Home Forums Printing Discussions Mimaki Printers Printing golf balls, print life expectancy advice, please?

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  • Printing golf balls, print life expectancy advice, please?

    Posted by Matic Serbelj on 17 August 2020 at 14:40

    Hey!

    I recently bought a mimaki ujf 6042 mkii and am printing on golf balls. The print is good but am searching for a method so that the print lasts a bit longer than one round. Do you guys spray the balls with another clear coat? I thought about dipping the balls in a clear coat and leaving them to dry. Any other ideas?

    Thomas J. Schitteck replied 4 years, 7 months ago 4 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • Robert Lambie

    Administrator
    17 August 2020 at 14:57

    I am not a golf guy by any means, but does the print on balls normally withstand the hits and chips from a club?

    even with a liquid coating, I can’t see them being a whole lot better.

  • David Wilde

    Member
    17 August 2020 at 15:11

    I’m a golfer, i’m almost certain that ‘dipping’ a golf ball in any sort of lacquer or resin is entirely detrimental to the ball quality and also, I think, against the rules.

    Printed logos usually with stand a decent knock and in my experience the logo usually lasts longer than I can manage to keep the ball itself.

  • David Wilde

    Member
    17 August 2020 at 15:14

    I should point out that its the ‘dipping’ bit I think is the problem, not an extra layer of overprint.

  • Matic Serbelj

    Member
    17 August 2020 at 16:13

    I bought some golf balls in december, printed directly in Srixon with my logo … factory printed and the logo was great. they print and then do another layer of clear so thats what i am trying to do. when i play, the balls usually last a few holes and the print comes off. I will do some testing so I dont get customers coming back to the shop with “faulty” balls. What do you tell your customers about the durability?

  • Robert Lambie

    Administrator
    18 August 2020 at 00:59

    @matic-serbelj

    could it be that you need to prime the surface of the ball “before” printing?
    This may help prevent the ink chipping or flaking when it’s being hit?

  • David Wilde

    Member
    18 August 2020 at 06:47

    Sounds plausible Rob. I have to say I’ve never had any issues with personalised balls fading or the logo chipping in the past so there must be a way around this.

  • Thomas J. Schitteck

    Member
    8 February 2021 at 10:51

    Hi there, I´m using the ujf 6042 mkii too. The Mimaki-primer is universal, but in my opinion not good and not suitable for every material. Try a different primer liquid (by hand) for better durability.

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