How Do I Remove Ink Stains From Mesh?

Here you may discuss how to remove stains and haze from your reclaimed screens. This is also where you may address mesh maintenance and when to replace mesh.

Moderators: Shamax, Leadfoot, ApeShirt, Catspit Productions

User avatar
Catspit Productions
Site Admin
Posts: 1995
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:47 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

How Do I Remove Ink Stains From Mesh?

Post by Catspit Productions »

Sometime inks can stain the mesh during printing. This often happens with black or red inks and over time the haze or staining of the mesh will affect ink flow characteristics of the screen. It can actually cause ink to not want to flow through the mesh. It can cause abnormalities in your print and make you work harder to get good coverage especially with white inks. It is necessary to remove the stains from the mesh prior to recoating with emulsion and making a new stencil.

For this step in the process you must use a chemical known as haze remover or stain remover. This is another part of the process that can be undesirable to do especially due to the chemicals used to remove ink from the mesh which tends to be caustic. Haze removers are much more user friendly today than they used to be years ago. But this still has to be the most hazardous chemical used in the screen printing process. Understanding how to work with stain removers will make this job easier and safer for you whether you work at home or in a commercial shop. A pressure washer will also be very helpful for this step: http://catspitproductionsllc.com/screen ... shers.html

Here are a few videos about haze removal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzxWlrm0zo0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP7SCaBi9zg

Have you ever had a problem with stained mesh? If so how did you remove the ink haze from your screen? Do you use a pressure washer for this? Do you recommend any tricks for getting stains out of the mesh?
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
RhinoTech
Instructor
Posts: 102
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:58 am

Re: How Do I Remove Ink Stains From Mesh?

Post by RhinoTech »

Thanks for using the RhinoTech video that is a hands-on ed. video..says/shows how easy/simple it is to de-haze and remove stains from the mesh. I encourage everyone to take advantage of your 5% discount offer and RhinoTech's FREE SHIPPING opportunities for on-line orders.
User avatar
Catspit Productions
Site Admin
Posts: 1995
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 10:47 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Re: How Do I Remove Ink Stains From Mesh?

Post by Catspit Productions »

No problem, it’s a good video and a great product; excellent for all those who are concerned with the environment and want a product that actually works.

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/rh ... plies.html
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
mikestewart395
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 9:04 am

Re: How Do I Remove Ink Stains From Mesh?

Post by mikestewart395 »

I just started printing a week ago. This happened to me when printing my first signs, the letters got clogged, I didnt know to keep the screen flooded. After I removed the emulsion the letters stayed in the screen. I used Laq. Thinner and a tooth brush to get it off. I only had a starter kit and had nothing else to try. It worked though.
Post Reply