Can You Mix Different Brands of DTF Ink? What to Know Before Switching to BCH Ink

Question:
I've been using a different brand of DTF (Direct to Film) ink in my printer. Before switching to BCH Ink, do I need to completely empty the ink tanks and clean all the tubing and nozzles, or can I just start using BCH Ink and let it mix with the remaining ink from the previous brand?

Answer:

Technically, it's best practice to completely flush the old ink out of your system before switching brands. Different manufacturers use different formulations-such as variations in resin content, pigment particle size, and solvent base-which can react with each other when mixed. This can lead to clogging in the nozzles, uneven color output, or even gel formation inside the tubing or dampers.

That said, if the inks are similar in composition (for example, both water-based DTF inks), you can often switch gradually without a full cleaning, especially if your current ink is almost depleted. Here's a balanced approach:

1. Use up as much of your existing ink as possible. Run prints until the tanks are nearly empty to minimize cross-contamination.

2. Top off with BCH Ink. Once levels are low, you can start adding BCH Ink to the tanks. The minor amount of old ink left in the lines will quickly be displaced.

3. Run a few cleaning cycles. This helps the new ink fully replace the old one inside the printhead and dampers.

4. Observe print quality. If you notice color shifts, streaking, or nozzle dropout, perform a deeper flush of your system using cleaning solution.

For professional users or if you're switching from a solvent or pigment-based ink to DTF ink, a full cleaning is highly recommended to prevent chemical incompatibility. However, if your current ink and BCH Ink are both standard DTF formulations, the risk of issues is relatively low when following the above steps.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Therefore, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting or repair support. We do offer in-person diagnostic and repair services through our local facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service), but please note that availability operates on a first-come, first-served basis and may take a few weeks. Our services cover complete printer repair or specific part restoration with clear guidance for each process. However, if you prefer a cost-effective route, we highly recommend exploring self-help options via online resources-especially our BCH Technologies YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon next to "About" to look for topics like "ink change," "DTF clog," or "color banding." After nine years of making videos, even we use this search method to find the right one!

Thank you again for reaching out and for being part of the BCH Technologies community. Your continued engagement means a lot to us.