Have you ever used a wooden stick or better yet, cardboard to take plastisol ink out of the container? Did you forget to take out the stick or cardboard after you were done? The next day or even worse, weeks later, you go to reuse that ink and notice that the ink seems to be a bit different. Does the stick appear to be stained a different color or the cardboard has lost its rigidity and looks greasy?

What has happened is that a portion of the plasticizer from the ink has been absorbed away into the cardboard or stick. This can definitely alter the usability of an ink. You may notice that the viscosity and elasticity properties of the ink have changed. You may also notice that the ink is not able to pass through the appropriate mesh or the cured ink cracks.

Click here to read Kieth Stevens' tip on how to increase ink's logevity