Author Topic: when to retire a screen?  (Read 3519 times)

Offline Shawn (EIP)

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #15 on: October 09, 2011, 04:02:16 PM »
Looks like something sharp in your ink?


Offline sweetts

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #16 on: October 09, 2011, 04:12:15 PM »
picture
This is the last one I was using about 40 prints in this appeared. I was using cci stuff to clean them
then switched to Franmar the screens that had the holes were all cleaned with the franmar stuff before coating. I would say at most there would be 3000 prints off of them with maybe 4-5 different designs. 2 screens were from GM 2 from Ryonet. Last night I looked over everything that touches the screens and found nothing. I even looked at my scoop coater thinking that it might have a nick on it or something. I was thinking it was more a chemical weakening of the screen. I now have a dip tank and use 701 after the high pressure cleaning and have not had any issues on the screens that were cleaned with that. I have popped holes in the screen by bumping it into things but these happened while printing mid stroke if you will. Only one was near an active flash unit while being used. The last one was 110 mesh one color  black ink ( I know I should use a higher mesh to save ink) 70 durometer squeegee I used a wood paint stick to apply the ink on the screen. I thought maybe that was the issue  but they are all rounded edges and very smooth.
RT Screen Designs
Willowick Ohio
www.rtscreendesigns.com

Offline sweetts

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #17 on: October 09, 2011, 04:15:54 PM »
Looks like something sharp in your ink?
I would think that but it happened with different color inks, different squeegees and even on two different presses. I did clean the screen with the 909 cleaner could that mess it up?
RT Screen Designs
Willowick Ohio
www.rtscreendesigns.com

Offline Frog

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #18 on: October 09, 2011, 04:46:49 PM »
It takes a pretty caustic cleaner (like lye style haze removers) to destroy a screen, and then depending on tension, I usually see a real rip, rendering the screen useless.
These look like pretty small holes.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline blue moon

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #19 on: October 09, 2011, 05:29:53 PM »
It takes a pretty caustic cleaner (like lye style haze removers) to destroy a screen, and then depending on tension, I usually see a real rip, rendering the screen useless.
These look like pretty small holes.

agreed, as Frog said, these look like rips. What's a 909?

pierre
Yes, we've won our share of awards, and yes, I've tested stuff and read the scientific papers, but ultimately take everything I say with more than just a grain of salt! So if you are looking for trouble, just do as I say or even better, do something I said years ago!

Offline sweetts

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #20 on: October 09, 2011, 07:46:59 PM »
It takes a pretty caustic cleaner (like lye style haze removers) to destroy a screen, and then depending on tension, I usually see a real rip, rendering the screen useless.
These look like pretty small holes.

agreed, as Frog said, these look like rips. What's a 909?

pierre
909 heavy duty orange power degreaser I was told its good to use on press to open screens and clean up ink, it works great CCI makes it.   Last night I was looking for big things maybe I need to think little and reinspect everything a little better to verify there is nothing amiss
RT Screen Designs
Willowick Ohio
www.rtscreendesigns.com

Offline screenxpress

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #21 on: October 09, 2011, 08:39:06 PM »
After looking at the pic, I'm sticking with my friction/fire story  ;)
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Offline rushhourscreen

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #22 on: October 14, 2011, 09:03:10 AM »
So, I'm printing the backs of Port & Co. zip up sweats last night and I start noticing little flakes of metal on the fabric, no problems yet but I'm sure this isn't a good thing.  They have to be from the zippers and this is the first time ever I have seen this.

Offline sweetts

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #23 on: October 18, 2011, 05:17:25 PM »
So a couple hundred shirts printed no issues.  I must have not appeased the printing gods that month,  but now after sacrificing 2 shirts to the dryer god and 3 to the inky thumb god everything has been ok.
RT Screen Designs
Willowick Ohio
www.rtscreendesigns.com

Offline Sbrem

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #24 on: October 18, 2011, 05:45:13 PM »
dumb question - you aren't smoking while printing are you? ashes make burn holes.

maybe something in the ink, was it while printing the same color in both cases? I have had a bolt fall out of the chopper right into my ink -only to find it while putting ink back in the bucket. . .or junk on the pallet punching up through.

I also like Wayne's solution. . .

I was going to say, clean out the seeds before you roll...

Steve
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Offline ZooCity

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #25 on: October 18, 2011, 10:58:19 PM »
I retire screens when they're getting paid too much and could be easily replaced with younger, less-experienced screens willing to work for lower wages and less or no benefits.   Oh wait, I got myself confused with every place of employment in America right now. 

Based on the totally grainy and almost indiscernible photo you posted I have no effing clue why this is happening.  Can we get a better pic? 

Also, is this only happening in a certain area of each screen?   And tell us about how you dry the screens after coating as well as how you handle jobs with flashing...

Offline tonypep

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Re: when to retire a screen?
« Reply #26 on: October 19, 2011, 07:48:46 AM »
Heres what I've been told by an industry supply guy in the know. Used to be the Swiss mesh was superior to the Asian. The Asians got smarter and better at it and now the reverse is true. Supposedly the Europeans (Swiss) have to cheapen the spec on their mesh in order to compete with the Asian pricing. Not sure how or even if this true but I'm seeing this hole phenomenem as well. Moving forward I will be building a stretching table and bring this back under my control.