Just getting back into screen printing. Having screen exposure issues. I've read a ton of posts regarding this topic but still cant find one that might help....anyone??
New 156 Screen
Degreased - dried overnight
Coated in safelight darkroom 1/1
Chroma Blue Emulsion
Round edge of scoop
dried in safelight darkroom
with dehumidifier
for 9 hours
exposed on new 1000w Brown Mfg
Single Point Vaccuum Exposure Unit
step exposed in incriments of :20
:20, :40, 1:20, 1:40, 2:00, 2:20
Light wetting on both sides,
squeegee side first
waited :30
light fan wash with garden hose attach.
from print side
everything washed out.
the under-exposed were very obvious, but the longer exposed areas, the art area took a long time to wash out...but, the emulsion still broke up
new screen from same batch..degreased, coated, etc.
exposed for 2:20, 2:40, 3:20, 3:40, 4:20
same results.
chroma recommends :20-:30 depending on light source, etc.
This is a hard one. I would coat a screen
put a fan on it, it will dry in 10 minutes.
put it in the bright sun for a couple minutes
and see if that hardens the emulsion.
If it washes out, it is an emulsion problem.
If it doesn't, it is a light source problem.
Just an idea.
After ten failed attempts at exposing screens last night, I removed any stencil remaining with stencil remover, degreased, and rinsed.
I paid more attention to rinsing this time than I did the first time. I don't know for sure, but I felt something was keeping the emulsion from bonding to the mesh...like maybe left over degreaser.
I re-coated using the same procedure and environment. After about 3 hours dry time with de-humidifier and space heater, I attempted my step test again.
After speaking with Gerry at Brown Manufacturing (THANKS GERRY!!), she felt I needed to be around 3:15 to 3:30.
So starting the step at 2:20, increasing by :20 intervals, 2:20, 2:40, 3:00, 3:20, 3:40, 4:00, 4:20, 4:40, and 5:00.
Interestingly enough, almost every step held. the 2:20 emulsion around the image was a bit soft, while the 4:20-5:00 intervals were difficult to remove image area without them becoming soft as well.
I'm guessing that maybe my diagnosis of leftover degreaser may have been an issue, or at least part of it.
Just for the record, if it helps anyone else out here's where I am with my equipment:
Brown MFG Single Point 1000W Halogen
156 Yellow Mesh
Chroma Blue Emulsion
1/1, Round edge
3:00 - 3:40
Hope that may help someone with similar equipment. Thank you again Inked and Eric!!
jay........ i use chromablue as well but i have the 8 bulb exposure unit from silk screen supplies... had the same issues as you..... now i expose my 110s at just a shade under 2 minutes... my 110s are single coated on each side and left overnite in my cabinet... expose for the under 2min then wet both sides with light pressure..wait 20 sec...then i have my small pressure washer at the widest lowest nozzle pressure....and they come off easy... chroma blue is super fast....if i set my time at 2 minutes...it takes me longer to take off the stencil therfore washing off some of the emulsion...so 10 to 30 seconds make a big difference....i think i went through 20 coated screens before i got it...... all i can say is be patient and dont give up.... sts
Help! 
