Swanson Hydro Graphics
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What is Hydro Dipping?
Hydro dipping (also called water transformation printing, or hydro printing) is a method of applying a printed design to a 3-dimensional object.
How it works
A water soluble film is placed on top of warm water in a dip tank. The film floats on the surface of the water for 1 minute, allowing it to become fluid and lose its "papery" feel. Then, a chemical activator is sprayed over the film which turns it into a liquid adhesive. Once the film starts dissolving, the part is slowly dipped into the water, allowing the design to adhere to the part.
Why hydro dipping?
- Unique - Hundreds of films to chose from
- Affordable - air brush quality, without the high price tag
- Durable - won't rip or tear like a vinyl wrap
Our Process
After the parts are painted and have dried overnight, a film is chosen. The film must be cut large enough to coat the entire surface of the part, but not cut too large that material is wasted. Many films are transparent, which allows the color of the paint to show through the design, giving the part a unique look when completed.
After the part is dipped, it is carefully placed into a rinse tank for about 5 minutes. This is to clean off the excess activator and stray pieces of film. The part is then left to dry completely overnight.
Choose Swanson Hydro Graphics for all of your hydro dipping needs!
When parts arrive at our shop, the first step is to prep the part for primer and paint. All oil and debris must be removed, which is done in our parts cleaning tank. The parts are then moved to the sanding table to remove old paint. Once the parts have been thoroughly sanded, they are transferred to the pant booth where they receive primer and base coat.
After the film is cut to the desired size, it is placed into the dip tank for 1 minute. The water in the tank is a constant 100 degrees, which activates the chemical agents in the film, making it flexible, but still solid. After the minute, a chemical activator is sprayed on the film, which dissolves it into a liquid, and also makes the film adhesive. When the film starts to liquefy, the part is slowly dipped into the water, allowing the design to cover the entire surface of the part.
Once the part is dry, it goes back into the paint booth for clear coat. When the clear coat dries, the part is ready to go!
