Not using proper equipment?

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.

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MIC206
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Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:39 pm

Not using proper equipment?

Post by MIC206 »

I have always clean out my screens without using a haze remover or a pressure washer and it seems to work fine. I have just used the LER-3 emulsion remover and a detachable shower head to wash it off. But this time I tried to clean them out and there was "ghosting" on the screen. How can I remove the ghosting? Do I need to buy more screens? Would it be best just to buy some haze remover to prevent any ghosting on my screens? :cry:
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Shamax
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Re: Not using proper equipment?

Post by Shamax »

Hey, and welcome to the forum!

I get ghost images from using water-based inks pretty often. A good haze remover will take care of most of it usually, but I can still see faint traces on a lot of my screens and it doesn't affect future prints that I've been able to notice so far. :)
Andy Barker
Owner/Operator of Fragile Branch
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Catspit Productions
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Re: Not using proper equipment?

Post by Catspit Productions »

Yeah a good haze remover will clear things up well but I agree, you may always see s little ghosting of darker inks like black, navy and reds.

And as Andy said it shouldn’t be much of a problem. When hazing is a noticeable issue you will know it. A faint imprint of lessor ink will be apparent when you print the new design. You’ll see parts of the haze in the new print as the ink flow will be impeded by the stain on the mesh. This mostly will occur with high opacity inks like whites.
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
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http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
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MIC206
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:39 pm

Re: Not using proper equipment?

Post by MIC206 »

What I meant to ask is there seems to be left over emulsion that will not come out. Do I need haze remover for that as well as a pressure washer?? Cuz I've been trying to remove it with the LER-3 remover but it still won't come off unfortunately i think it does affect my prints cuz water won't go thru it the left over emulsion in general.
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Shamax
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Re: Not using proper equipment?

Post by Shamax »

I'd have to see a picture of your screen to know for certain what you mean, but I think I've experienced the same as well. I recently burned a screen which turned out to be underdeveloped, so I reclaimed, dehazed, and de-greased it. I never tried printing with it, but I can still see the outline on some of the image and it has the color of the emulsion. I little more reclaimer along with a pressure washer would probably get rid of it. In my case, I don't currently have a pressure washer and it didn't seem to be too major, so I decided to re-coat the screen anyway. It's currently drying, and I'll be re-burning the image tonight, so we'll see what happens ;)
Andy Barker
Owner/Operator of Fragile Branch
Store: http://fragilebranch.storenvy.com
Site/blog: http://www.fragilebranch.com
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Catspit Productions
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Re: Not using proper equipment?

Post by Catspit Productions »

I agree with Andy totally. A little more emulsion remover and/or haze remover combined with the pressure washer will do the best job at clearing up this problem.

The pressure washer is a key factor in easy reclaiming.
Jonathan Monaco
Catspit Productions, LLC
Learn how to screen print tee shirts!

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CatspitProductions
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