[spx]

I am new to screen printing and now that we are "officially" starting, I have to ask a couple questions about post job cleanup.

I decided after reading many posts, books, etc that cleaning up the tools, press and especially the screens after a job is complete is ideal for our situation... especially because the prev guy never cleaned anything.

We use Plastisol inks and Franmar products for our major chemicals. I have been using their "ink remover/screen cleaner" to clean the spatulas, squeegees, and the remainder of the ink of the screens typically using a white scrubbing pad.

My concern is, I am going though ALOT of cleaner and it is taking alot of time... each time. Example: I ran a three color job today and new I wasn't going to be running these screens for quite awhile. It took over 45 minutes to clean everything up and finally clean out the washout sink. I went through at LEAST a quarter of the spray bottle of cleaner and three separate pads. This can't be right.

I should also point out that we don't have, as of yet, a powerwash and try to remove almost all extra ink from everything before cleaning.

My questions.... is this typical? Should I be using other, maybe less expensive cleaning chemicals, to do the same thing?

Any help, as always, is greatly appreciated.

 

[jsreid]

Here is how I do it:
scrape off as much ink as you can off the screen and put it back into the tub, or through it away. Spray the screen with screen cleaner, get a rag and start wiping it until you get all of the ink off the screen. This usually takes 2 or 3 rags and no more than 10 sprays with a spray bottle to do. Then you can take it to the washout and reclaim the screen. This usually takes no more than 5 minutes to clean the ink off a screen.

 

[p.ervin]

I use soy solvent for my cleanup a little goes a very long way, nice smelling and leaves the hands soft. I have made quite a few shirts since my purchase and have not ran out, it was only a quart. So you may need to check on other products. I can give you the info for the company but I will have to look for it.
As far as cleaning goes it usually takes about 10-15 minutes and four paper towels but be patient with yourself it takes some time to get things down to a science. A good degreaser is a tremendous asset.

 

[n.signia]

we use a dip tank for reclaiming, no need to touch chemicals, aside from the ink remover as we still de -ink the screens before they go into the tank. Ours holds 4 screens, they come out in 4 to 5 minutes, you pressure wash or hose them off and your done. It was definately a great investment for our shop.

 

[amy_schutt]

I am so going to look into a dip tank. I am told by the others that I always get to do the "fun" stuff. Whatever. I think they fake the abililty to emulse in order to get out of it.

Something I started doing that is working out amazingly well. I had a degreaser from the company that sold me my equipment. We were going through it pretty often. I got to thinking, it is a degreaser. What is the best degreaser you can us?

Duh? Dawn dishwashing liquid. It is way cheaper as I get it at Sam's. Just takes a drop in a bucket and the screens have no residue and are as clean as they were when I was using the $20 stuff.

Just a note that it worked for me. I am green but if I can save a dollar somewhere I'm going to try it. Thanks.

 

[spx]

Are you using this to clean ink off screens but not damage the emulsion... for storage and later use?

 

[amy_schutt]

yes. we have a few clients that order every week the same designs but more or different shirts. So we keep the screens onhand for these instead of redoing screens every sunday.

We scrape off all the ink that we can and save it and then use the pw to clean the screen up.

I use the Dawn after I have cleaned the emulsion off of the screen to get rid of any kind of residue from the ink or the emulsion. So far it has been great.