I coated a 20 x 24 305 screen with CCI SWR emulsion and exposed it. I used CC ER80 Emulsion/Stencil Remover to get the emulsion off. I recoated and exposed the screen. I tried to remove it again with the Emulsion remover, and it would not come off. It had hardly any effect the second time around.
Are there any chemicals that can cause emulsion to not react the the remover?
There are all kinds of emulsions but most all emulsion removers are just different dilutions of the same bleach solution. A minute after spaying them on the emulsion you should see it just melt away...no need for a pressure washer if you have the right emulsion. Some just plain aren't designed for ease of removal. After shooting screens for 35 years I have tried dozens and I can tell you which one I like. Buying the remover and emulsion from the same company helps because they are designed to work well together. CCI doesn't manufacture their emulsion so it may be made by the "low bidder" not the best match to the emulsion remover.
I buy direct from the manufacturer in Kansas. 800-SERICOL www.sericol.com ...click on USA
Dirasol 916 Dual Cure
XSR-155 Emulsion remover concentrate...add water
I exposed it for 40 minutes with a 250 watt bulb. The weird thing is, it came off fine with my first exposure. This is why I think it may be a chemical that may have changed the properties of the emulsion.
This is embarrassing, I soaked the screen in ammonia and vinegar. I thought this might get some dried paint out of it. I also cleaned it off with mineral spirits. I'm assuming it's one of these that ruined it and I want to make sure I know which one it is so I don't do it again.
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Re: Emulsion Wont Come Off
I use just regular household bleach, pour some on the screen, let it soak for 5 minutes or so, and use a soft bristle brush to scrub it. Spray with hot water and see if you get an results, if so, repeat until screen is clear.
I use just regular household bleach, pour some on the screen, let it soak for 5 minutes or so, and use a soft bristle brush to scrub it. Spray with hot water and see if you get an results, if so, repeat until screen is clear.
"This is embarrassing, I soaked the screen in ammonia and vinegar. I thought this might get some dried paint out of it. I also cleaned it off with mineral spirits. I'm assuming it's one of these that ruined it and I want to make sure I know which one it is so I don't do it again."
Unfortunately you have probably locked the emulsion in at this point. You can try to muscle it out with an industrial pressure washer like one at a car wash but the screen is pretty much toast at this point.
QTX is a pure photopolymer. Mineral spirits WILL lock the emulsion in the screen-if you are even a tiny bit underexposed- It should say in the literature not to use strong solvents. A press wash is all that you should use on that. I would go with a dual-cure emulsion, much easier in my opinion to work with. You could try some haze remover to get it off.
Well the screen is beyond repair at this point. While attempting to scrub off the emulsion I ripped the screen down one side and it lost all its tension. This all happened because I was lazy and used the wrong kind of paint.
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Re: Emulsion Wont Come Off
the bleach will dissolve the emulsion but some of it will come in chunks. I use a soft bristle brush, like what you would scrub your bathroom with to clean it. NOT a WIRE BRUSH. First I clean the ink off with Mineral Spirits, then wash out the emulsion with bleach, and you should have a good screen. Some people say not to let the bleach dry on the screen or it will lock the emulsion in, i haven't let it dry completely on a screen but i haven't had a problem so far.
I just tried the bleach with QX-1, and it did approximately nothing. At all. Let it sit for 5 mins, scrubbed with a medium bristle brush, nothing happening, let it go a little longer, added more bleach, scrubbed, nothing.
What brand of bleach are you using? The cheapo stuff I have is sodium hpyochlorite based.
Emulsion Wont Come Off 
