Gong Brush?

[mimosatexas]

This has been brought up in a few threads on reclaiming screens and similar topics, but I wanted to start a specific topic.  So far it has been suggested to use either of the following brushes specifically:

http://www.zoro.com/g/00059066/k-G2899172?srccode=cii_10043468&cpncode=26-302733925-2&utm_source=channel_intelligence&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=shopzilla
http://www.macdermidautotype.com/products/96-screen_cleaning_brushes (doesn't seem to be available in the US, and searching google for "CPS brush" brought up nothing)

I found http://www.martin-supply.com/category/cpsbrushes/ but not sure which of the brushes would be a good all purpose one, and would prefer first hand accounts from y'all.

I'd like to hear what others are using to reclaim specifically when it comes to the type of brush (Gong vs Pad?) and as importantly, where you are purchasing the item.  I know a few have said they were buying brushes from home depot, but I bought every similar item offered locally by Home Depot and Lowe's and Autozone, and they were all terrible (too rough, left fibers all over the screen, got eaten by Easiway 701, etc). 

The more specific the better!  Thanks!

FYI: I am using generic scrub pads from walmart.  They are blue with a white handle.  They are soft and shitty and fall apart after maybe 50-100 screens, but they cost 97 cents and don't hurt the mesh at all or leave fibers on the screen.  When they fail, they simply separate from the handle.  I tried to find them on the walmart website, but they don't appear to be available online :/  They look almost exactly like the middle ones in the photo posted by Inkworks here: http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php/topic,10711.msg102851.html#msg102851

[Zelko-4-EVA]

CPS products are color coded - stencil remover has a white cap on the gallon of concentrate, a white bucket and a white brush.  solvent is blue coded, degreaser is yellow (i think)...   it helps to prevent cross contamination of acids and bases.  i dont think that the brushes are made differently from each other. 

we use the CPS brushes daily, and rarely have to replace them. 

the only drawback is the price, but they last forever.  my last purchase was over 4 years ago. 

[Rockers]

CPS products are color coded - stencil remover has a white cap on the gallon of concentrate, a white bucket and a white brush.  solvent is blue coded, degreaser is yellow (i think)...   it helps to prevent cross contamination of acids and bases.  i dont think that the brushes are made differently from each other. 

we use the CPS brushes daily, and rarely have to replace them. 

the only drawback is the price, but they last forever.  my last purchase was over 4 years ago.

Same here, our CPS brushes are 10 years old now and show no sign of wear or tear.
I wanted to point out that the CPS stencil remover works as well great in a dip tank if stencil removing is all you are after. 1 L makes over 5 gallons of solution.

[Gilligan]

Aren't you running s mesh now?

I think Al recommends natural sponges... That's what we use.

[mimosatexas]

I know people always talk about how fragile the S mesh is and how you shouldnt use abasive brushes and handle with extra care and blah blah

I treat them exactly like every other frame in my shop and I have only had 2 pop so far from me doing something stupid, one from knicking it with a razor while cutting tape (which I have fixed with a dispenser instead) and once due to an underexposed screen being leaned on another and the emulsion sticking to both meshes where one had to give to separate them (dumb mistake on my part).  I had another screen pop a day after purchase without having touched it yet, likely due to some shipping issue or stresses due to temp change in my shop, who knows.  Also had one get holes through it when my expo unit glass shattered, but that took out two regular meshes as well.

Honestly, I think if you already treat your frames well, you won't pop S mesh any more readily than normal mesh.  I know I have looked closely at my S mesh after a dozen reclaims for abrasion due to the walmart brushes and seen no issues.  Time will tell...

I believe in other threads people have mentioned using the gong brushes with S mesh without issue.

[mimosatexas]

CPS products are color coded - stencil remover has a white cap on the gallon of concentrate, a white bucket and a white brush.  solvent is blue coded, degreaser is yellow (i think)...   it helps to prevent cross contamination of acids and bases.  i dont think that the brushes are made differently from each other. 

we use the CPS brushes daily, and rarely have to replace them. 

the only drawback is the price, but they last forever.  my last purchase was over 4 years ago.

So the bristle softness is identical for all 5 colors?

[Gilligan]

You are also using statics... Maybe that helps.

[sqslabs]

You are also using statics... Maybe that helps.

Great point, I'd imagine it would.  My s-mesh statics are a few newtons below where I'd like them to be tension wise, but have been pretty durable so far.  I hadn't thought about it until your post, but once I get my rollers stretched, I should probably be a bit more careful with them due to the higher tension levels.  Thanks for saving me some mesh!

[mimosatexas]

Ah, definitely using statics and they are definitely lower tension than you roller folks are using.  I see mostly posts about abrasion issues though with the S mesh, and have seen nothing like that on mine.

[sqslabs]

Ah, definitely using statics and they are definitely lower tension than you roller folks are using.  I see mostly posts about abrasion issues though with the S mesh, and have seen nothing like that on mine.

Are you looking at the mesh through a loupe?  I've been meaning to do so myself, will try to remember to take a peek tomorrow.

[mimosatexas]

Yes. http://www.amazon.com/Bausch-Lomb-Watchmaker-Loupe-10x/dp/B000LDG2HQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1407295023&sr=1-2&keywords=loupe

[Zelko-4-EVA]

CPS products are color coded - stencil remover has a white cap on the gallon of concentrate, a white bucket and a white brush.  solvent is blue coded, degreaser is yellow (i think)...   it helps to prevent cross contamination of acids and bases.  i dont think that the brushes are made differently from each other. 

we use the CPS brushes daily, and rarely have to replace them. 

the only drawback is the price, but they last forever.  my last purchase was over 4 years ago.

So the bristle softness is identical for all 5 colors?

ive never noticed a difference in bristle softness between the colors. 

[alan802]

We've had a gong style brush for 7 years now and it's still going strong.  I can't find a link for the ones we use at Lowes but that's where I bought them from.  They have a black handle with yellow bristles like these from Walmart but I can't  tell you what the quality of the bristles are but ours have been strong enough to clean but gentle enough to not harm our S thread.  It won't scratch your skin unless you get really aggressive but it's not what I would consider a soft bristle.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Laitner-Brush-8-1-2-Blk-Gong-Brush-Cd/19689818