Have you done a step wedge test? If not do one and this should help you figure our where optimum exposure time is. Are you using a pressure washer to wash the image out? If so this could be a problem. I use a garden hose with a simple sprayer to wash my images out.
Screen Blow Out, Please Help!
Okay I am in desperate need of assistance. I am still new to screen printing, but I have already made several successful designs with no issue. I have now moved my set up to a separate location and cannot seem to get the washout process working properly. Here's how I used to operate:
- acquire new screen
- wipe screen down and degrease, let dry for 12-24 hours
- Emulsify both sides using Ryonet Dual Cure, Let dry for 24 hours
- Tape transparency to the screen as needed
- Take screen outside into a shaded area, burn image using 500 halogen lamp(supplied by Ryonet), 16" above the screen, for 13-16 minutes
- Post screen up against the wall and wash out with a garden hose or gas powered pressure washer
I have since moved the operation indoors to a plumbed dark room. I have purchased an electric pressure washer(gas seemed too heavy duty, and obviously can't use it indoors). I can't think of anything else that I've done differently. I have tried longer exposure times(one as much as 1 hour), shorter times(11-12 minutes), I have let the screens dry for 48 hours before exposure, switched to the tub hose, etc. I can't think of anything else to do. I have a huge order right now and I can't even get going on it, please help!
- The transparencies are very opaque, I even doubled them up to be sure. I have had success with less opaque transparencies .
- I spray the screen lightly first and wait a minute or so before attempting wash out
- The emulsion seems very weak. It is definitely dry, but it doesn't seem to be cured all the way or something
- The room is in the same area as the furnace, water heater, and water purifier; could that cause issue with drying?
I am ready to smash every screen and set fire to the lot, please help!!
- acquire new screen
- wipe screen down and degrease, let dry for 12-24 hours
- Emulsify both sides using Ryonet Dual Cure, Let dry for 24 hours
- Tape transparency to the screen as needed
- Take screen outside into a shaded area, burn image using 500 halogen lamp(supplied by Ryonet), 16" above the screen, for 13-16 minutes
- Post screen up against the wall and wash out with a garden hose or gas powered pressure washer
I have since moved the operation indoors to a plumbed dark room. I have purchased an electric pressure washer(gas seemed too heavy duty, and obviously can't use it indoors). I can't think of anything else that I've done differently. I have tried longer exposure times(one as much as 1 hour), shorter times(11-12 minutes), I have let the screens dry for 48 hours before exposure, switched to the tub hose, etc. I can't think of anything else to do. I have a huge order right now and I can't even get going on it, please help!
- The transparencies are very opaque, I even doubled them up to be sure. I have had success with less opaque transparencies .
- I spray the screen lightly first and wait a minute or so before attempting wash out
- The emulsion seems very weak. It is definitely dry, but it doesn't seem to be cured all the way or something
- The room is in the same area as the furnace, water heater, and water purifier; could that cause issue with drying?
I am ready to smash every screen and set fire to the lot, please help!!
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Glass can be a big issue, I use the same setup with a 500watt helogen work light with the glsss out of it abd I made sure I got custom glas made that was just plain glass. If I use the ulano orange it takes 5mins but if I use a duel cure diszo emulsion it takes 25mins. As everyone else said try a step wedge test and you should be okay because it gets extremely frustrating when you are wasting so much emulsion 
only other thing is your emuslion can be out of date, the stuff you use to clean your screen should not be an issue as you can use normal dish washing liquid. Only other option is your transparencies are not dark enough and its letting a little light ti the areas you don't want exposed... it will take time to conduct a process of elimination but luckily with screen printing the list normally is not that big and is an easy fix once you find the problem
I hope you find the problem and there are plenty of people on here who will help you
Sent from my GT-I9300T using T-Shirt Forums
only other thing is your emuslion can be out of date, the stuff you use to clean your screen should not be an issue as you can use normal dish washing liquid. Only other option is your transparencies are not dark enough and its letting a little light ti the areas you don't want exposed... it will take time to conduct a process of elimination but luckily with screen printing the list normally is not that big and is an easy fix once you find the problem I hope you find the problem and there are plenty of people on here who will help you
Sent from my GT-I9300T using T-Shirt Forums
Ok I tried removing the glass for sake of trying, and the transparencies began lifting off of the screen. So I put the glass back on, removed one transparency, and burned for 15 minutes. See attached for the results.
This one got me very excited because the top art came out fine, but the bottom just turned to mush. Longer exposure?
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