TSB

screen printing => Newbie => Topic started by: vwyob on February 13, 2014, 01:53:06 PM

Title: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: vwyob on February 13, 2014, 01:53:06 PM

What effect does metal have on emulsion guys please? We use wooden but I have no idea why? Cheers :)

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: Kevbeck on February 13, 2014, 03:03:31 PM

TBH I don't know, but have always used a plastic spatular

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: Doug B on February 13, 2014, 03:21:18 PM

  I have always heard that there may be some kind of chemical reaction with certain
metals - therefore use wood.

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: tonypep on February 13, 2014, 03:27:07 PM

Especially with diazos

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: jsheridan on February 14, 2014, 12:56:24 AM

Diazo is a mild acid and corrodes metal.

Stainless steel will discolor and stain. Looks cool so I use a 10" stainless steel mixing blade and then wipe it off as soon as I'm done with it, then hang it back up on the little hook that it hangs from.

Or you can fill your trash can with emulsion soaked wooden stir sticks..

It's up to you.

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: mimosatexas on February 14, 2014, 01:04:08 AM

two reasons i use wood: they are free at lowe's/home depot and no cleanup. :D

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: Nick Bane on February 14, 2014, 03:40:03 AM

so since we cant use metal to stir with, what happens when we turn around and pour it into a metal scoop coater? 8)

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: Evo on February 14, 2014, 04:02:04 AM

Good Cooks brand solid silicone scrapers and spatulas. The kind that are all one molded piece so they are easy to clean. My weapon of choice for emulsion and wb inks. You can scrape the inside of the buckets clean to reduce dried emulsion and ink film.

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: StuJohnston on February 14, 2014, 04:49:43 AM

I generally use a (chromed?) stainless spatula and the only time I got a stain on it was when I let the emulsion dry by accident. But it's just a stain. The stir sticks they provide are pretty worthless if you want to get to the bottom of the bucket.

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: vwyob on February 14, 2014, 05:47:50 AM

Brilliant range of answers and a dab of humor too thanks guys. It was just a random thought the other day whilst mixing some up. Many thanks  :)

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: tonypep on February 14, 2014, 06:09:37 AM

Scoop coaters are aluminium

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: jsheridan on February 15, 2014, 12:09:38 PM

Quote from: Evo on February 14, 2014, 04:02:04 AM

Good Cooks brand solid silicone scrapers and spatulas. The kind that are all one molded piece so they are easy to clean. My weapon of choice for emulsion and wb inks. You can scrape the inside of the buckets clean to reduce dried emulsion and ink film.

How does the silicone react with ink cleaners.. in case someone decides to whip up some plastisol with them.

Title: Re: Quickie about wooden stirrers
Post by: Evo on February 15, 2014, 01:10:43 PM

Quote from: jsheridan on February 15, 2014, 12:09:38 PM

How does the silicone react with ink cleaners.. in case someone decides to whip up some plastisol with them.

Never had an issues. Safety Kleen tank sucks with them though, as with all plastics, in that it doesn't really get them very clean. The silicone seems to stand up to anything I've ever cleaned it with though.

I have a few similar to this one also:

(http://www.jbprince.com/images/U113R.jpg)

They are great because being one molded piece, there is nowhere for ink or emulsion to get hung up on. Super easy to keep completely clean.