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screen printing => Waterbase and Discharge => Topic started by: SkylinePrints on March 13, 2012, 07:04:43 PM

Title: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: SkylinePrints on March 13, 2012, 07:04:43 PM

hi guys and gals,

i have been playing around with WB and Discharge printing for a couple of months.  On short runs, i'm good.  on longer runs, i have had the screen break down a couple of times.  it was suggested that i use a screen hardner (SaatiChem FIXER 9).  well, i did and now i cant reclaim the screens!  wtf! I knew it would be harder but this is dang permanent.

i tried several things but the last thing was i soaked it in a dip tank for 2 hours today and hit it with a 2000psi pressure washer.  the damn water bounced right off and had no effect on the emulsion!  nothing seems to break this stuff down.

anyone have any tips on reclaiming these screens?

Also, what do y'all do for longer runs?  i'd love to know what to do instead of screen hardner.  this is crazy.

thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: Frog on March 13, 2012, 07:11:29 PM

What does Saati say?

I'm not familiar with their hardener(s) but some companies have different hardeners with different degrees of longevity, some being billed outright as non-reclaimable.

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: Orion on March 13, 2012, 07:27:33 PM

As Frog said some hardeners make a non-reclaimable. They do make reclaimable hardeners, and stripping solution that goes with it.

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: Frog on March 13, 2012, 07:37:07 PM

What emulsion are you using? To offer a little (very little) help on the second part of your post;

Alan at Mirakami advised me on my small runs using their Aquasol HV Photopolymer, first try post exposure (this is only supposed to work on photopolymer emulsions).
Next step up was adding Diazo, next was a wipe on reclaimable hardener.

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: RICK STEFANICK on March 13, 2012, 08:05:22 PM

yep those screens are history..as andy suggested. a good photopolymer with diazo will work fine. try the sericol dirasol 916. or the old school ulano 925wr. tony is really the expert here and maybe he will chime in..

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: SkylinePrints on March 13, 2012, 08:56:47 PM

thanks guys.  it is Saati PV which I know is not for long runs and was the reason for the original problems.  I guess i just went a bit to far.  oh well, time to strip and restretch some screens.

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on March 14, 2012, 01:19:23 AM

Ulano 925wr is awesome. Reclaim is a bit tougher but longevity on press is great.

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: tonypep on March 14, 2012, 10:18:26 AM

CCI WR25 and Hardener X. The Hardener X may very well work with the 925 product. KIWOs and Saatis result in reclaim with a razor blade.
tp

Title: Re: Screen not reclaiming
Post by: siestasol on March 14, 2012, 11:59:50 AM

Kiwocol 300 and hardener WR, if you need to reclaim...
I'm pretty sure Fixer 9 its a non reclaimable hardener.