A 70 durometer yellow blade is the all-purpose standard for garment printing, and the 75 durometer our assembled squeegees ship with prints slightly crisper edges. Go softer, 60 durometer, for heavy white deposits on dark garments, and harder, 80 durometer, for halftones and fine detail on high mesh counts.

On the Chromaline stock we carry, color codes the hardness: orange is 60 durometer, yellow is 70, dark blue/green is 80, and yellow/white/yellow is the 70/90/70 triple. Color conventions vary by manufacturer, so treat color as a label within one brand, not a universal standard.

It laminates soft 70 durometer print edges over a stiff 90 durometer core. You get the ink deposit and forgiving feel of a soft blade while the core stops the blade from bending and folding over under pressure, which keeps the edge angle constant and prevents dot gain on long runs and automatic presses.

The blade should extend past your printed image on both sides, with clearance to the inside of the frame so the edge never rides up the well. For a standard 20 x 24 screen, most shirt prints run a 12 to 14 inch blade. Rolls cut to any length, and the EZ Grip handle accepts 6 to 14 inch blades.

Wood is the classic: curved, comfortable and the lowest cost. Aluminum resists the solvents and ink that eventually soak a wood handle, wipes clean in seconds and stays dimensionally true. The EZ Grip ergonomic handle adds a two-grip design that keeps wrists neutral on push or pull strokes during long runs.

Scoop excess ink off with a card at the end of the run, then wipe the blade with a rag and a mild screen wash. Avoid ink thinners and aggressive solvents, which swell polyurethane and round the edge, and let any cleaner flash off before the blade prints again. High-volume shops run a squeegee cleaning machine and get blades ink-out in seconds.

When prints go soft and edges blur at your normal pressure, the edge has rounded: polyurethane re-sharpens, on a dry blade only, and comes back crisp. Nicks are different; they print a line through every shirt and do not sharpen out, so cut a fresh length from the roll and rotate the damaged section away.

Yes. The 144 inch Chromaline rolls are made for it: measure to your holder, cut square with a sharp utility knife, and the factory edge prints straight off the roll. One roll costs less per inch than pre-cut blades and fills a whole holder lineup in one order.

Hold the blade near 75 degrees to the screen so the sharp edge meets the mesh, and use just enough pressure to clear the stencil in one pass. More pressure bends the blade flat, dumps a heavy blurry deposit and wears the edge fast; if you need more ink, go softer on durometer or lower on mesh count instead of leaning harder.

Yes. Four stocked delivery vans run daily across Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert and the greater Valley, and will-call pickup is available at the Tempe warehouse Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Orders over $250 ship nationwide with shipping included.