rockinfunzone

Hi all, I am a noob to screen printing and have just been watching tutorials on youtube and have no real formal training. I have been doing this for about a month or so out of my garage for fun. I have a couple questions about cleaning a screen and equipment:

First at what angle should I be holding the squeegee at?

Do I need hot water to clean my screen? Is hot water preferred? Because I have been using and reusing my screens a lot recently and they have seem to be getting worse.

What type of brush to scrub the screen with? I have been using a normal nylon bristle dish washing brush from target.

What type of cleaner to clean the screens? After I get the emulsion off with emulsion remover, I use ajax powder and scrub with the brush mentioned above.

Thanks, I have just gotten some orders in and have been ruining shirts and have to reorder new shirts ( time & money !! ) It kills me because I made around 20 shirts for myself and they were perfect and flawless, then when I start on the customer's shirts, I get plagued with all these problems I've never had before!

Thanks for your help guys!

 

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Solmu

Quote: Originally Posted by rockinfunzone First at what angle should I be holding the squeegee at?

When cleaning screens? I find it easier to put the squeegee down occasionally

Around 70 degrees or so for printing.

Quote: Originally Posted by rockinfunzone Do I need hot water to clean my screen? Is hot water preferred?

Nope, and nope.

Quote: Originally Posted by rockinfunzone Because I have been using and reusing my screens a lot recently and they have seem to be getting worse.

If you're using waterbased inks, don't be tardy in cleaning your screens when you're done printing.

Quote: Originally Posted by rockinfunzone What type of brush to scrub the screen with?

Something large and relatively soft. You don't want it to be too abrasive on the screen. You might be able to find a specialist brush from a screenprint supplier (I've used some lovely Kiwo brushes before for example), but failing that something ordinary from a hardware store is fine.

Quote: Originally Posted by rockinfunzone What type of cleaner to clean the screens?

Stencil remover and degreaser. Haze remover if you need something stronger.

Quote: Originally Posted by rockinfunzone After I get the emulsion off with emulsion remover, I use ajax powder and scrub with the brush mentioned above.

That shouldn't really be necessary.

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rockinfunzone

Can I use simple green? Is that considered to be a degreaser?

 

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Solmu

I prefer to use a product actually made for screenprinting, but some people do use Simple Green. If it's scented it can have oils in it, which at least partially defeats the purpose of degreasing (just one of the pitfalls of makeshift product substitutions).

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mudturtle

I would definitely suggest using the proper chemicals from a screen print supplier. They may be a bit more expensive but how much have you spent on new shirts because its not done right? Also im sure your spending more time than necessary and that is money too. As the wise Yoda says "do or do not, there is no try". If your going to do it then do it right you will avoid tons of headaches. Make sure you get a haze remover since it seems your screens are already clogging up from old images. Do you have a pressure washer? get one, they are pretty cheap at lowes or home depot and will really help get the screen clean and speed up the process, again time is money and it will pay for itself in no time.

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rockinfunzone

I got some toner enhancer and it didnt work for jack, I am kind of disappointed in people making something that serves one purpose and one purpose only and it can't even do that. Its like I just flushed nine dollars down the toilet.

 

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