alternative to photo emulsion?
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I'm assuming you're using "liquid" emulsion and having issues. You can use capillary film which comes in sheets that are adhered to mesh. It has it's advantages and there are applications that require capillary. Both are "photo" emulsions because they react and cure by exposure to light/UV. I will tell you, there are printers who swear by it and who don't use anything else. But in my opinion, for general printing, a diazo or photopolymer is the way to go. By comparison they're less expensive, easier to use and quicker to prepare.
And if you're making a "mess" with the "liquid" type, you may be doing something wrong. No reason for it to be so. There is a learned technique and procedure to screen coating.
And if you're making a "mess" with the "liquid" type, you may be doing something wrong. No reason for it to be so. There is a learned technique and procedure to screen coating.
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Or vinyl, but I'm a liquid emulsion lover myself.
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^^^I figured by now you would be building an auto coater. ^^^
Check out some you tube videos. On coating it does take sometime. You are using a scoop coater? And not one of those plastic junk ones either.
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Yep, using a Scoop coater.....its more a question of space thats my problem with liquid.....(I have no space!) and having a place to coat, dry, dark store and so on!
So being able to coat when needed and expose ASAP then clean down quick is the goal....so, Capillary film is quite interesting to me
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Cap film can get expensive. When I did this in my home before building a small garage out back I built a small box that I put in a closet. I coated in the kitchen then moved to the wood box to store. I still have the box and store 6 screens in there precoated. I have only used cap film once and maybe some others can help here but I would have to put a coat of liquid on the shirt side then dry and expose. this is the way I was told and maybe I was doing it wrong. I figured if I was coating might as well finish the job. Although reclaim was much easier as a small amount of emulsion remover on the ink side and everything came right off with a hose in a min or 2
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sben....an autocoater would take the fun out of it, plus the wife won't let me get rid of the washer and dryer to create space
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Dr.sben....an autocoater would take the fun out of it, plus the wife won't let me get rid of the washer and dryer to create space
You sold any more of those automatics?
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No, but I do have someone interested in the RC street luge...I can't believe I just wrote thatDr.
You sold any more of those automatics?
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LOL!!!No, but I do have someone interested in the RC street luge...I can't believe I just wrote that
(You so bad!)
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Well sometimes you gotta get rid of the wi.....oh wait I'll refrain from finishing that statement my wife is looking over my shoulder.sben....an autocoater would take the fun out of it, plus the wife won't let me get rid of the washer and dryer to create space
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Discretion is the better part of valor.
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There are photo indirect films, fine for short runs. Then there are knife cut films. Of course, then you need mad cutting skills (or a cutter), and you get to deal with solvents if you need a water resistant stencil.
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Everyone should do handcut at least once! Should be a requirement.
I like everyone else seem to have the same issues with space. How did you go about getting your kitchen UV proof to coat the screens without exposing. I have my press in my garage, I have all my other stuff in my garage, but I still coat, dry and burn in my restroom
I am just curioius, how sensitive is emulsion to standard house hold lighting? TV or Monitor Lghting?
I tend to do my burning at night, because I can have a little more time to take my screens out for washing without the fear of sunlight.
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I do all my coating under a standard energy-saver flouro bulb. I have a blackout blind for my window but it doesn't cover the whole thing and sometimes I have daylight coming in through an open door.... So far, I've not had problems. Basically so long as you don't leave your screens exposed to prolonged direct sunlight you don't have to worry too much.
Of course it helps that in in the UK, where the weather generally stinks.
Of course it helps that in in the UK, where the weather generally stinks.
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