Sell me on the best Emulsion for Plastisol

[XG Print]

Here is what I work with....I have an MSP 3140 and usually use the 20 x 24 or 23 x 31 size screens.  Mesh generally ranges between 110, 155,200, and a few 230 mesh at times.  Mixtures of regular and S-Mesh.  Typically I do a 1/1 on the round side.  I used Aquasol HVP for a long time and it seemed to be good but has gotten difficult to get locally.  Changed over to the T-9 on my last gallon because my favorite supplier has it and I do not like it.  Seems to be more prone to bubbling and pin holes than the HVP.  I do like a photopolymer.  What is everyone using and what should I try?

[Frog]

One reason you may be having issues with the T-9 rather than the Aquasol HVP is the difference in solids content. I think that the T-9 is only 37% while the HVP has 42% I think that it is also a higher viscosity which also affects your coating and EOM.

For years, my favorite photopolymer emulsion was Chromatech PL, 50% solids, but when it got around to $100, I tried CCI PFX HV, with a slightly lower but still high solids content of 47%, was completely satisfied, and even with shipping directly from CCI, it's in the $60-$65 with a little help from my rep. (I think he discounts it a bit to make up for shipping)
http://www.ccidom.com/us/en/products/emulsion/pfx-hv-pre-sensitized-emulsion/.

[mt_signex]

Here is what I work with....I have an MSP 3140 and usually use the 20 x 24 or 23 x 31 size screens.  Mesh generally ranges between 110, 155,200, and a few 230 mesh at times.  Mixtures of regular and S-Mesh.  Typically I do a 1/1 on the round side.  I used Aquasol HVP for a long time and it seemed to be good but has gotten difficult to get locally.  Changed over to the T-9 on my last gallon because my favorite supplier has it and I do not like it.  Seems to be more prone to bubbling and pin holes than the HVP.  I do like a photopolymer.  What is everyone using and what should I try?

I use Ulano QX1, I coat using a Sefar scoop coater, doing 1 on the squeegee side, 1 on shirt side, 1 final on squeegee side.  For 230 and above, I use the sharp edge, 156 and below I use the round edge.

On my MSP 3140, it will expose a white 156 and yellow 230 in 160 units and a 305 in 140 units.  On the 230 and 305, it's a pretty thin coating, but works well for detailed jobs.  On the 156 and above, it will be solid coating but I never have any underexposure issues using 160 units.

[jsheridan]

I like the the thick tealish green stuff that comes in a bucket.. yeah that stuff works awesome. 

[3Deep]

Because we all over the years have found what works in our shop, might not work in your shop plus some companies won't let well eonugh alone so we all sometimes move from different emulsions, so with that said how many answers do you want?  Try out a bunch of qt samples and you might find that magic me I like one dual cure Image-Mate DC 521 and purepoly I like CCI's HXT, both work great for my exposure unit and hopefully they want monkey around with it anytime soon.

[Printficient]

Xenon Nova 56% solids.  Easy to coat and use.  $52 per gallon'

[Stinkhorn Press]

"works in my shop"
Ulano's Pro-claim, normal diazo added. I happen to get it white-labelled, but it's the same stuff. blue (green under lights), LOW viscosity.

round edge on manual size screens 1/1
sharp edge on auto screens 1/1 and then face/back coated for smoothness

30-45 sec exposure on 5Kw MH for solid 7+

[Screen Dan]

Murakami Aquasol HV plus diazo.  1/1 coat with sharp side on 225/48 and 225/40, 2/2 coat sharp side on 150/48 and 180/48.

Masked with Douthitt wax CTSs, with 5k MH with a brand new bulb we do about 70s for the 150/48, 60s for 180/48, 55s for the 225/40 and 50s for the 225/48.  Post expose both sides for DC and WB.  Never need a hardener, even for +3000pc runs...as long as the screens don't sit over night without being thoroughly cleaned before shut-down (which they almost never manage to do, tbh), nothing stencil related goes wrong.


I've tried others, but this has worked so consistently for so long that I fail to have want for more.

All shops are different, your mileage may vary.

[alan802]

I really like the Ulano QXO right now.  It's a pure photo and all I've ever used it for was plastisol but it does what we need it to do quite well.  It really does everything above average.

[tonypep]

Correct answer= No such thing.

[RICK STEFANICK]

Just for the sake of argument. Chromaline Chroma Blue is a premium product that offers great resolution for any size shop running plastisol inks

[Frog]

Just for the sake of argument. Chromaline Chroma Blue is a premium product that offers great resolution for any size shop running plastisol inks

Yep, and at $99 a gallon, a little cheaper than the current $110 for their PL that I used to love.

[RICK STEFANICK]

yes sir, It is pricey. I think nazdar has it in the low 80's

[broadway]

Xenon Nova 56% solids.  Easy to coat and use.  $52 per gallon'

Where is it sold for this price. I checked eBay and googled it and it is $82-$85 plus shipping

[Northland]

Just for the sake of argument. Chromaline Chroma Blue is a premium product that offers great resolution for any size shop running plastisol inks

Yep, and at $99 a gallon, a little cheaper than the current $110 for their PL that I used to love.

.... I'd like to plug Chromaline's "ChromaLIME" emulsion (intended for use with LED exposure units).

- I coat 1X2 (with the sharp edge) and can do about 100 screens to the gallon.
- exposes completely in 13 seconds with my DIY LED set-up
- is fairly translucent, so registering screens is easier (for those of us still refining a registration system)
- reclaims great

Plus.... Chromaline is located right here in the great state of Minnesota... you betcha