A really basic tip, especially for Newbies handling screens for coating

[JBLUE]

After de-greasing, (or your last step with a combo cleaner) be really careful with your fingers. The small amount of body oil that transfers can affect that spot and resist emulsion when coating.

One of those things so basic and simple, it can get overlooked.

Anyone else here degrease with their hands?  I have always put the degreaser on the screens and lathered the screen with my hands, one on each side of the screen with no issues.  Been doing it that way for over 10 years.  I just assumed that the degreaser degreased my hands and the screens at the same time.

I did for a long time. I also used Dawn soap forever. Best degreaser out there. I have tried most screen printing specific ones and it still works just as good or better than all the commercial ones. Plus its a hell of a lot cheaper.

[RICK STEFANICK]

great thread..what i have learned (the hard way) after 31 years is there are so many variables with screen printing that we cant control, its necessary that we control the ones we can. so i really try not to cut corners in screen making. yes, we all have our ways that work but doing things fundamentally right helps eliminate problems in the long haul.

[Dottonedan]

After de-greasing, (or your last step with a combo cleaner) be really careful with your fingers. The small amount of body oil that transfers can affect that spot and resist emulsion when coating.

One of those things so basic and simple, it can get overlooked.

Anyone else here degrease with their hands?  I have always put the degreaser on the screens and lathered the screen with my hands, one on each side of the screen with no issues.  Been doing it that way for over 10 years.  I just assumed that the degreaser degreased my hands and the screens at the same time.

I did for a long time. I also used Dawn soap forever. Best degreaser out there. I have tried most screen printing specific ones and it still works just as good or better than all the commercial ones. Plus its a hell of a lot cheaper.

One of my many earlier jobs was as a fish washer. It was a small in town diner type place. The owner switched soaps and bought Dawn dishwashing liquid for about a week. Once I started, after a few days of it. My hands began to cracked so badly you could see open flesh in the cracks. They burned with every dip in the water. Finally, I had to take a few days off to heal and where rubber gloves...that didn't help much but switched to a milder soap helped.

Dawn is too harsh to use consistently but occasional use is ok.


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[Frog]

How appropriate.
Just five minutes ago, my wife was complaining of a cutting board still being greasy after washing it, but did not want to use the Dawn I have because of what it does to her hands!

[chubsetc]

I actually use Ulano Degreaser Concentrate (1 part concentrate to 9 parts water) and my wife has never complained of me having rough hands!