[Em11]

Hello!

I have been trying and trying to get a properly exposed screen, and I have had pretty much zero luck so far.

I am using a homemade exposure unit, it has 6 of these bulbs about four inches from the screen. 20W T12 FLUORESCENT BLACKLIGHT MEDIUM BIPIN BASE

I am currently using Ulano QX-1 emulsion.

I am using a scoop coater to coat the screens, I degrease them before coating, and they are dry when I go to expose the emulsion.

I know you have to do tests and all to figure how long to expose, but anyone have any idea roughly how long it should be taking to expose a screen judging from those bulbs?

I just finished a step test with the QX-1, from 2 to 8 minutes in 2 minte intervals. The 8 minute one came out the best, but it was difficult to wash out. What confuses me is that the areas with less time was even more difficult to wash out. Is it supposed to be like that?

Should I be using a pressure washer for washing out?

With the previous emulsion I was using, I'd often get a screen that would wash out fairly well, but pieces around the edges of the image would get washed away.

Anyone have any advice for me? I'm really confused about what I'm doing wrong. It sure is frustrating

 

[pukingdeserthobo]

i always way use a pressure washer,
i wet one side then flip and wet again then flip want then use pressure to wash it out

 

[r5e5n5o]

play around with your exposure times cuz thin lines and big fat lines or designs make the time vary a bit. when your washing the screen out take time and go over every single spot flip it over n do the same until you dont see anything where there shouldent be anything.

 

[zack68ss]

I have a simular problem. do you all washout most of the design on the squeege side or shirt side? also how do you know if the loss of emulsion is a degreaser issue? not clean enough to get emulsion to stick. can the emulsion itself be exposed or bad? how do you know this?
thanks,
Zack

 

[tdigital]

I have a simular problem. do you all washout most of the design on the squeege side or shirt side? also how do you know if the loss of emulsion is a degreaser issue? not clean enough to get emulsion to stick. can the emulsion itself be exposed or bad? how do you know this?
thanks,
Zack

Most should probably (more easily) be washed out shooting at the squeegee side.

I was able to get excellent results today on my second screen (ever) by doing the following:

Degreased the screens
Dried them completely
Applied emulsion (first on print side, then on squeegee side because that pushed the emulsion back onto the print side, which is what you want to create a good gasket for the ink)
Let it dry completely
Exposed 5 minutes
Washed out (first simply wet both sides with no pressure, then wait about 30 seconds, then hit the print side briefly with the pressure washer on (5 seconds maybe), then flip and do the squeegee side and wait another 30 seconds...keep doing that until the image completely washes out. You must keep pausing because continued exposure to the emulsion to water will break it down, regardless of the amount you've exposed)

Yes you should be using a pressure washer to wash out too.

It sounds like you were underexposing with your previous emulsion, or you were trying to expose when the emulsion hadn't completely dried.

 

[seattleprintshop]

never use a pressure washer or hot water.
1. if your screen will not washout after you expose it then reduce your exposure time.
2. if it washes out to early then expose your screen longer.

 

[zack68ss]

no pressure washer? what do you use for washout? and what technique? squegee first? shirts side? please give details.
thanks

 

[pukingdeserthobo]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KueJ7zMpgU[/media]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vujDdGtv4Sc[/media]

 

[tdigital]

never use a pressure washer or hot water.
1. if your screen will not washout after you expose it then reduce your exposure time.
2. if it washes out to early then expose your screen longer.

Hot water is understandable, but with so many others suggesting the use of a pressure washer, why would you not?

 

[out da box]

pressure washer may be overkill. I use a standard water hose with a spray wand atachment. It has plenty of pressure to wash out. If you have to use a pressure washer, it's over-exposed.

 

[zack68ss]

Hey guys, i finally got a perfect screen!!!!
i found out that i was doing several things wrong. I had the same problem with my screen edges washing out or breaking up.

-The first thing was my contact was not good enough. i placed several buckets of paint and water on top of the exposure unit, and a towel on top of the design between the foam and the lid and i noticed that the detail came out great.

-also i was washing for way to long. this made my screen break apart. i washed out most of the design squeege side which left a great stencil on the shirt side.

-my emulsion was layed a bit thinner than before and my exposure was cut to around 1m 15sec. the design washed out great (within 1-2min) with a water hose and a small spray nozzle on the end.

 

[pukingdeserthobo]

Hey guys, i finally got a perfect screen!!!!
i found out that i was doing several things wrong. I had the same problem with my screen edges washing out or breaking up.

-The first thing was my contact was not good enough. i placed several buckets of paint and water on top of the exposure unit, and a towel on top of the design between the foam and the lid and i noticed that the detail came out great.

-also i was washing for way to long. this made my screen break apart.

-my emulsion was layed a bit thinner than before and my exposure was cut to around 1m 15sec. the design washed out great (within 1-2min) with a water hose and a small spray nozzle on the end.

glad to hear that zack

 

[KoalaTees]

HELP! I am trying to make a fine detail with grunge text for a pocket size design. I need to print white on black too. I tried a emulsion that was 2 layers think (layer/dry/layer/dry) and 1 layer squeegee side. But I blew out the detail to clear the image. Image was a skull with teeth (teeth gone) for a pocket. Then I did same image for quarter size image (teeth were gone). I''m talking like the size of the comma on your keyboard. I used a 125 pocket and a 156 screen small ones. Why is the emulsion blowing out and not adhearing to the screen. Should I stay with a thin coat? Higher mesh? Thanks Jeff

 

[out da box]

Thinner coat.