How To Clean A Silk Screen After Use

Learning the correct way to clean screen press screens may not be the most exciting chore, but information technology is essential for producing quality prints. After finishing a screen printing pattern, whether at the finish of the solar day or when a print job is consummate, the screen should exist properly cleaned. If the screen is not cleaned after utilize, especially for water based inks, it will end up being more hard to fully remove leftover ink that tin can cause impairment to the screen, jeopardizing future prints. If yous have struggled with how to clean screen press screens from ink and other residue, or are making sure your current method is right, keep reading for a uncomplicated step-by-footstep process that will leave you with quality designs for the next print job.

Reusing The Screen

There are two options for how the cleaning procedure can exist performed when cleaning screens; whether you will exist reusing the screen or reclaiming it.

For reuse, it is not a requirement to take the tape off the sides of the screens. What y'all will demand to do is take a dry towel or rag to wipe off any excess ink that has formed during screen printing. Afterwards doing this, spray the screen with cleaning solution using a rag to work it in. If you lot will be working with the same ink color for the next impress run, the screen does not have to be as carefully cleaned compared to switching to some other ink color. Be sure to make clean the screen to the point where you can run across through the emulsion for the next job.

Easy Computer to screen

Repossess Screens

For reclaiming screens, follow this guide and please remember to always clothing gloves and centre protection when dealing with chemicals.

i. The get-go thing to do is accept whatever tape or plastic off the sides or on the surface of the screen. This will ensure that all the ink volition be removed.

ii. After this, remove the ink that has formed on the screen with a squeegee or scrape off the excess and place information technology into a container if you plan on reusing it.

iii. Utilize a rag to remove any leftover ink from the screen as well as ink on the squeegee to foreclose it from drying. Another option is to remove ink with a piece of wax paper or sheet of plastic. This is an easy method of removal without applying excess chemicals onto the screen.

iv. Lay the screen onto a horizontal surface making sure that the impress side is facing up. Using screen reclaimer, spray a generous corporeality onto the screen letting information technology soak in for approximately ii minutes or as otherwise stated from the manufacturer's instructions. If you leave the cleaner on for a longer duration of time it poses a chance of damaging your screen. Another choice is to soak the screen with Isopropyl Alcohol using newspaper towels or a rag and letting information technology sit for a couple of minutes.

5. After letting the cleaner sit down, break upwards the emulsion by lightly scrubbing the screen with a coarse brush. Wash away the cleaner and any scrubbed up residue with a pressure level washer that ranges from 1,500 to ii,000 PSI. If you notice that after using the pressure level washer there are still areas that take ink buildup, double-check the tension on your screens since screens that have a loose tension volition accept a higher chance for unnecessary ink buildup. For retensionable screens, increase the tension of the mesh to make the cleaning procedure easier. If there is not a problem with the tension, effort turning the screen over to the other side to power wash it or echo the procedure of scrubbing in the solution and powerwashing it off until getting desired results.

6. After applying the emulsion remover and using a power washer, employ a degreaser onto the front and back of the screen. This will remove whatsoever leftover impurities. If this step is missed, in that location is a chance that the emulsion will not stick well to the screen subsequently. Scrub the degreaser onto the screen'due south surface and rinse off with the power washer.

seven. Lastly, let the screens dry naturally only fairly chop-chop. Place the screen about a window, open area, or a room with little humidity to avoid pinholes or stencil impairment. If subsequently the screen dries there is a ghost paradigm, simply use a haze remover to expunge it.

Dip Tank Ease

If yous program on reclaiming several screens and are limited on fourth dimension, it might be wise to invest in a dip tank. It is every bit easy every bit purchasing Dip Tank Solution and following the mixing instructions. After the solution and water mixture is prepared, you tin place your screens into the dip tank for approximately 3 to 5 minutes and take them out to pressure launder them. This will leave your screens in groovy condition and extend their lifespan.

At present that you lot have read how to clean screen printing screens, don't forget to check out our blog for more helpful tips and processes to make your print jobs and cleanups smoother. You can likewise contact usa if yous have whatsoever questions or are looking for the best in pre-printing equipment for screen printing.

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