Hi

I am new to screen printintg. I love the forum and educationsal videos they have been a real inspiration and motivation.

I have two related problems

I have just used a green plastasol ( union) ink. I have just cleaned my screen in order to reclaim.

This is the first time this has happened but the ink has stained the screen. I was using a dark (kelly) green. The ink has completly washed of the screen. However the stencil part has stained a lighter shade of the green. I have used extra screen wash, scrubbed the screen and power washed it. Yet the green stain remains.

I have never come across this before. But up until now have only used Black and white plastasol inks.

The other problem I have had is this

On washing out my screen (black ink this time) The photo emultion has blown out on parts of the stencil. I washed out using a preasure washer. is to much preasure making the photo emultion blow out? or is it a bad photo emultion issue. The emultion was fine on exposure. But on wash out it has flaked and blown out of the screen very easily.

I have another question reagrding ghosting but will post this is in the rellevant forum.

Any help is welcome. Thank you

Jay

Get yourself a good haze remover to take care of the ghosting issue. Most times having some ghosting left behind won't affect printing though. Sometimes it can as there is a buildup of ink left behing and is blocking the mesh. Jonathon sells a good one, RhinoTech's HRG2400.
As far as the stencil blowing out. You are most likely under exposing the screen. Expose it a little longer. An exposure calculator would definitely help you dial in your times. I use a pressure washer to wash out my screens and rarely have an issue. I do it with halftones as well. Just fan it out and don't get too close to the screen. Some people use just a garden hose with a sprayer.

Yup I agree, use a haze remover and a pressure washer to remove ink stains in the mesh.

http://catspitscreenprintsupply.com/haze-remover/

But for washing out the stencil do not use the pressure washer. Some people do use the pressure washer for this like Greg but I do not. Try a garden hose with cool tap water and a spray nozzle. That is all you should need if you have a good film positive with the right exposure.

This video could help as well: