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Discuss the various aspects of screen printing. Inks, speciality printing, print locations, durability, etc.

How do you know when emulsion is dry?



 
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Old August 24th, 2009 Aug 24, 2009 10:08:49 PM -   #1 (permalink)
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Default How do you know when emulsion is dry?

I've read that depending on heat and humidity that emulsion can dry in as little as ten minutes or as long as two hours.

How does one know when emulsion is dry enough to expose?

Thanks.
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Old August 24th, 2009 Aug 24, 2009 10:16:45 PM -   #2 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

Some one told you wrong!
Yikes
No, a minimum of a couple hours...I let mine sit overnight.
I'd also say that the ones that are ready in a couple hours are using a heated (low) drying box.
 
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Old August 24th, 2009 Aug 24, 2009 10:19:24 PM -   #3 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

To know it's ready.................
Ok, you want to be able to run your finger acrossed it and it feels like plastic.
Not slimy. Not just dry on the surface.
If it's not fully dried, you'll have problems when you expose and rinse.....your image will slime and melt off, running into and blocking your screen.
 
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Old August 24th, 2009 Aug 24, 2009 10:27:05 PM -   #4 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Celtic
Some one told you wrong!
Yikes
No, a minimum of a couple hours...I let mine sit overnight.
I'd also say that the ones that are ready in a couple hours are using a heated (low) drying box.
Overnight seems safest, but if I were to want to get going after a couple of hours I wanted to know how to check the screens.

Thank you for your replies.

Here are the two threads I read tonight with people reporting fast drying times...
drying time for emulsion
drying time for emulsion
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Old August 24th, 2009 Aug 24, 2009 11:13:46 PM -   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

I have made several screens and burned them within a couple hours. after you coat them put a fan on them from the side about a foot away from the edge and turn it on low so that you get good air flowing without any directly hitting the screen, then put a little portable heater behind it on low so the the air is warn and dry. 2-3 hours and your ready to burn.
 
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Old August 25th, 2009 Aug 25, 2009 1:35:48 AM -   #6 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

mine sit overnight as well, but I still blast them with a hairdryer on low heat to really get rid of any humidity just before burning.
 
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Old August 27th, 2009 Aug 27, 2009 6:37:04 AM -   #7 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

i've been impatient about wanting to make my t-shirt and burned my screen before the emulsion was dry, all it did was make my t-shirt take longer, because it washed out. i let them dry overnight with a fan to be sure.
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Old August 27th, 2009 Aug 27, 2009 6:55:18 AM -   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

Yes, Everyone does it a little different, yet we all do it the same....
 
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Old August 27th, 2009 Aug 27, 2009 7:41:33 AM -   #9 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

Buy a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will extract moisture from the emulsion (which is what dries the screen). Using a fan will just blow air around and dust particles.

Although using a small fan in addition to a dehumidifier will help too. But a dehumidifier is important.
 
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Old August 27th, 2009 Aug 27, 2009 10:48:00 AM -   #10 (permalink)
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Default Re: How do you know when emulsion is dry?

It depends on the time of year and where you are as to if you need a humidifier or not. I am in Northern California and right now humidity is around 30%-35% and I have no problem with screens drying in a couple hours without a dehumidifier, where as I have friend on the coast where the humidity is around 80%-85% and he has to use a humidifier year round or his screens take 24 or hours or more to dry.
 
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