Move the dryer heating box to the top of the drying platform, turn on the power, start the heating.

2. Place the thermometer probe in the middle of the platform to start temperature measurement;

3. Observe the temperature shown in the thermometer after 15 minutes; If the temperature is too high; Adjust the height of the drying box, if the temperature is too low, shorten the height of the drying box with the platform to achieve the proper temperature.