Hello CatSpit,

I have been watching your tutorials and they've been most helpful. I have been having trouble with one of my screens tho'.

This happened, I think it was to do with not degreasing it properly, although I did pay a lot of attention to doing so and it doesn't happen on the other screens.

When re-emulsifying the screen it covers as normal but in the effected areas the emulsion slides away and leaves this gap.

Another problem is this,



At first I thought it was screen filler, but no matter how much I scrub it with stencil strip it stays. The screen is now bare and it is covering large amounts of the screen, especially at the edges.

It’s very difficult to see what is going on there. In the first shot I would recommend haze remover but then when you show us the other pictures I am confused as to what is really going on there? Are you saying the emulsion is repelled in that area or that there’s something in there that won’t wash out?

It almost looks like you could have some screen lock caused by stencil remover or other chemicals drying on the bare emulsion. It makes it impossible to get out. Are you using a pressure washer to reclaim and de-haze?

I currently do not own a pressure washer and am using a shower to reclaim the screens. I am thinking you're right and that is the problem with the second two images, as it does not have enough power.

I would like to buy a pressure washer, I am going to re-watch your video now to see the specifications you recommend. I will prolly buy a consumer washer but I don't want to waste money buying one that isn't powerful enough.

On the first photo's problem. The emulsion goes onto the screen evenly and then when it is left to dry the emulsion is repelled away from certain areas making those holes. I am placing an order with Rynotech haze remover, but I am having trouble finding good quality supplies within the UK.

Thank you for replying and making your videos. You've been a greeeaaat help

As the screens are prolly unrecoverable I am ordering new screens. I watched the video about Mesh count for Plastisol inks and I was wondering if you have done a video about water based ink's mesh variables.

My studio is vey small and Plastisol is not suitable as of the toxicity. Also the ventilation is not good enough.
Thanks again.

If you need a great supplier in the UK then check out MacDermid Autotype:

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/MacDermid.html

They will even answer questions you have about screen making and recommend solutions. But now as you say the emulsion is repelled when you coat the screen this is definitely a mesh prep issue. Make sure to not only de haze the mesh but then make sure to clean it well after that with a degreaser. You want to remove all the grease or oils from human hands or other sources so that the emulsion will adhere to the screen.

Check out this article on mesh prep:

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/me ... ation.html

and this one:

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/pr ... mance.html

That might help you out a bit. I have not done a video about mesh counts and water based inks because I rarely use water based inks myself but in general you will need to use higher mesh counts than you would with plastisol inks.

You will most certainly want to use a pressure washer to reclaim and de haze. Degreasing should be able to be done with a garden hose. If you buy a new pressure washer make sure to run it through with water for some time before using it to make screens. They have oil inside the unit from the manufacturing which will clear out after some usage but if you try to use it to degrease a screen right out of the box it may actually put oil back on the screen. Here are some suggestions on homeowner pressure washer units:

http://www.catspitproductionsllc.com/sc ... shers.html

And you’re very welcome. It’s my pleasure to help out in any way and I appreciate your posting to the Catspit Forum. Thanks for your support!